Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/681

 572

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

In his early inanhood he moved to WilkesBarrc* Pa., to become bookkeeper and pay­ master at (he Franklin mines. H e w as a man o f unusual mental attainments and particularly winning personality. H e met a tragic death ill 1883, when run down by a train. I lis wife* Emil^ Brooks Alexander* was bom in Philadelphia* Fa., daughter o f Thomas Alexander, who came to America from ScoilanU and settled in that city. Both she an<l her husband were devout Episcopalians. They had two children: Emily* who married Mr. I.an di$; and Klizaliclh Orr* the w ife o f Dr. A . G . Morrish, o f W ilkes-Barre. I J N C O L X H . B O O D Y is probably one of the most successful as well as public-spirited men o f this jiorlion of the Commonw'calih of Pennsylvania, specially interested in the growth and development of the town o f R u­ pert* where he resides. Ilis rise to affluence lias not hccn sjiectacular, but by steady and substantial steps* founded on honor and busi­ ness ability. H e is the brgest dealer in lum­ ber in this section. M r. Boody was bom at Mullica Hilt* X. J ., Sept. 28* i860, son o f David and Klizalicth (InOopcr) Boody. T lie Boody fam ily is o f English origin* the first o f that name locating in the State of X cw Jersey in early Colonial times. George Boody, the grandfather of Lincoln H ., was the owner o f a Large farm in that historic sec­ tion o f X c w Je rse y called Vinckind* where the relics of the Norsemen are to be seen to this day. H ere David* the father o f Lincoln II. Boody* w as bom. David liciody was a man o f more than pass­ ing note, and the native wit and genius he displayed have in a great measure descended to his son. H e w as a versatile worker* being in turn millwright. car|>cnter and cabinet­ maker. He contracted fo r and erected many large edifices in different parts of the countr)* and was successful in t ic m ajority o f his ventures. But there w as another side to his character. A|iart from the multifarious de­ tails o f construction he found time and in­ clination to write and partially complete a gra)ihic and interesting history^ of the Civil war. H is dcjith prevented the completion o f this work. H e had assisted in forming one of the first of the Ncw* Jersey companies, went to the front, and passed through three years o f battle and privation* which were the chief cause o f his early death. He married F.iizabcth, daughter o f John Loopcr, a well known resident o f Gloucester, N. J ., and they had three sons and three daughters: R. II., a

^fam ier o f Bridgeton. N. J .; David, an iron w'orkcr; Rachel* who w as drow ned at the age o f eighteen: A m v, w ife of William Camm* of Bridgeton* N. w ife o f John Fletcher, o f Bridgeton, 1 ‘he mother died at her home in Bridgeton Feb. 2$, 19 14 . at the age o f eighty-four years. The son Uncoln by his w ill ^ a m c executor o f her estate. The death o f his father had a depressing effect upon the fortunes o f Lincoln H. Boody. H is mother lost a considerable portion of the family pro[>eriy and rcmovc<l from Mullica H ill to Bridgeton* where the boy* at the age of ten went to work in a nail factory. Follow ­ ing this fo r a time, he next w'orkcd as cabin boy and assistant cook on several boats* until the Centennial year, when lie went to Fliila(iclphia to work in a market. From there he proceeded to Rupert* Columbia Co., Pa.* where he decided to Icam the trade o f stonecutting. Completing the apprenticeship, he w*cnt out on the road as salesman for his brother* K. H. Boody* later being taken imo partnership in the marble and granite works. T hey were very successful in time adding another plant* in Hughesville. In t888 the firm w as dis­ solved and Lincoln H . became the sole pro­ prietor of the plant at Ru|>ert* Later buying the works at Ilu ^ e s v illc . In 1900 he discon­ tinued the martde and granite business and invested in timberland, and in 1902 b<^an the wholesale lumber trade, in which he is now engaged in. H is customers arc scattered through the States o f Pennsylvania* 'irginia* West N'irginia and M arybn d. Most o l his output is sold to the .American C ar and F ou n ­ d ry Com]iany and to the coal mines. M r. Boody was married. Dec. 2 1, 1887* to 5 ra h L. Nichols, o f Bridgeton. N. J.* and b ihcv have four children: Mar)* Catherine, w ile o f Howard F. Fisher, residing at R u pert; Porter Ru]>crt. who died in in fan cy; Lctiiia MortTftii. at hom e; and I.eonard K.* attending school. M r. Boody has been as versatile in his tastes and attainments as his father w as before him. When the bicycle craze was in full force he cntcrcil the trade, did a fine business, and be­ came noted as a racer and trick rider. H e is intercsteil in art, and has the interior o f his home decorated by a German artist at a cost o f $3,000. The home is o f great interest his­ torically as well a s artistically, having been erected by I ^ n a r d Rupert, the founder of the town, in i8t8. subsequently passing into the hands of the Paxton fam ily, and (hen to the ownership o f Mr, Boody. It contains four-
 * Uncoln I L; and Hattie,