A Hodges Family Record

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Donald Hodges


I am a decendent of Johnson Hodges (Bet. 1730 & 1733 - 25 Nov 1771) and Lucy Page (abt 1738 - 14 Nov 1805) of Goochland Co VA. Johnson and Lucy were married by Rev. William Douglas 25 Nov 1771 in Cumberland Co., Va. Click this link for the Johnson Hodges Family Page

His son Johnson II (abt 1765 - bef 1833) married Elizabeth Mullins (bet 1750 & 1775 - abt 1818) on 15 Apr 1785. Click this link for the Johnson Hodges II Family Page. Johnson moved from Goochland Co VA to Madison Co AL.

Richard Thompson Hodges (1802 - 1855), son of Johnson II, married Martha K. Saddler (1804 - 1871). Richard bought land from David Kennamer and wife, Amy, near Woodville 2 April 1835. This tract of land is south of the High School, later known as the James Woodall place. He died just before the Civil War and is buried on the west side of the road south of the new Woodville High School building, Woodville, AL. Click this link for the Richard Thompson Hodges Family Page


This is John "Jackie" Thompson Hodges.

John Thompson Hodges (22 Jan 1826 - 07 Mar 1890), son of Richard Thompson Hodges, married Margarette Sarah Loving (02 Jul 1830 - 28 Jul 1899) Click this link for the John "Jackie" Hodges Family Page

He has service records filed under Young's Company, Alabama Nitre and Mining Corps and Mead's Regiment, Confederate Cavalry (Mead's Partisan Rangers), in which he was 1st Sergeant of Company "C". He also has a pension application with the State of Alabama under the later unit.

During the Civil War. He possibily helped mine salt peter (or potassium nitrate - a critical compound in gun powder) from Cathederal Caverns (then known as Bat Cave) and from Salt Peter Cave near Scottsboro, AL. [Donald Hodges]

Jackie later became a member of Lemuel Mead's Cavalry Battalion as detailed in book "The Sword of 'Bushwhacker' Johnston by Rev. Milus E. Johnston. Through Jackie I am eligible to be a member of the sons of the confederacy.

One time Jackie's horse was spooked by some union soldiers (horses new the enemy as well as anyone) and the horse ran off and lost his uniform. The folks back home sheared, carded, spun, wove and taylored him a new uniform. [Effie Hodges]

Jackie Hodges was out traveling around in the woods one day and he came across a couple of women that was drawing water from an old fashoned well and he said "My name's Guffey Heffer, what's yours?" [Noma Smith]
Jackie married Margarette Sarah Loving. Her ancestors were of French descent and big time tobacco farmers in Virginia. The Loving family name may also be seen as Lovern.

Margarette Sarah Loving was commonly reported by many in the family to be a full blooded Cherokee indian. It may have been that since the Loving family was of French descent that Sarah may have had a French accent or may have occasionally used a French word or phrase leading to this conclusion.

Sarah's great-grandfather John Loving, Jr was a captain in the Virginia Militia at the surrender of Yorktown in 1781.
Margarette Sarah's father was Meggison Loving. He was born in Lovingston, Virginia August 3, 1797. The town was named after the Loving family! He was the son of William Loving and Elizabeth "Betsy" Fortune.

Migginson served as an Army Corporal in the War of 1812. He also served as Woodville's postmaster for several years. He married Nancy Ann Phillips in December 22, 1822 in Madison, Alabama. They had 11 children over 21 years. He and Nancy are shown living in Woodville as early as 1831.

By 1850 he and his family had moved to Titus, TX. Migginson died on November 15, 1866 at the age of 69. He is buried at Loving Cemetery in Morris County, TX.

Meggison was reportedly friends with a grandson of Benjamin Franklin and had special "government privileges" so that he could set up post offices where ever he went. He was Postmaster at Woodville, AL in 1844.

After the Civil War, Jackie and Margarette went to Texas for a time during which they missed a census for Alabama. John Thompson Hodges was buried at the Mt Olive Cemetery in Woodville. The body was dug up by a pack of wolves and had to be re-buried. This time it was protected by a large stone work as was sometimes the custom. Margarettte was buried beside him and her grave was protected in the same manner. In this picture Margarette is on the left and John on the right.

The Mt Olive cemetery was originally owned by "Jackie" Hodges. For many years their graves were marked with primitive stones on the stone works and were almost unreadable. A few years ago (I don't write down stuff like I should) there was a Confederate ceremony held at the cemetery to honor John. And there were new tombstones set.
I believe these two pictures to be of Martha Hodges daughter of Jackie and Margarette.
Jackie and Margarette's youngest son was named Meggison (Migison) (Maggison) Hodges after Margarette's father. He was born 13 Apr 1869. Meggison died young from complication of spina bifida (a birth defect where the spinal chord doesn't form properly).
This is James "Jim Strut" Richard Hodges (19 Sep 1853 - 1899) son of Jackie and his wife Martha "Mattie" A. Thomasson.

