John B. Roden

John B. Roden (born 1849 in DeKalb County; died 1921) was an early businessman, owner of the John B. Roden & Co. book shop in downtown Birmingham.

Roden was the son of William and Viola Roden, grandson of John B. Roden and great-grandson of Revolutionary War orderly sergeant Jeremiah Roden. He grew up on his family's farm and saw his older brothers go off to battle during the Civil War. After the war, Roden farmed for a while in Texas.

He came to Birmingham in the early 1870s, his brother, Benjamin, a Gadsden merchant, having been invited to the city by James Powell. By 1875 Roden had opened his book shop on 2nd Avenue North. On April 13 of the following year he married the former Cora Gilliam of Marion.

In 1882 Roden joined his brother Benjamin, William Morris, J. C. Kyle and attorney R. H. Pearson in incorporating the Birmingham Street Railway Company. Soon later the Rodens joined Morris in founding the Avondale Land Company which developed the suburb of Avondale. He served on the Avondale Board of Aldermen in 1890.

By 1887 Roden was also a director of the South Anniston Land Company.

In 1892, motivated by a convincing sermon on the evils of gambling, Roden burned $200 worth of playing cards that he had in stock. In September 1894 he joined with his brother and Frank Bivings in the formation of the Birmingham Book Company.

Roden died in 1921.

References

• North Alabama (Illustrated) (1888) Birmingham: Southern Commercial Publishing Co.
• The Friend (May 7, 1892) Vol. 66, No. 41, p. 327