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'''Benjamin Franklin Roden''' (born [[January 5]], [[1844]] in DeKalb County - died [[February 23]], [[1908]]) founded numerous businesses in the early days of [[Birmingham]].
'''Benjamin Franklin Roden''' (born [[January 5]], [[1844]] in DeKalb County - died [[February 23]], [[1908]]) founded numerous businesses in the early days of [[Birmingham]].


Roden was the son of W. B. 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 until [[1861]], when he volunteered with the [[27th Alabama Infantry, CSA|27th Alabama Infantry]] for service to Polk's Army in the [[Civil War]]. He was wounded by a musket ball to the knee at the Battle of Shiloh in April [[1862]] and was assigned to the quartermaster corps before becoming a surgeon's assistant.
Roden was the son of [[William Roden|William]] and [[Viola Roden]], grandson of [[John B. Roden (soldier)|John B. Roden]] and great-grandson of Revolutionary War orderly sergeant Jeremiah Roden. He grew up on his family's farm until [[1861]], when he volunteered with the [[27th Alabama Infantry, CSA|27th Alabama Infantry]] for service to Polk's Army in the [[Civil War]]. He was wounded by a musket ball to the knee at the Battle of Shiloh in April [[1862]] and was assigned to the quartermaster corps before becoming a surgeon's assistant.


After the war, Roden continued his schooling at McKenzie College in Clarksville, Texas and spent some time as a teacher among the Choctaw people. After repaying money he had borrowed from the founder of his college he entered the grocery and timber business in Gadsden, trading as Latham & Roden.
After the war, Roden continued his schooling at McKenzie College in Clarksville, Texas and spent some time as a teacher among the Choctaw people. After repaying money he had borrowed from the founder of his college he entered the grocery and timber business in Gadsden, trading as Latham & Roden.


At the invitation of [[James Powell]], Roden moved to Birmingham in [[1871]] and became one of its busiest entrepreneurs. He operated the [[St Elmo Saloon]] on [[20th Street North|20th Street]] in the early 1870s, expanded his [[B. F. Roden Grocery Company]] into a wholesale distributor, founded the  [[Avondale Land Company]], helped found the [[Birmingham Street Railway Company]] and the [[Bimingham Chain Works]], and served as a director for the [[Birmingham Gas and Electric Light Company]], the [[Birmingham National Bank]], and the [[Alabama National Bank]]. He served as president of the [[Central Coal Company]] and the [[Birmingham Insurance Company]] and also financed the construction of the [[Roden Block]] in the 1880s and the never-completed [[Roden Hotel]] in the 1900s.
At the invitation of [[James Powell]], Roden moved to Birmingham in [[1871]] and became one of its busiest entrepreneurs. He operated the [[St Elmo Saloon]] on [[20th Street North|20th Street]] in the early 1870s, expanded his [[B. F. Roden Grocery Company]] into a wholesale distributor, founded the  [[Avondale Land Company]], helped found the [[Birmingham Street Railway Company]] and the [[Bimingham Chain Works]], and served as a director for the [[Birmingham Gas and Electric Light Company]], the [[Birmingham National Bank]], and the [[Alabama National Bank]]. He served as president of the [[Central Coal Company]] and the [[Birmingham Insurance Company]] and also financed the construction of the [[Roden Block]] in the 1880s and the never-completed [[Roden Hotel]] in the 1900s. His brother, [[John B. Roden]], operated a book store in Birmingham.


Roden also served in the first [[Birmingham Board of Aldermen]] and was responsible for the construction of the city's first [[streetcar]] system. He married Ella Lee Didlake of Perry County in [[1872]] and they had five children, Viola, Florence, Lillian, [[Benjamin Roden, Jr|Benjamin Jr]] and [[Maibelle Beatty|Maibelle]].
Roden also served in the first [[Birmingham Board of Aldermen]] and was responsible for the construction of the city's first [[streetcar]] system. He married Ella Lee Didlake of Perry County in [[1872]] and they had five children, Viola, Florence, Lillian, [[Benjamin Roden, Jr|Benjamin Jr]] and [[Maibelle Beatty|Maibelle]].

Revision as of 08:21, 7 September 2016

Benjamin Roden in 1887
Roden in 1920. courtesy BPL Archives

Benjamin Franklin Roden (born January 5, 1844 in DeKalb County - died February 23, 1908) founded numerous businesses in the early days of 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 until 1861, when he volunteered with the 27th Alabama Infantry for service to Polk's Army in the Civil War. He was wounded by a musket ball to the knee at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862 and was assigned to the quartermaster corps before becoming a surgeon's assistant.

After the war, Roden continued his schooling at McKenzie College in Clarksville, Texas and spent some time as a teacher among the Choctaw people. After repaying money he had borrowed from the founder of his college he entered the grocery and timber business in Gadsden, trading as Latham & Roden.

At the invitation of James Powell, Roden moved to Birmingham in 1871 and became one of its busiest entrepreneurs. He operated the St Elmo Saloon on 20th Street in the early 1870s, expanded his B. F. Roden Grocery Company into a wholesale distributor, founded the Avondale Land Company, helped found the Birmingham Street Railway Company and the Bimingham Chain Works, and served as a director for the Birmingham Gas and Electric Light Company, the Birmingham National Bank, and the Alabama National Bank. He served as president of the Central Coal Company and the Birmingham Insurance Company and also financed the construction of the Roden Block in the 1880s and the never-completed Roden Hotel in the 1900s. His brother, John B. Roden, operated a book store in Birmingham.

Roden also served in the first Birmingham Board of Aldermen and was responsible for the construction of the city's first streetcar system. He married Ella Lee Didlake of Perry County in 1872 and they had five children, Viola, Florence, Lillian, Benjamin Jr and Maibelle.

References

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