Hodge Genealogy

JOHN ROBERT HODGE
(1859-1934)

JOHN ROBERT HODGE, son of James Hodge and Martha “Patsy” Stoker, was born July 03, 1859 in Carroll County, Tennessee, and died March 18, 1934 in Mansfield, Henry County, Tennessee. He married JANE EMELINE FORREST October 31, 1877 in Carroll County, Tennessee, daughter of JAMES FORREST and AMERICA THOMPSON. Jane was born September 22, 1859 in Tennessee, and died July 03, 1927 in Mansfield, Henry County, Tennessee.

John R. Hodge operated a local water-powered gristmill, known as the Bear Creek Mill, for Ed and Will Comer. He later became a blacksmith in Mansfield, Tennessee, and owned his own shop specializing in gun repair work and horseshoeing. Dewey Webb worked as a blacksmith with his grandfather. John R. was also a member of the county court and performed many wedding ceremonies in the Mansfield area. He was also responsible for taking the mail from the train to the post office in Mansfield.

Both John R. and Jane Hodge are buried in the Marlboro Cemetery in Carroll County, Tennessee. The following is the 1934 obituary of John R. Hodge (newspaper and date unknown):

"Last rites were held Tuesday, March 19th, at Malesburg [Marlboro] for John R. Hodge, former member of the Henry County Court and for many years postmaster at Mansfield. Services were conducted by Rev. Herschel Brown. Burial was in the Malseburg [Marlboro] cemetery. John Robert Hodge was 75 years old and until a few weeks before his death was active in the operation of a grist mill and crushing mill at Mansfield. He also had charge of delivering mail to and from the depot to the post office each day. He had been in ill health for several months but did not become seriously ill until two weeks prior to his death. He was a member of the county court sixteen years ago and had a host of friends throughout the county. He was a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church maintaining his membership at the Vale Church.

Survivors are the widow, Mrs. Mattie Hodge, two daughters, Mrs. Effie Hicks of Mansfield and Mrs. Pauline Baine of Big Sandy."

Children of JOHN HODGE and JANE FORREST are:
2. i. EFFIE L HODGE, b. 1879, Tennessee; d. July 29, 1963.
3. ii. JOHN ELVIS HODGE, b. May 26, 1885, Henry County, Tennessee; d. January 17, 1918, Rosiclare, Hardin County, Illinois.
4. iii. VERLIE PAULINE HODGE, b. October 10, 1889; d. October 13, 1984.

SOURCES

1. Obituary of John R. Hodge, unknown newspaper, unknown date, in possession of his great grandson David Webb of Paris, Tennessee.
2. McEvoy Funeral Home Records, Paris, Henry County, Tennessee.
3. Carroll County, Tennessee Marriage Records, Vol. 1 - Jan. 1876-Oct. 1878, Roll 48, TN State Archives, Nashville.
4. Jane Emeline Hodge death certificate #15428, Tennessee State Board of Health, Nashville.
5. http://www.rootsweb.com/~tndigs/henry/cemetery/shiloh2.htm.
6. Census of 1900, Henry County, Tennessee, 19th District, E.D. 64, sheet 5.
7. Research of David Webb, webbdw@hotmail.com.