Notes for: Samuel T. Bodine
Samuel Bodine is mentioned in History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, pages 635-636. He was an early settler on Lycoming Creek in Lewis Township. He came there in 1839 following his father, John, who had gone there in April of 1838 employed as a contractor in laying railroad track. In 1842, Samuel and a Mr. Bunnel started a Sunday School in the Pennsdale schoolhouse. Forty persons attended. He carried on a mill that John Reed had begun in 1835. He was the first postmaster of Bodines, Pennsylvania. He had this position from August 3, 1856 until March 1, 1892. John was also a lumberman and justice of the peace for three terms. The other Bodines buried with him and Elizabeth at Penn's Dale Cemetery are his children (compare with 1860 Census of Lewis, Lycoming Co., PA).
The info from Catherine Horman only gives five children: William Oaks, Catherine M., Lucy, Sarah (Elizabeth), and John T.
He was listed as a farmer in the 1880 Census of Lewis, Lycoming Co., PA.
From Ronny Bodine:
From History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, John F. McGinness, ed., Chicago, 1892:
Another early settler on Lycoming creek was John Bodine. He came there in April, 1838, and was employed as a contractor in laying the track of the "strap railroad" between Bodines and Ralston. When the work was finished he settled there and his place came to be known as Bodines, a name which it bears to this day. His son, Samuel Bodine, born June 12, 1814, near Allentown, Pennsylvania, followed his father in 1839, and remained. He now ranks as an old settler. John Bodine was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in 1785, and died at his home in 1857.
Bodines. - The next post office was established at Bodinesville, August 3, 1856, and Samuel Bodine appointed postmaster; August 40, 1887, the name was changed to Bodines. Samuel Bodine continued in office until the 1st of March, 1892, when he was succeeded by John D. Bunyan. He held the office for over thirty-six years, a longer time perhaps than any other postmaster in the county. Mr. Bodine also served three terms as justice of the peace and declined the fourth.
From Pennsylvania Federal Census Records:
1850 (7 Nov) Lewis Twp., Lycoming Co.: Samuel BODINE 36 Lumberman, Eliza 36, W. (m) 10, Catharine 8, Lucy 4, Eliza 13. All born PA.
1860 (19 July) Lewis Twp., Lycoming Co.: Saml. BODINE 46 Lumberman, Elizabeth 46, Wm. 20, Catharine 17, Lucy 13, John 10, Sarah 6.
1870 (6 June) Lewis Twp., Lycoming Co.: Samuel BODINE 56, Elizabeth 56, William O. 29 Works on Farm, Catharine 27, Lucy O. 23, John T. 19 Works on Farm, Sarah G. 16. All born in PA.
1880 (25 June) Lewis Twp., Lycoming Co.: Samuel BODINE 66 Farmer, Elizabeth 66 wife, William 38 son, Catharine 35 dau, John T. 28 son. All born PA.
1900 (1 June) Lewis Twp., Lycoming Co.: Samuel BRDINE [sic] June 1814 widowed Farmer, Wm. C. Oct 1840 Farm Laborer, Kate Feb 1843, Lucy CLENDENIEL April 1847, Carson Oct 1877 Farm Laborer. All born PA.
Obituary, Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pa.) of 30 April 1886.
This newspaper is very faint and only selected details are legible: Bodinesville. April 28-- funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth S. Oaks Bodine, wife of Samuel Bodine, of this place.The services were held in the house at the request of Mrs. Bodine before she died..She was the widow of Samuel Bodine and raised a family of sons and daughters who are all living except the youngest who died at the age of sixteen.
Obituary, Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pa.) of 18 Nov 1909.
Samuel Bodine, one of the oldest, if not thes oldest, resident of Lycoming county, died at his home at Bodines yesterday afternoon, of acute bronchitis, in the 96th years of his age. Mr. Bodine was one of the best known men in this section, having come to Lycoming county with his parents at an early age. As a young man he was a contractor and helped build the old strap railroad from Williamsport to Ralston, and assisted in hauling the lumber that went into the construction of the old wooden bridges that spanned Lycoming creek at so many points between the terminals of the road. He was also engaged for many years in the work of digging the old West Branch canal and the construction of the locks between Williamsport and Shamokin Dam. Mr. Bodine worked on public improvements in other sections of the state and fired on the first locomotive ever run in Pennsylvania from Harrisburg to Carlisle in 1838. Mr. Bodine was the first postmaster of Bodines and served in that capacity for 36 consecutive years. He also served as Justice of the Peace for three terms and declined a re-election to a forth. In the latter years of his life, before he was compelled to relinquish his business owing to the infirmities of age, he was actively engaged in the lumber business at Bodines, where he operated a large saw mill. The deceased is survived by one son, William, who resided with him and who is over 70 years of age. Funeral services will be held at the house on Friday morning at 10 o'clock. Interment at Bodines.
Burials in Pennsdale Cemetery, Bodines, Lycoming County.
(For grave marker photo see Find A Grave Memorial No. 42488530)
Elizabeth Bodine wife of S. Bodine June 6, 1814 Apr. 25, 1886 Samuel Bodine 1814-1909