Click this link for the James Richard Hodges Family Page

I got a lot of information from the web and if correct, Martha is a direct decendant of William the conquer who won the battle of Hastings in 1066 to become the King of England.

James was a fluent talker, well read man, and suffered a few years before death with rheumatism.

"Jim Strut went to Woodville one day on an old horse (that's the way they travelled back in them days). He was going to buy grandmother (Martha Thomasson) a little wash pot and he met a guy out there that mistook him for the wrong person and the guy got on his horse and ran after grandfather and grandfather had to put that pot on this head and it saved his life. And the pot's out there in the hall way!" [Noma Smith].

James was a Cumberland Presbyterian Preacher and was considered to be pretty good. He continued to preach even after he was in a wheel chair. After his death, Martha switched to Methodist - she said it was the same. Noma Smith.

Following is the story of the raid on the paint rock bridge. It was during this raid that James Hodges got the nick name of "Jim Strut." After the battle Jim accquired a pair of Yankee boots that he strutted around in. The other men started making fun of him and started calling him "Jim Strut" and the name stuck. Based on birthdate, Jim must have been a child of 11-12 at the time.

Would you take your 12 year old son to a battle?

The Raid on the Paint Rock Bridge

After Hood fell back across the Tennessee river, the Federals returned into the Tennessee valley in great numbers, even thousands. And they had placed guards at every railroad bridge and other important points up and down the valley.

Among these points, the bridge where the railroad crossed the Paint Rock river was guarded by two companies, one which our boys styled the regular Federals and the other they called "home-made" Yankees. The end of the bridge juts up against a bluff, at a point of a spur of the Cumberland mountains. Near the end of this bridge stood several houses, while just under the hill, southward, stood several houses. The regular Yankee soldiers occupied the houses near the end of the bridge, while the home-made Yankees occupied the houses down under the hill, the two companies being situated but a few paces apart.

At this point the mountain juts down to the railroad and close to the end of the bridge. As you ascend the mountain in a northeast direction the surface of the earth is covered with cedar and other growth, which extends down within a few feet of the road; while the entire point of the mountain is covered with bluffs and loose boulders scattered in every direction.

Colonel Mead, with others, planned the capture of the bridge. The time was set on a certain night, and it so happened that the snow was about three inches deep. Our many squads were notified - or we thought they were - to report at a certain place at a certain hour. But as we learned afterwards, a number of them failed to get the notice, and therefore failed to come. But a few of the boys having reported, with a unanimous consent, it was decided to make the attack with our little handful. According to our recollection, our number did not exceed thirty-five.

As a matter of course our boys took refreshments and rested the fore part of the night, for it was our intention not to spring upon our game until about dawn of day. So at the proper time, we ascended the rugged mountain on foot, as it was impossible for a horse to climb it. Having reached the top of the mountain, we began the descent, working our way through the dense growth, for the boughs of the cedar hung nearly to the ground.

The loose rocks and rugged boulders, with the snow clinging to the low boughs of the cedar, made it a cold as well as a slow march. But at last we reached a point as near as we dared approach the enemy without attracting their attention and called a halt, where we waited for the appointed time. We did not have to wait long, for our calculation with reference to the time to reach that point was very accurately made.

A little streak of day having made its appearance in the east, the command to move down the mountain was given in almost a whisper, and we began to descend, being very careful where we placed our feet at every step. Soon after, the final signal was given and the boys plunged forward eager for the fray.

The attack party knowing the location of every house, sprang at once to every door, and catching the enemy napping, they had their guns leveled on them almost before they knew what had happened. Hence we had captured forty-four prisoners without having to kill but very few.

But what about the "home-made" boys down under the hill? When they heard the racket up up at the bridge - and it was a pretty loud one - they were taken with a getting away. Having been awakened out of sleep, they did not wait to get shoes, pants, coats, hats, nor anything else, but ran off just as they arose from their beds. It was said that some of them ran for miles in that condition without halting once. They had saved themselves by starting in time, but the Rebs got all they had except their "individual bacon."

One piece of artillery was captured also, but as there were thousands of Yankees in the convenient reach, we spiked the gun and rolled it into the Paint Rock river.

After burning the bridge, we went our way rejoicing, carrying the prisoners with us. At the proper time, the prisoners were conducted safely across the Tennessee river and delivered to the Confederate authorities.


Jim "Strut" had rheumatoid arthritis and is seated in this picture.

And this is Martha Thomasson getting along in age. This is Annie Hodges and Perry Byrum. Annie is the daughter of Jim "Strut" This is Jessie Hodges, daughter of Jim "Strut" and her husband Harvey Smith.

