The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-24
HIS BUSINESS INTERESTS
 COVERED VERY WIDE RANGE
Funeral Arrangements Were Not Made Last Night-Services Will Prob- ably Be Held at. Church
 Tomorrow.


 teemed business men, died at the Davis infrmary, Avenue G and Twenty-fifth street, yesterday evening at o'clock. Chronic kidney complication was the spe- cifc cause of MT. Roden's death al- though he had suffered for about four weeks with an abnormal carbuncle on the back of his neck.
 MT. Roden was removed to the Davis infrmary just two weeks ago yesterday on account of his serious condition and the intense suffering from the abcess on his neck. A virulent infection set in and an operation was performed last Thurs day. The infection was controlled, but on account of the weakened condition of the patient from the kidney trouble, his life was dispaired of Saturday night, and he passed away yesterday afternoon. He was 64 years old.
 Came Here In 1871.
 Since 1871, the year in which Birming- ham was founded, the deceased had been closely associated with the rapid growth and development of the city. He came here as a young man, lured by the plainly
  selves in the Birmingham district at that time, when the city was younger than he, and his energy and versatility were re- warded with a rapid rise and an excep- tionally successful business career. Through all the trials of the panic which came some 10 years after MT. Roden took up his residence in Birming- l. eli IAd with his fellow-poneers to steer the commer- cal interests of the city through the storm, and to further the prosperity of the community. His association with the earliest business enterprises was the closest, and to his ability to lead in af- fairs the success of many concerns has been attributed.
 l+ MT. Roden seemed to have always had utmost confidence in the future of the | city. and worked always toward the real ization of those things beneficial to the community at large Confidence of other men in his ability and integrity was evi- denced by his connection with so many enterprises. His value to the community was unbounded and his death came as
  is generally appreciated
 In a social way MT. Roden was one of the most popular men in the city, and through his genial disposition he had l made a great many friends. He was generally known and was highly regarded by all those associated with him. Sketch of His Life. B. F. Roden was born in DeKalb coun- | ty Alabama, in 1S44. He was, the son of | w. B. Roden and Viola Harrison Roden, his mother being a second cousin of the | celebrated A. H. H. Harrisan of Virginia. He was brought up on his fathers farm and received such education as the com- mon schools of the country afforded. | He served through the entire war in | Folks army and at Shiloh was severely wounded, which required his resignation | from active service in the field, and he was assigned to the commissary depart- ment. During the latter part of the war he served as assistant surgeon, most of his professional services being confined to the camps of instruction located in Ala bama.
 | After the war he attended Mckenzie | college in Texas, and was afterwards en- gagged in the mercantile business at Gads- | den.
 l In 1871 Mr. Roden located in Birming- ham. and from that time led most suc- cessful business career being largely in- strumental in building up the prosperity of the city He married Miss Emma Did lake of Perry county in 1872 He was the founder and president of the Avondale Land company, one of the founders of tbe Birmingham Gas and Electric com pany, now the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. He was one | of the directors of the old Birmingham 1 National bank and of the Alabama Ma tional bank. He was alderman for ten years and founder and president of the | first street railway of Birmingham.
 The father of the deceased was farm ] CT and served in the Seminole war. His grandfather, John B. Roden, was born ] in South Carolina, and went to Ken lucky with Daniel Boone.
 Extensive Business Interests. At the time of his death MT. Roden's residence was on the corner of Fifth avenue and Eighteenth street. He had for a number of years been president of the B. F. Roden Grocery company one of the largest wholesale grocery l houses in the city. He was also president of the Central Coal company, the Roden Coal company, and the Citizens Savings bank; and director of the American Trust and Savings bank, vice president and director of the Avondale Cotton Mills, and was connected with number of other sbusiness concerns.
 He is survived by a widow and i've children Mrs. Charles G. Davis, Mrs Viola Redin, Mrs. A. J. Bowron, Miss Mabelle Roden and Benjamin F. Ro- den, Jr.
 The deceased was member of the Central Presbyterian church. While no definite funeral arrangements have been announced 1t is very probable that the services will be conducted from the church at some hour tomorrow. General Fucker Pays Tribute. Gen. E. W. Fucker, one of Birmlng- hams oldest and most prominent citizens, ~..I~ I,oS hoop f,,tirna teIv assocated with