Jacob Bodden


Jacob Bodden was a German American immigrant, farmer, and politician. He represented eastern Dodge County for three terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Biography

Bodden was born in Lich, which was, at the time, a part of the Rhine Province of the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1851, Bodden immigrated to Wisconsin and worked as a farmer. On January 24, 1856, Bodden married Agnes Schafer. On September 3, 1858, Schafer died after giving birth to their only child. In 1860, Bodden married Gertrude Schaefer at the Catholic church in Theresa, Wisconsin. They had 13 children. He died on February 21, 1889 in Theresa.

Career

Bodden served in the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1861, 1866, and 1874 sessions and was a Democrat. He also served as treasurer and sheriff of Dodge County, Wisconsin. He also was chairman of the county board of supervisors of Dodge County in 1874–75. In 1873, Bodden ran for the state assembly unopposed and received 902 total votes.

Family

In 1988, Jacob Bodden's Great Grandson, Todd Bodden, ran for Wisconsin's 59th Assembly District as a Democrat and lost in the general election.
In 2018, Jacob Bodden's 3rd Great Grandson, Ty Bodden, ran for Wisconsin's 59th Assembly District as a Republican and lost in the primary election.