John Bodine, a retired merchant at Birmingham, was born in Baptistown, Hunterdon County, N. J.. December 19, 1815, and is the son of Frederick and Mary O. (Daniels) Bodine, natives of New jersey and Pennsylvania respectinely. Frederick was a tailor by trade and also kept a tavern for many years, and was the father of seven children namely; Mary A., Jane, Hannah, John, Rebecca, William and Christian.

The mother of this family died when John was about nine years of age, and beofre he was sixteen he started out in life on his own account. After learning his trade as a tailor, he worked as a journeyman i various parts of New York and Connecticut until 1855, when he came to Birmingham, and opened up a tailor shop and clothing business, which he followed until about 1885, when he retired from active business.

Mr. Bodine has been a Democrat and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for sixteen years. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, January 30, 1842, he married Miss Elizabeth Hefley, of Pottsville, Pa., whi was born in Harrisburg, that state, in 1824, and died January 8, 1851, leaving three daughters; May , Mrs. Albert Burson; Hannah, Mrs Dr. Charles M. Raynate; and Clara, Mrs. James Camp. Mr. Bodine was again married in 1852 to Miss Sarah J. Riggs, of New Haven County, Conn., whi was born in 1828 and is a daughter of Eli and Susan (Brunson) Riggs, of Connecticut. To our subject and this lady, have been born five children; John F., deceased; Emma, Mrs Whitehead; Ida, Mrs Howard; William E., residing in Wyoming; and Albert J., who is in the same region.