My Genealogy Hound

Albert J. Hodges, one of the independent and enterprising farmers of Dutch Mills Township, is the son of William C. and Nancy (Davis) Hodges, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, the father born in Lincoln County, and the mother in Wilson County. In early life they moved with their parents to McNairy County, Tenn., and later in life were married in this county, where they located. The mother died in 1846, and afterward the father married Miss Julia A. King. In 1854 they moved to Denton County, Tex., where the father died in 1860. He was a farmer and stock dealer, and during the Mexican War he raised a company, of which he was elected captain, and during the days of militia he was elected major of a regiment. Mr. Hodges was the father of nine children by his first marriage and three by the second marriage. Albert J. Hodges was the eldest of these children. He was born September 15, 1833, in McNairy County, Tenn., was reared to farm life, and educated in the primitive log school-house of pioneer times. At the age of eighteen he began business for himself on a farm, where he remained for a short time, and then engaged in the carpenter’s trade for about two years, after which he returned to farming. In 1858 he married Miss Mary M. Thornton, a native of Hardin County, Tenn., and by her became the father of nine children, five sons and four daughters, eight of whom are living, the youngest having died a few weeks ago. Previous to his marriage, in 1858, Mr. Hodges moved to Grayson County, Tex., and soon after to Denton County. In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. O. G. Welch’s company of Texas volunteer cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Pea Ridge and Cabin Creek, and at the latter place was captured and held a prisoner at Camp Morton, Ind., for about eighteen months, being paroled at Richmond, Va. He then returned to his family in Texas, and in 1867 moved to Washington County, where he has followed farming and trading ever since. He, like his father, is a Democrat in politics; he is also a Master Mason, and both he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is the owner of 230 acres of land, besides property in Salem.