Harvey traveled about and refinished mill stones in the north Alabama southern Tennessee area. [Tommy Brewer]

Click this link for the Harvey Smith Family Page This is Harvey and Jessie getting along in years.
In the middle of this picture is Vada Lee Smith daughter of Harvey and Jessie with her husband Ernest Delbert Hodges with their daughter Clara Mildred Hodges (on the right).

Click this link for the Delbert Hodges Family Page This is Veldon Smith son of Jessie and Harvey. He passed away at a young age and is buried at Mt Olive. This is Noma Smith daughter of Jessie and Harvey. This is Noma Smith daughter of Jessie and Harvey with her husband Robert Young Duvall at the Hoover Dam. This is a young William "Will" James Hodges son of Jim Strut and Mattie.

Click this link for the William "Will" James Hodges Family Page This is Ida May Gray first wife of William James Hodges. Here is a photo of Ida and her first born James Delbert Hodges. Ida had a history of mental problems and was institutionalized at Bryce Mental Hospital in Tuscaloosa, AL. This is a picture of one of the rooms. Here are four sons of Will. From left to right is Delbert, William Harrison, Leland and Clifford with William sitting in front. This is Kenneth Hodges son of Will and Ida with his wife Montell and their children Judy Hughes and Laddie Hodges This is Clifford Hodges son of Will and Ida with Joyce (his daughter?) This is Caroline Hodges Chandler and her husband George Clayton Chandler. Carolyn is the second born daughter of Vaughan Clifford Hodges (1914-1997) and Buncie Mae Ware (1917-1963). They have three children; Carrie, Phillip, and Diana along with several grandchildren.

Caroline and George bought and set the tombstones for Jackie and Margerette at Mt Olive cemetery.

Caroline has done a lot of work on the Hodges history. She was accepted into the Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR, by proving that she was a decendant of John Loving, Jr, A captain in the Virginia Militia at the surrender of Yorktown in 1781. This means that all decendants are eligible to be in the DAR/SAR. This picture was taken at our home in Skyline Farms in march of 1938, bottom right is me at age 5 almost 6 years of age, bottom left is Billy Curtis age 3 almost 4 years of age, both of us was born in the month of July. Top left is my Mother Beatrice Hodges-Shepard holding Michael (Horace Velon Hodges) at 3 months of age. Our father Velon Spurgeon Hodges holding Old Ring the family dog. [Floyd Olen Hodges, Velon’s son] Will and Pearl with Mattie Lou Hodges standing.
This is Fred Harrison Hodges son of "Jim Strut" and Margaret Effie Hodges my grand parents. Fred is the second cousin once removed of Effie.

Fred owned this car but I can't remember what kind it was.

Click this link for the Fred Hodges Family Page Another picture of Fred and Effie. This is how I remember them. This is the homeplace of Fred and Effie. This property came to Effie through her mother Mary Jane Barclay.

The building was originally a log cabin which was later boarded up. It was destroyed by fire. There was a gristmill on Fred's property and Fred ground corn and used the miller's portion (10% ?) to raise hogs. He sold pigs and he cured meat in his smoke house.

In the background you can see the large cedar tree that was growing at the spring.

The water for the mill came from a spring up on the mountain side. When an new road was cut into the mountain they used dynamite causing the spring to dry up. The mill had to eventually be torn down.

My father, Cecil liked to play in the water trough even though he was warned by his father, Fred not to do so. After the mill was torn down, the mill stones were taken to the yard of Harvey Smith and were there for many years. Harvey Smith refinished mill stones.

This is Veda Hodges Brewer (daughter of Fred and Effey) sitting on one of the stones. Eventually Tommy Brewer (son of Veda and Lee Brewer) had the mill stones moved to his home in Melbourne FL. This is Verbon Lesley Hodges, eldest son of Fred and his wife Viola Shepherd with their son Joel standing behind. This is Joel Hodges, son of Verbon and Viola, with his wife Linda Bean. Joel had a daughter Susan by his first wife Rita Walker. This baby picture is the only picture I have of her. This is Marvin Milton Hodges son of Fred and Effie and his wife Myrtle Beatrice Fairbanks.

Marvin fell while working on his roof and was never quite the same again. Marvin died at 34 in a diabetic coma. This is Cecil Calvert Hodges son of Fred and Effie and Mary Margaret Meek in their wedding picture.

Margaret taught school at Section, Pisgah and Scottsboro. Margaret also played the organ at the Scottsboro Methodist church.

Margaret's father, Obidee "Dee" Meek was the station master at the railroad depot in Hollywood AL and her mother was Bertha Gertrude Smith. Bertha taught school at Flat Rock AL when it was a Methodist boarding school. Cecil was a school teacher though he never graduated from college. (There was a time when if you could pass the exam you could be a teacher) He was the first principal at Skyline as part of the Skyline Farms project (click this link).

