Michael Bodell, for over a quarter of century a respected resident of Tyrone township, Kent county, Mich., is a native of Holderman county, Canada, and was born about fifteen miles from Niagara Falls, May 31, 1845, the second of the nine sons and three daughters that constituted the family of Henry and Barbara (Stultz) Bodell, ten of whom are still living, viz: Jonas, the eldest, who is married and is a farmer of Macomb county, Mich., with his post office at Romeo; Michael, the subject of this sketch; Benjamin, married, and a farmer of Tyrone township, Kent county; Susan, wife of L. Hagle, of Huron county; Henry, also married farmer of Tyrone township; Jacob, a farmer of Alpine township and also married; William, a farmer of Newaygo county and head of a family; Alexander, married, and farming in Ottawa county; Lorenzo, a farmer of Tyrone township, and Caroline, the wife of C.C. Caanen, also of Tyrone township.

Henry Bodell, the father, was born in Baden, Germany, August 2, 1822, and was a child of five years when brought to America by his parents. The family were ninety days crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel, the captain of which lost his reckoning, causing much distress to passengers and crew from hunger, and eventually landed in the city of New York, whence the Bodell family made their way direct to Hoilderman county. Adam Bodell, father of Henry, was a soldier under Napoleon I, and was a participant in the disastrous campaign against Russia, which resulted in the destruction of and disastrous retreat from Moscow. Henry Bodell was reared in Canada, where he learned trade of carpenter and joiner, and in 1865 came to Kent county, Mich., purchased eighty acres of forest land and erected a little shanty, in which to live until a log cabin could be built, a few days later. This cabin was about 16x24 feet in dimensions, ground plan, was six feet high and had a shed roof, with a stove pipe thrust through it for chimney. Indians were numerous and frequently passed through the little clearing, peddling their baskets and other wares, and even our subject has seen deer in numbers on the little farm. Kent City was not known, and at Casnovia there were only two other stores, a small blacksmith shop and a frame hotel. Not a railroad existed in this part of the country, ox-teams being the only means of transportation, and the farming implements were of simple construction, Michael Bodell still retaining, as a souvenir, an old four-fingered cradle as a specimen. Here Henry Bodell passed the remainder of his life, but lived to see the wilderness swept away and fertile fields and comfortable dwellings take its place, and died an honored citizen October 9, 1894. His widow, who was born in Germany, May 18, 1823, now resides in Ottawa county, still does her sewing without the aid of a machine, and is still in the full possession of her mental faculties.

Michael Bodell was reared in Canada until twenty years of age, was there educated in main and learned the carpenter and joiner’s trade, but since his marriage has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. July 4, 1870, he wedded Miss Orpha A. Place, and this union has been blessed with nine children, viz: William H., who was educated in the common schools and is by calling a farmer; Carrie V., still at home; Cora M., now in Grand Rapids; Charles E., at home; John M., at home; Leonard L., who aids his father on the farm; George W., who is the youngest son; Mabel I., now in the fourth grade at school; Mary A., the youngest of the family, is in the third grade, and all the elder children received a solid public school education.

Mrs. Orphia Bodell was born in Huron county, Ohio, June 13, 1847, whence her parents emigrated to Illinois when she was a little girl, and later came to Michigan and purchased an eighty acre farm in Sparta township. Both parents are now, however deceased. Of their children, one daughter, besides Mrs. Bodell, and one son still survive, viz: Rosa, wife of Rev. Horace Place, a well known Methodist divine of Toledo, Ohio, and Edward Place, a resident of Grand Rapids. Mrs. Bodell received a solid common school education and is in every respect an accomplished lady.

Michael Bodell began his agricultural life by purchasing forty acres of his father’s farm, and for this he went in debt for the greater part of the cost. He then worked out by the month until he had earned the means with which to cancel the debt. He then sold the west half, of twenty acres of his farm of forty, and purchased forty acres on the east side of his remaining twenty, and these sixty acres, now constitute his present farm. He has made all the improvements on his place, has labored hard, and has succeeded in placing his family in comfortable circumstance. In politics, Mr. Bodell strongly leaned toward the principles of the republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant, but in local affairs he votes for the man best suited, in his opinion, for public office, and he is by no means an expansionist. He and wife are firm friends of public education and believe in employing the best teachers the school fund can hire. They live strictly up to the golden rule, and are classed with the best citizens of Tyrone township.