Notes for: Grover Cleveland Bodine
From Ronny Bodine:
On 5 June 1917, Grover Cleveland Bodine registered for the World War I draft in Peru, Miami County, Indiana. He was single and worked as a railway switchman.
From Allen County, Indiana Marriage Records:
Grover Cleveland Bodine AND Floss Brown were married 25 Oct 1919. [Note: Flossie was the daughter of John B. and Carrie M. (Sanderson) Brown.]
From Indiana Death Certificate of Floss Brown Bodine, wife of Grover Bodine, born 20 Sept 1885 in Indiana, dau. of John & Carrie M. (Sanderson) Brown, died 14 Jan 1930 in Logansport, Cass County and was buried in Camden, Indiana. Informant was Fred B. Brown of Fort Wayne.
The Logansport Pharos-Tribune of 11 April 1930.
Suspended by a rope from a tree along the banks of Eel river near the Tenth street dam, the body of Grover C. Bodine, 44 years old who came to this city recently from Peru Ind where he was employed, was found this morning at 6:40 o'clock. A farewell note blaming his act to worry, nervousness and ill health was found in pocket of the coat worn by the man. Scarlet lips and red streaks over the lower portion of Bodine's face and a bottle containing a small amount of carbolic acid found below the swaying body were mute testimony of the man's determination to end his existence on this earth. A second note written by Bodine in which he made personal arrangements concerning the disposition of his body after death was delivered to the Brown home in this morning's mail. Apparently the letter had been mailed downtown. The gruesome discovery of the despondent man's deed was made by Police Sergeant E. W. Osborn and Virgil Miller, a taxi driver, who first noticed the suspended body as they rode west through Riverside park. Sergeant Osborn was off duty and was riding with Miller who was taking him home after delivering a passenger in the East End. Osborn was the first to spy the dangling form of the man but was not sure of what he saw. As Miller drove into Race street he asked Osborn why he was gazing so intently across the river and Osborn replied he believed he had seen a man hanging from a tree at the foot of the dam. Miller wheeled the car about and drove back into the park. After another look they drove around to the other side of the river and then reported the matter to headquarters. Dr. M. B. Stewart, county coroner, was notified immediately and a few moments after his arrival at the scene and inspection of circumstances the body was taken down and removed to tbe Chase Chapel where it was prepared for burial and is being held awaiting word from relatives. Dr. Stewart announced this morning that there would be no public inquest conducted into the case. In attempting to determine when the man committed the act it has been tentatively concluded that Bodine went to the spot where his body was found this morning early Thursday night. He left the home of Carrie M. Brown, 920 Michigan avenue where he was staying while in this city, about 7 o'clock Thursday night. From the evidence obtained this morning during the investigation of the coroner and police it also is supposed that Bodine climbed into the tree, arranged the rope about his throat and to an extending bow, then drank the acid and permitted his body to tumble from where he clung. His wife, who before her marriage was Miss Florence Brown, a daughter of Mrs. Carrie Brown, died last January 15 at the Bodine home in Peru, Indiana. Bodine had worked as a switchman for the C. and O. railroad until November 16 when he was furloughed due to his nervousness and poor health. Mrs. Brown stated to the police and the coroner that Bodine stayed in his room for some time Thursday evening and seemed to be busy with some papers. When..(pages missing)
From the Logansport Press of 12 April 1930, the same details were reported, but concluding with:
Bodine is survived by two sisters, Esther Searbrough, of Walkerton, Ind., and Edith Childs, of Chicago. Coroner Stewart notified Bodine's sister in Walkerton yesterday morning. She arrived in this city yesterday afternoon. The willow tree from which the body was suspended was located between the railroad and the river about 10 feet west of the dam. The note found in the coat pocket of the dead man was as follows: April 10, 1930. Cass County Coroner. This is my fault. There is no foul play. Poor health, nervousness and worry. Please call undertaker, Charles D. Chase. Please call J. L. Sanderson, 950 Michigan avenue, phone JS30-L. and tell Mrs. Carrie M. Brown, my mother-in-law, lives with Mr. J. L. Sanderson. Have her call Esther Searbrough, Walkerton, Indiana. She is my sister.
G. C. BODINE, 920 Michigan Ave.