Notes for: Ambrose S. Bodine

Malex2626 at aol.com said that Ambrose was a farmer, raised livestock, and was active in Genesee Grange No. 31. The marriages for the daughters were from a History of Genesee Co., MI (Mert Alexander).

Catherine Horman read somewhere that Ambrose and Adaline Williams had six children. However, they were not named in the information she had. This may come from two history books about Genesee County: one by E.A. Woods and another by Franklin P. Ellis.

From: David Collins [lobear at infostations.com]
Sent: Thu, January 23, 2003
Subject: Re: revisions to William Ira Bodine

Hi Dave, I really don't have much - my uncle John L. Bodine wrote down a few things for me a long time ago. He listed his father William Ira, as having 2 siblings, Mary (married James Matlock brother of William Ira's wife- Mary Maybell Matlock), and Charles (he died in Springfield, MO sometime before 1950 I think. I'll ask my sister and cousin). I have never heard of Frederick and Uncle John didn't mention him. Maybe he died young ? John said that Clarissa (aka Sarah) Williams was French Canadian. He said George's brothers were Henry, Ambrose, and William. Thier father was Abram and an "English girl", Trumbull. John said that George W. and his brothers each homesteaded 600 acres in Mich. George subsequently sold his land to his brothers to become a captain on the lake ships. John said Abram's people came from Holland to Wm. Penn's colony about 1710. That's all I have earlier than great grandfather George.

Regards,
Lois

From Ronny Bodine:

In June 1870, Ambrose Bodine, age 25, lived with his wife Salina and son Hiram, age 3 months, in Genesee Township, Genesee County engaged in farming. Nearby lived his brother Henry and his family. In April 1910, Ambrose and Adaline Bodine lived in Genesee Township. Ambrose reported this was the 2nd marriage for both himself and his wife. In Jan 1920, Ambrose Bodine, age 74 and widowed, lived with his son-in-law and daughter, Lester and Jessie Skutt, in Genesee Township. Adaline (Williams) Bodine was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Flint City, Genesee County.

From "History of Genesee County, Michigan," by Edwin O. Wood, Indianapolis: Federal Publishing Company, 1916, Vol. 2, p. 830-831"

Ambrose Bodine, one of the best-known of the survivors of the old pioneer generation in Genesee county, a native son of this county and a resident all his life of the farm on which he still lives in section 3 of Genesee township, was born on that farm on February 6, 1844. He is a son of Abraham and Philinda (Trumbull) Bodine, natives of New York state, the former born in 1808. They were married in that state and came to Michigan in 1837, the year the state was admitted to statehood, settling in Genesee township, this county, being among the earliest settlers of that part of the county.

Ambrose Bodine grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Genesee township, receiving his schooling in the Bodine district school. From early boyhood he was a valuable assistant in the work of improving and developing the home place. He was twenty years of age when his father died and he and his brother, Henry Bodine, then bought the home farm in partnership and continued to operate the same under this mutually agreeable arrangement for fifty years, or until the failing health of Henry Bodine compelled his retirement, since which time Ambrose Bodine has been the sole owner. In addition to his general farming, he has long given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. His farm is well improved and he is very comfortably situated. Mr. Bodine is an independent voter and the only public office he has ever held was that of highway commissioner some years ago. He is a member of Genesee Grange No. 31 and has for many years taken an active part in Grange affairs as well as in all movements designed to advance the general interests of the community which he has seen develop from early pioneer days and to which development he has contributed much of his time and energies.

Mr. Bodine has been twice married. On March 24, 1866, when twenty-two years old, he was united in marriage to Adaline B. Rogers, who was born on June 22, 1848, daughter and only child of Millard F. Rogers, a pioneer mechanic and carpenter of Genesee township. To that union five children were born, namely: Herbert H., born on March 8, 1870, who died on August 9, 1870; Jessie, May 12, 1872, who married Lester Scott, of Linton, Iowa; Florence S., February 4, 1874, who married Leslie Borden, of Flint: Ray L., August 22, 1878, who died in infancy, and Edith, Tune 14. 1880, who married Clarence Workman, of Flint. The mother of these children died on July 12, 1880, and in November, 1883, Mr. Bodine married Adaline Williams, who was born at Swartz Creek, this county January 22, 1841, daughter of Marvin and Elizabeth (Pettit) Williams, pioneers of this county, who were the parents of six children. Mr. and Mrs. Bodine have a very pleasant home and n their declining years continue to take an earnest interest in neighborhood affairs.