Notes for: George Chesterman Bodine
From Ronny Bodine (Feb. 21, 2021):
From New York Marriage Records: Geo. Chesterman Bodine, son of Mordaunt Bodine and Carrie Chesterman to Louise Stevens Kitching, daughter of Frederick M. H. Kitching on 12 July 1899 in Manhattan.
In 1880, Harriet, aged 1, lived with her parents Frederick and Allice Ketching [sic] in Brooklyn. Records of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark record the birth on 3 Jan 1879 of Harriet Louise Stevens Kitching to Frederick Henry and Alice May Kitching and her baptism on 6 Nov 1881 in Jersey City.
Although her name was Harriet Louise Stevens Kitching she seems to have preferred Dorothy.
From New York Times of 21 Feb 1907.
Mrs. Dorothy Kitching Bodine of this city and Van Leer Polk of Columbia, Tenn., were married yesterday afternoon at the residence of the bride's uncle, Crowell Hadden, 71 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, the Rev. Dr. Clarke of Brooklyn officiating. Only immediate relatives of the bride's family were present. The bride is a daughter of the late Frederick McHenry Kitching of Stapleton, S.I., a member of the New York Cotton Exchange. The bridegroom is a member of the Polk family of Tennessee, of which President James K. Polk was a member; a son of the late Andrew Jackson Polk, a nephew of "the Fighting Bishop," Leonidas Polk, and a first cousin of Dr. William M. Polk of this
From Nashville (TN) Banner of 28 April 1908:
New York, April 28.---Mrs. Van Leer Polk of Memphis, Tenn., and Richard C. St. John, a contractor of St. Louis, Mo., obtained a marriage license yesterday at the City Hall. Mrs. Polk, who gave her New York address as the Holland House, said she was 27 years old and had been married twice before. Mr. St. John, who is 43 years old, was married ten years ago to Miss Julia Stockton, daughter of the late John B. Stockton, United States Ambassador to Italy. Mrs. Julia Stockton St. John died in November, 1903. In that year Mrs. Polk, who was then Mrs. George C. Bodine, and Mr. Bodine were divorced in this city. Mrs. Bodine was married to Van Leer Polk of Memphis in this city, in February, 1907. Mr. Polk, who was a collateral kinsman of President Polk, and who had been Consul-General of the United States in Calcutta, fell dead from heart disease in the street in Memphis on December 19, 1907. Mrs. Polk arrived at the Holland House last Thursday and Mr. St. John reached the city on the same day. At the Holland House last night it was said that Mr. St. John and Mrs. Polk are to be married to-day.
From Brooklyn (NY) Life of 9 May 1908.
Last week Tuesday the marriage of Mrs. Dorothy Kitching Polk to Mr. Richard C. St. John of St. Louis, Mo., was solemnized very quietly in Manhattan, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Dr. David G. Downey. Mrs. Polk is the widow of the late Van Leer Polk of Memphis, Tenn., to whom she was married a year ago last February at the home of her aunt, Mrs. Crowell Hadden of 71 Remsen Street. Mr. Polk died very suddenly last December. Mrs. Polk is a daughter of Mrs. Frederick McHenry Kitching.
New Orleans newspapers first report of George Bodine on 8 June 1908 as Agent for the Atlantic Coast Seaman's Union when he was appointed chairman of an arbitration committee in a dispute between Locals 215, Brewery Workers and 701 of the Central Trades and Labor Council.
From Louisiana Federal Census Records:
1910 (19 April) New Orleans, Orleans Parish: George C. BODINE 42 NY single Lawyer, Louis A. 35 NY brother married1-10 years Physician, Winifred 32 NY sister-in-law married1-10 years 2 children born/2 living, John C. 7 NY nephew, Natalie 4 NY niece.
In July 1910, George Bodine was appointed Secretary of the Central Trades and Labor Council of New Orleans. The 1911 New Orleans City Directory lists George C. Bodine as Vice-President of the International Seaman's Union of America.
From New York City Death Records:
George Bodine, born 9 Dec 1868, son of Warden [sic] Bodine & Caroline Chesterman; married; occup-secretary; died 8 March 1916 in Manhattan and was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery.
The Courier-News (Bridgewater, NJ) of 14 Dec 1921 reported the obituary of Mrs. Alice M. Kitching who died the previous day at the home of her daughter Mrs. R. C. St. John. The issue of 14 Aug 1930 reported the death of Crowell Hadden of Brooklyn on 9 Aug who left a bequest to Dorothy K. St. John of Roselle. This would refer to Dorothy Kitching St. John. Crowell Hadden was her uncle, as noted in the above 1908 newspaper article.
1930 Roselle, Union Co., NJ: Dorothy ST. JOHN 50 NY widow. Boarding in a hotel.
There is no subsequent record of her. Death records for New Jersey in the 1930s are unavailable.