Notes for: Lydia A. Bodine

From Ronny Bodine:

In 1880, Edward and Lydia Bentley lived in Hampton, Rock Island, Illinois where Edward was a clergyman. The couple had no children at this time.

In 1900, Edward Bentley, born Nov 1838, lived in West Jersey, Stark County, Illinois with his 2nd wife, Maggie. He reported they had been married 16 years. This appears to establish that Lydia, alive in June 1880 had died within the next four years.

The will of Edward N. Bentley of Stark County, Illinois, "a minister of the Gospel, a member of the Central Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church" of 8 May 1903 names his sister Mrs. Alice J. Catton and niece Mrs. Allie Plankiel as heirs along with several religious organizations and societies. The will was proved 7 Dec 1903. Probate documents record he died 21 Oct 1903 at West Jersey, Stark County. [Stark County Wills, 1: 96-97]

Death Notice, The Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL) of Tuesday, 27 Oct 1903.
The Rev. E. N. Bentley, a well-known retired Methodist minister of the Central Illinois conference, was found dead in one of the outbuildings on his place at West Jersey, ten miles south of Kewanee, Ill., yesterday. He lived alone and had not been missed, although the body had been lifeless two days.