Notes for: James C. Bodine
This family is discussed in Edson Payson Bodine's article "The History of the Branch of the Bodine Family Founded by Cornelius Bodine, A Soldier of the Revolution, and a Pioneer of the Lake Country of Central New York" (1897). It is not a well-documented article, but the later genealogies are probably pretty accurate. His earlier genealogies may have more mistakes. He does not list any family for this James Bodine.
From Ronny Bodine:
From New York federal Census Records:
1860 (6 July) Romulus, Seneca Co.: James BODINE 25 Farmer, Susen 33, Deby 31, Mary 29, Augusta 27, Charles 18 all noted as born in Seneca Co.
In June 1863, James C. Bodine, age 28, farmer, registered for the Civil War Draft as a resident of Romulus, New York.
From Iowa Federal Census Records:
1880 (9 June) Cook Twp., Sac Co.: James BODINE 44 NY Farmer, Susan 52 NY sister, Deborah 50 NY sister, Mary 48 NY sister, Wm. WEAVER 9 IA nephew
From: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac Counties, Iowa. Lewis Publishing Company, 1893
J. C. BODINE, a well-to-do farmer of Cook township, Sac county, Iowa, post office Schaller, was born February 8,1835. His parents were Gilbert and Harriet (Swartout) Bodine, natives of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. His father was of French origin, and his mother's ancestors were from Holland. Mr. Bodine was the seventh of eleven children, and received his education in the common schools in New York. At nineteen years of age he took charge of his father's farm, on which he remained until 1865. Hearing favorable reports of the West, where land was cheap and good, he removed to Aurora, prosperous city of Illinois at that time. He here engaged in the stock business, in which he continued with fair success for about two and a half years. He then. removed to Grinnell, in Poweshiek county, Iowa, where he farmed nine years. In 1876 he came to his present desirable location, and bought a half section of unbroken prairie land from the railroad company. Great changes have been worked by industrious cultivation and the lapse of time, until this is now one of the choicest farming spots in the world. He has always been a stalwart Democrat. He is an advocate of all enterprises having for their object the advancement of the comnunity. Although his county is largely Republican, he was elected Treasurer for the Democratic ticket, and has held various other positions of trusts, showing that in his case the office seeks the man.
Obituary, Schaller News (Schaller, Iowa) of 30 Jan 1896
Died, in Cook Township, Jan. 21st, 1896, James C. Bodine, aged sixty-one years lacking 18 days. He was born February 8th, 1835, in Romulus, near the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, in New York. In 1865, the family moved to Aurora, Illinois. They lived there some three years, when they moved near Grinnell, Iowa; here they remained nine or ten years when they came to their present home in 1876. Here fine improvements were made, good buildings, fencing, setting out groves and bringing the farm to a good state of cultivation. Here Mr. Bodine and his three sisters have made their home for twenty years. Mr. Bodine was a good farmer and a successful business man. For many years he engaged in the stock business. He was a favorite buyer, for no man thought of his over-reaching or deceiving in business matters. He has had much to do with the business interests of the town and county. He has held the office of County Treasurer, and recently run for State Senator, but the district was strongly republican and no democrat could be elected. He lived in a republican town, and still at tone time he received all the votes cast in the town, but two, for a county office. In his neighborhood he was helpful by his advice, and financially, when such help was needed. One noble trait of character was his never speaking against anyone, to their injury in business or feelings. He was truthful and honest in business matters, and in the social relations of life, a friend to all and all were his friends. A town, yes a county, is in mourning for one of the best of citizens. The years will come and go, but his influence will live on to help many a young man to live an honest and more useful life. We carried him to his last resting place on Thursday the 23d, inst. A large number attended the funeral. The day was cold or many more would have been in attendance from the country and from the villages throughout the county. His friend and neighbor on an adjoining farm preached the sermon, though he was a mourner, very much as for a brother. Mr. Bodine's brother and four sisters and the widowed sister's three children and companions were present at his death and funeral. A few more distant relatives were also present. The choir sang for their last hymn, "When Shall We Meet Again." May it be when the end of this life comes, in that beautiful world where sorrow and death shall never come, and a crown and a mansion are prepared for all that have become disciples of the risen Lord.