Notes for: William Lester Bodine
From Ronny Bodine:
In June 1880, L. W. Beaubien, age 18, lived with his mother and sister in Hannibal, Marion County, Missouri where he worked as a clerk at a grain elevator.
Clinton County, Iowa Marriage Record: Willis Lester Bodine Beaubrene, son of Joseph and Eliza Beaubrene and Mae Lane Richardson, daughter of Daniel Richardson and Martha Helen took place on 10 Feb 1890.
In June 1900, W. Lester Bodine lived in Chicago, Illinois employed as the Superintendent of Compulsory Education. He reported having been married 10 years and that his wife had borne 2 children, both of whom were living with them. In April 1910 and Jan 1920, William L. Bodine was serving as Superintendent of Education in Chicago and in April 1930 was employed as an official with the school board.
Illinois Death Record: Mae Bodine, daughter of Daniel W. Richardson and Marcia H. Lane, wife of William L. Bodine, was born 3 Aug 1861 in Northfield, Vermont and died 18 May 1945 in Chicago and was buried in Rosehill Cemetery.
Obituary, Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Ill.) of 27 Nov 1951.
CHICAGO, Nov. 26--William Lester Bodine, for forty-seven years superintendent of compulsory education of the Chicago Board of Education, died today in the Lake Shore Convalescent Home. He was 69 years old. Mr. Bodine, who retired in 1946, previously was a labor commissioner for the State of Colorado and a special master commissioner of the United States Court, Eighth Judicial District, Omaha. He helped establish free bus service for crippled school children and the Chicago Parental School for Truant Children. Mr. Bodine also aided in drawing up child labor and compulsory education bills that later were adopted by the Illinois Legislature. He was author of "Bodine's Reference Book on Juvenile Welfare."
The Book of Chicagoans: A Biographical Dictionary of the Leading Living Men of the City of Chicago., by John W. Leonard and Albert Nelson Marquis, Chicago, 1911, p. 72.
BODINE, William Lester, supt. of compulsory edn.; born Marion Co., Mo.. Sept. 10, 1862; son Joseph and Eliza (Lewis) Bodine; ed. pub. schools; married Clinton, la., Feb. 10, 1890, Mae Richardson; children: Helen, Robert. Came to Chicago In 1881 and then went west; was newspaper man originally; state labor commr. of Colo., 1890-3; elected vice-pres. Nat. Assn. of Statisticians at Denver convention, 1892; appointed special master commr. of U.S. court (8th Judicial Dist.), with headquarters at Omaha, 1893; came to Chicago, 1895; with TimesHerald as political reporter until 1899; elected supt. of compulsory edn., July 13. 1899, by Chicago Board of Edn. (holds under Civil Service Law). Chmn. of Chicago Child-Saving League legislative com., which carried the child-labor and compulsory edn. bills through the Legislature in 1902-3; served on exec. com. of Cook Co. child-saving conference. Also on state com. to revise child labor law; chmn. com. on pub. order, Ravenswood Protective Assn., and mem. exec, com.; dir.. Juvenile Protective League, Frances Juvenile Home. Has held nat. record for reduction of truancy since 1905, world's record in 1908 and 1909. Democrat. Club: City. Residence: 4556 Dover St. Office: Tribune Bldg.