Biographical Sketch of

Samuel D. Bodle

Transcribed by Barbara Voss



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 498 - 499


Samuel D. Bodle, deceased, was among the honored pioneers of Green Lake County, Wis., the date of his arrival being 
1848. He was a native of the Empire State, having been born in Orange County, of Scotch and Irish parentage on the 
16th of September 1804. He grew to manhood in his native county and on arriving at years of maturity was united in 
marriage with Miss Maria Rosencrantz, who was born in New Jersey, just across the line from Orange County, N. Y., 
October 14, 1809. She was of German descent. After their marriage, they began their domestic life in his native 
county, living upon a farm which Mr. Bodle continued to cultivate until about 1839, when he removed with his family 
to Luzerne County, PA. The succeeding nine years of his life were there passed, he again carrying on agricultural 
pursuits until 1848, when with his wife and children he came to the new State of Wisconsin, settling in what is now 
Green Lake County, where he entered eighty acres on section 13 in the town of Brooklyn, then a part of Pleasant 
Valley Township. That farm is still owned by his sons and is one of the best in the town. Mr. Bodle labored long and 
earnestly to make for himself and family a home and succeeded in surrounding them with all the comforts which go to 
make life worth the living. In early life he supported the Whig party and afterwards became a Republican but never 
sought or desired official honors, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business interests. He was a 
respected citizen and he and his wife ranked high in the community where they made their home for so many years. 
Both were members of the Congregational Church. The death of Mr. Bodle occurred on the 28th of July 1875, his wife 
surviving until September 29, 1883, when she too passed away. Their loss was sincerely mourned for they had been 
identified with the county�s history since its early days and had many warm friends throughout the community.

Unto that worthy couple was born a family of ten children: Solomon, who is married and is now engaged in farming in 
Kansas; Hugh wedded Martha Merrill and is a farmer of South Dakota; Benjamin F., unmarried, is living on the old 
homestead; David wedded Ann Groff and is proprietor of a hotel at Rib Lake, Wis.; Foster is married and is now engaged 
in the practice of medicine at Oakland, Cal.; William, still unmarried, is living on the old homestead; Jonathan was 
joined in wedlock with Marian Olin and is a carpenter by trade; Boyd, a lumberman of Michigan, chose for a companion 
Susie Baker and after her death married Blanche Benjamin; Jennie is keeping house for her brothers on the old home 
farm; Sarah became the wife of Henry Wilson and after his death was led to the marriage altar by DeWitt Linch, a farmer 
of Fond du Lac County, Wis.

Of that large family of children only two, Benjamin and William are now engaged in farming in Green Lake County. They 
are the owners of 480 acres of arable land highly cultivated and improved, which they have acquired by their own efforts. 
Both are supporters of the Republican Party and Benjamin has once held the office of Supervisor of the town of Brooklyn. 
The Bodle brothers are numbered among the successful farmers of the community and are accounted excellent business men. 
In connection with the cultivation of their lands they raise horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, making a specialty of the 
last named and that line of their business yields them a good income.

 




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