Rodine, C. A.

RODINE, SWANSON, ANGSTROM

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/26/2013 at 19:17:18

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol. II, 1912, J.W. Lee, pp. 239-240.

C. A. Rodine is the junior member of the prosperous mercantile company operating under the firm name of Peterson, Rodine & Co., located in Stratford, Iowa. He was born July 22, 1881, and is a son of C. O. and Augusta (Swanson) Rodine, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father emigrated to America with his parents who located first at Des Moines. He reached the shores of the new world when he was a boy of fourteen years and shortly after his father established his family at Des Moines, he went to Boone and there took up work in the hardware store owned and operated by Crary Brothers, remaining in the employ of that firm until 1881. In that year he came to Stratford, Iowa, and erected a building and engaged in the hardware business in partnership with Crary Brothers. He continued in that business until 1886, after which he purchased a farm near Stratford and upon that property he moved and was engaged in the cultivation of his land until 1889, when he rented the place and returned to Stratford. He then, in company with O. F. Swanson, opened a general mercantile store, with which he was identified until 1898, when he sold out and lived a retired life until the time of his death, which occurred January 13, 1900, at the age of forty-six years. The mother is still living at the age of fifty-two.

C. A. Rodine was reared at home and received his early education in Stratford. As a young man he was employed in a general mercantile store until 1901. He then rented of his mother a farm located in Webster county and was there engaged in general farming for five years, after which time he returned to Stratford and purchased an interest in the mercantile firm of Swanson, Peterson & Company. In January, 1911, the name of the firm was changed to Peterson, Rodine & Company, since which time Mr. Rodine has continued to give his entire attention to the interest of the business. In addition to his mercantile interests he is also the owner of the fine residence in which he lives in Stratford.

Mr. Rodine was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Angstrom on the 5th of September, 1900. She is a daughter of Olaf and Ella Angstrom, both of whom are natives of Sweden. To Mr. and Mrs. Rodine four children have been born : Zola, Caro, Maurice and Clarence A., aged respectively eleven, nine, seven and four years. Mr. Rodine belongs to the republican party and has fraternal relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Stratford. Mr. Rodine by public opinion is placed among the enterprising and successful business men of Stratford and is in every way entitled to be known as a desirable and useful member of the community in which he lives.