U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bodley, John (1844-1907) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 665-666 JOHN BODLEY, a retired and well-to-do citizen of Wheeling, West Virginia, was for many years a partner in the enterprising business firm of Bodley Brothers, who manufactured wagons quite extensively in that city. Mr. Bodley is the second child and youngest son of Joshua and Martha (Galley) Bodley and was born in the city of Wheeling, December 17, 1844. The four Bodley brothers originally located in Wheeling at various dates between 1830 and 1851, and spent the remainder of their lives in that city. They were reared in Monongalia County, Virginia, now West Virginia. Two of the brothers married Galley sisters, and the other two married ladies named Donnelly, who were the relation of aunt and niece, and were from Greene County, Pennsylvania. The four Bodley brothers were Joshua, Joseph A., James and Daniel. The last named three learned the bricklayer's trade, and subsequently became prominent contractors in Wheeling. James also engaged in the manufacture of brick, and carried on that business with an unusual degree of success for 30 or 40 years. Daniel Bodley was born in 1833, and went to Wheeling in 1851. He married Jane Elizabeth Galley, who is now the only surviving member of the Galley family. Her husband's death, which occurred April 29, 1893, was the result of an accident. James had died previously, and Joseph A. passed to his final rest about 1895. Their loss was felt in the community, as they were especially prominent in business circles. Joshua, the father of John, was born in 1812, and in 1830, while still a youth, sought his fortune in Wheeling. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and later engaged in the manufacture of wagons, and followed that vocation the whole of his active life. His marriage with Martha Galley, a daughter of John Galley, took place in Wheeling and they reared three children, — two sons and one daughter. In 1832 Joshua Bodley established a wagon factory, which he conducted alone for several years, when he took in David Richards as partner. They did business for a number of years. Later, in company with Thomas M. Galley, Joshua Bodley established another wagon factory, and Mr. Galley attended to the sale of the product up to the time of his last illness. After the death of his partner, Mr. Bodley continued the business by taking his son, James W., into partnership during the war, and later his son John, the subject of these lines, assisted him in the business. Upon the death of the father the business passed to these two sons, James W. and John, who continued the manufacture of vehicles under the name of Bodley Brothers until 1891, when John Bodley retired from the business. The concern was incorporated about that time as the Bodley Wagon Company, and its location was changed to Staunton, Virginia. This company is in successful operation at the present time, under the careful and skillful management of its president, James W. Bodley. John Bodley has one sister, Mary, who married David R. Brooks. Her husband died several years ago, and Mrs. Brooks lives in Wheeling, having a comfortable residence on 15th street. ------------------------------------------------------------------- CERTIFICATE OF DEATH, City of Wheeling, W.Va. #225 FULL-NAME: John Bodley BIRTH-DATE: December 17, 1845 BIRTH-PLACE: Wheeling, Va. DEATH-DATE: March 24, 1907 AGE-AT-DEATH: 61y-3m-7d (Note: 62 is written left of 61 years) DEATH-PLACE: 86-1/2 14th St., Wheeling, Ward 3, W.Va. MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Retired FATHER: Josuah Bodley (born in Va.) MOTHER: Martha Gauley (born in New York) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Diabetes Mellitus / Chronic Nephritis INFORMANT: Wm Bodley (his son) of Wheeling, W.Va. BURIAL: Greenwood ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ohio County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ohio/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------