BODLEY, John - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

On last Friday morning our people were shocked to hear of the death of one of the oldest resident of this county and although it was rather expected, still it caused not the less grief, and brought out the sincerest words of eulogy from those who had known so long and so well the subject of this obituary. Mr. John Bodley passed from earthly existed at 12 o’clock on Friday morning and at three o’clock in the afternoon the stores and places of business were closed and his former associates gathered at his late residence on Pells street to pay their last tributes of respect to the lamented dead. A short service was conducted by the Rev. AF Irwin after which the pall bearers carried the remains to the Central Depot to be forwarded to a last resting place in Covington, Indiana.  The following is a brief sketch of his life: John Bodley was born at Lexington, Kentucky in 1804 and was at the time of his death nearly 75 years old.  While yet a child he moved to Dayton, Ohio and from there to a place near Attica, Indiana in 1829.  In 1830 he was married to Miss Mary Ireland who died in 1845.  He taught singing and day school for several years in Fountain County, Indiana. From 1832 to 1834 he followed flat boating on the Mississippi.  He served as JP, Superintendet of the Wabash Canal and Sheriff of Fountain County at different times. He married his present widow in 1846.  She was a sister of the Hon. EA Hannegan, US Senator from Indiana from 1845-1851. Mr. B went overland to California in 1849 and made a considerable amount of money while there. He returned to Covington, Indiana and was engaged there in banking for a time. From there to Blue Grass, Illinois, he moved in 1855 and to Paxton in 1860 and engaged in the grocery business and afterwards grain business until 1864 when he made another trip west. He returned here in 1866 and has made this city his home ever since. He has been Mayor of the city; President of the Agricultural Board and held other positions of honor and trust.  He has paid $14,000 in security debts and was a kind hearted, generous man loved and respected by everyone who knew him.  A friend of the poor, a good neighbor and a true friend, a kind father and a faithful husband. - kbz