Notes for: Lovina Bodine
The "Wayne County Republican," for Friday August 7, 1896, under "Smithville News," has an article on Miss Lovina Bodine, "one of the oldest pioneers of the county. She was born in Whitney (sic?) Township, Greene County, Virginia, March 1, 1813 and came to Wayne County, August 10, 1815, being a little over two years and five months old." This information is on p. 294 of "Wayne County, Ohio Burial Records," Genealogical Section of the Wayne County Historical Society, compilers, [Evansville, IN: Unigraphic, Inc., 1975]; also found on FHC Microfiche No. 6100192.
The 1850 and 1860 Censuses of Wooster, Wayne Co., OH say she was born in Virginia. That is probably accurate. However, the ages given in those censuses is probably incorrect. The first says she was 25 and the second that she was 30.
Jan Alpert wrote me on February 6, 2000 saying, "I really tried to find Lovina Bodine, an old maid, b. 1813 in Green Co., PA who was mentioned in a 1896 newspaper article living in Wayne Co., OH (in the email you sent me). I was hoping the 1880 Census might tell me her father was born in NJ. I couldn't find her in East Union township."
Note: Greene County, Pennsylvania is right on the edge of what was Virginia back in 1813. Maybe Whitney (or Whiteley Township) was actually in Virginia at that time.
The IGI says she was unmarried. Dianna Alaniz found a marriage for a Lovina in the IGI, December 26, 1867 to William Stevens, Wayne County, Ohio. The Fox book says she did not marry. It's possible that she did marry, but I'll assume that she was unmarried for now.
From: oto at comporium.net
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008
Subject: additional info on Samuel Bodine (b1787) and daughter Lovina
My paternal great grandmother was Myrtle Carpenter Shook. Her maternal great grandparents were Samuel Bodine and Mary Fox. She wrote an "autobiography" and I though you might be interested in what she wrote about the Bodines. It's nothing earth shaking, but it tells a little more about their lives. The section is below. Hope you enjoy it.
Bonna Shook
"Smithville was not entirely new to us, for as I have said, we spent the first two months of our married life here, however, the old school had been done away with. Far back of this, my Great grandfather, Samuel Bodine, had come as a very young man from Connecticut to the wilderness east of town, where he made a clearing and built a log cabin. His wife with her baby in her arms rode horseback all the way. She came with a company of friends till there stopping place left her to follow the blazed trail through the forest to her new home in the clearing. Great grandfather was a blacksmith by trade, and great grandmother blew the bellows while he forged the metal. They made their own knives and forks. The handles were horn. They worked very hard. Finally they built a large frame house. They had eleven children. The were pioneer Methodists. Their home was the preaching place of the early Methodist preacher, as well as his lodging and boarding place, whenever he happened to be in that section. Was it always smooth sailing for this pioneer couple? I should say not. At one time when they had built a new barn and had it filled with grain and hay for the winter, when it burned to the ground, so they had to begin all over again. The prospered, so they were the first family in that section to own a carriage or a set of china dishes. I remember of hearing my grandmother tell of the wonderful meetings held around that family altar with neighbors and friends. In time they retired and moved to Wooster, where Great grandmother died. Then Great grand father and his spinster daughter, Lovina, came back to Smithville. After his death, she being by herself, was thought to be rather queer, which the following circumstance will prove. She, as long as she was able, was to be found in her accustomed place at church. One time when there was a new preacher, a young man, who wished to be very nice to everyone, said to her as he was shaking hands with her, "And how are you, Mother?" As quick as a flash she replied, "I ain't nobody's mother." She also seemed to have a fear that someone would enter her house, so she piled tables and chairs against the door as soon as it began to get dark, so that even if nieces came to see her it was with difficulty that they made themselves known and gained admittance. This was my background in Smithville."
***End of info.