Notes for: John L. Bodine
From Ronny Bodine:
In June 1870, John Bodine lived with his wife Almeda and 4-month old daughter Addie in Deerpark, Orange County where he was employed as a railroad conductor. In June 1880, the family lived in Middletown, Orange County. Almeda (Faulkner) Bodine was the daughter of James and Margaret Faulkner. John Bodine was killed by a train engine exploding near Craigville.
From The Washington Post of 9 April 1888: "Fatal Explosion of a Locomotive." NEWBURGH, N.Y. April 8.--At 5 o'clock last evening the big Mogul freight engine exploded on the Erie Railroad at Craigville. Three men were killed, two instantly and one died this morning. [Note: This lengthy article goes on to describe the explosion and the injuries to the men. John Bodine, the engineer, was fifty years old, married, and lived at Middletown, N.Y. This article provides the correct date of death for John Bodine which is misstated in the following obituary of his wife.]
Obituary, Middletown Daily Argus (Middletown, N.Y.) of Friday, 10 Dec 1897
Mrs. Almeda Bodine died at her home, 39 Spragne avenue, this morning, of a bronchial trouble, from which she had been a long though patient sufferer. She was in her fifty-first year. Mrs. Bodine was the widow of John L. Bodine, an Erie conductor, who was killed at Craigville, April 6th, 1889, by the explosion of a locomotive boiler. She was born near this city, and after her marriage she and her husband removed to Port Jervis and afterwards to Spring Valley. They returned to this city, and the family has lived here for over twenty years. Five children were born to the couple, as follows: Adelaide, of New York, and Mame, John, Bertha and Ethel, of this city. Mrs. Bodine is also survived by one brother, George Faulkner, of Scotchtown, and three half brothers, Charles W., the well known constable, and James, of this city, and Dr. William Faulkner, of Walden. Her stepmother, Mrs. James Faulkner, resides on Linden avenue. So long as she was able to do so Mrs. Bodine attended the First Congregational Church.
Since John Bodine was deceased, the Orange County Supreme Court summons of 2 Nov 1896 named in his place, his widow, Almeda Bodine and their surviving children: Addie, Mary, John, Bertha and Ethel Bodine.
The will of Almeda Bodine of Middletown, Orange County was written 27 Nov 1897 and therein named son John L. Bodine; daughters Addie L. Bodine, Mary F. Bodine, Bertha D. Bodine and Ethel Bodine, a minor. Executors were Arthur M. Payne and Addie L. Bodine. The will was proved 28 Feb 1898. (Orange County Wills, vol. 64 [1897-1898], pp. 284-288.)