Notes for: Herman Hill Bodine
A note on Joyce Cook's web site says he hung himself. This must be who I have listed as Norman H. Bodine. There may be some mistake here. I did not originally have Herman as one of Samuel Bodine's children.
Joyce Cook says he married Lydia A. Kilner and had a daughter, Bertha Mabel Bodine who was born Dec. 7, 1885.
There is a Hermon Bodine living on his own in Oakfield, Genesee Co., NY in the 1880 Census. He was born in about 1857 (age 23) and born in NY (parents in NY). His sister Bertha (age 15, NY) is living with him keeping house.
From Ronny Bodine:
Michigan Federal Census Records:
1900 (4 June) Columbia Twp., Van Buren Co.: Herman H. BODINE Jan 1857 NY married 17 years Farmer, Lydia A. May 1855 NY wife married 17 years 1 child born/1 living, Bertha A. Dec 1885 NY dau.
1910 (April) Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co.: Lydia A. BODINE 54 NY widowed 1 child born/1 living, Bertha M. 24 NY dau Dressmaker.
1920 (10 Jan) Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co.: Lydia A. BODINE 64 NY widowed, Bertha M. 34 NY dau.
1930 (15 April) Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co.: Lydia A. BODINE 74 NY widowed, Bertha 44 NY dau Bookkeeper-Laboratory.
From Michigan Death Records:
Herman H. Bodine died 18 Oct 1908 in Comstock, MI, aged 52, son of Samuel C. Bodine.
Lydia A. Bodine, born 21 May 1855 Orleans County, NY, daughter of Charles Kilner and Celia Stephenson, died 1 Jan 1934 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County and buried in Millville, NY. Widow of Herman H. Bodine.
Obituary, Kalamazoo Gazette (Kalamazoo, Mich.) of 20 Oct 1908.
Henry [sic] Bodine, a farmer, aged 50 years, hanged himself in his barn, one mile east of Lyons lake in Comstock township early Sunday morning. He arose during the night, lighted a lantern, went to a horse shed in the rear of his home, fastened a rope around a beam, slipped the noose around his neck and jumped from a sleigh to his death, which resulted from strangulation. The body was found by his daughter shortle before 8 o'clock. According to the statement of relatives Bodine was demented and once before attempted to take his own life. That time his wife followed him to the barn and wrested a knife from him just as he was about to cut his throat. Bodine arose during the night and told his wife of a horrible dream. Then he went to the barn and committed suicide. Coroner Verhage and Deputy Sheriff Nash went to the Bodine farm and after taking the statements of relatives decided that an inquest was unnecessary. The dead man had lived on the farm only a few weeks having moved there from Berlamont a short time after purchasing the place.