[from Pat Griggs] I think it is "The Teacherage," a large, white, dormitory-like building where teachers lived. It was up the hill from the main, stone building. In the 50's and 60's a second 6th grade class (the beginning of the baby boomers) was opened there (with a coal-burning heater for heat), Miss Tony (a teacher) lived there, and Carolyn and Sue Sharp's family lived there (I think their father worked at the school). I think it was eventually demolished to make space for the high school. In this picture Cecil is on the left. This appears to be the same building as "The Teacherage." Notice the lattice work behind. Does anyone know who the other teachers are? Cecil also taught at Hebron.

Also he later he worked for the state unemployment office in Ft Payne AL. Cecil started and managed Farmer's Telephone Co-Operative in Rainsville Alabama from 1955 until he retired.

They borrowed $10,000, a large sum of money in the mid 50's, from the Alabama Public Service Commission. They said that they would never be able to pay the money back but Farmers Telephone is still going strong today. This is Donald Meek Hodges, son of Cecil and Margaret, with his wife Sheila Ann Sloan.

Don served as a Cobra helicopter gunship pilot in the Viet Nam war.

Click this Link for More Info After VietNam, Don graduated from Palmer Chiropractic College in Davanport IA in December of 1978. This is Michael Leroy Hodges son of Cecil and Margaret, his wife Robin Lynn Edgar, his daughter Megan Danielle Hodges and his son Ryan Edgar Hodges.

Of the 5 sons of Fred and Effie, Ryan is the only great-grandson to carry the Hodges name. (Joel had one daughter, Tommy had no children and Don has no children). Here is Veda Oleta Hodges daughter of Fred and Effie and her husband Lee Henry Brewer with James Tommy Brewer their son standing.
Veda Hodges Gallery
This is James Tommy Brewer, son of Lee and Veda with his wife Denise Gates. Tommy served in Viet Nam where he was injured and spent the last years of his life in a wheel chair.
Tommy in Vietnam
This is Telford "Ted" Fred Hodges, son of Fred and Effie and his wife Margaret Walker.

Ted was manager of the Goldkist hatchery in Albertville AL for many years. Ted served in Patton's Third Army in the second world war. He was the BAR (Browing Automatic Rifle) man in his squad. They were the first to go up against the Sigfried Line and made the Rhine river crossing into Germany. Ted was the recipient of a Purple Heart.

At the end of the war in Europe, they began training for the invasion of Japan. This is Howard Burlyn Hodges, son of Fred and Effie and his wife Lois Arlene Fox.

Howard was a lot of fun to be around. He always bought fireworks for the fourth of July which us boys liked.

In the old days there was a rolling store that would go around and sell flour, coffee and sugar etc. And you could trade chickens and butter and eggs. Now there was a chicken coop up under the rolling store where the chickens that had been traded in were put. Howard would sneek up under there and slip his hand under the chicken and get an egg. Then trade the egg for some candy. Howard was in the 8th Army Air Force and was a ball-tueret gunner in a B-17 bomber in WWII. He was shot down over Berlin taking heavy flack and crashed near the Russian lines. The Polish underground got them safely out of danger. By the time they made it back to their own lines, the war had ended. This is the cramped conditions in a ball turret. And the turret position on the B-17.
Howard Hodges Gallery
This is Janet Elaine Hodges, daughter and only child of Howard and Arlene. This is Ruby Clara Hodges, daughter of Fred and Effie with her husband Robert Theodore Lakebrink and their daughter Marcella. And these are the three daughters of Ruby and Bob Lakebrink. Left to Right Cynthia Doreen, Marcella Joanne, and Belinda Maureen These are the three sons of Jim "Strut." L to R Fred, Will and Homer.

Homer Hodges lived near the Gus Thomas place where he farmed. On Saturdays, Homer walked to Woodville to cut hair. Homer loved fishing, hunting, and playing games. In 1919 he moved to Woodville where he bought a barber chair and began to barber regularly. His shop was located in the rear of Dr. Rayford Hodges' office building/drug store. Homer was an excellent barber, drew work from other places, and soon acquired the nickname "Barber". In 1922 he built his own shop on Main St. Facing the RR depot. He sold his shop in 1966 and retired. This is Homer "Barber" Hodges barber shop. This is Mattie Lou Hodges Cameron - sitting with her husband James Robert Cameron with their two children Dewey (oldest) and Clyde.

Standing is Mattie's mother Martha "Mattie" Thomasson wife of Jim Strut. This is Mattie Lou Hodges. The youngest of Jim Strut's children.
This is the Plesant Willis Hodges and Mary Jane Barclay family. The baby is Margaret Effie Hodges and the young man on the right is James Thomas Hodges.

Margeret Effie was born in October of 1884 which means that this picture was taken in 1885 (notice the leaves on the trees in the background).

This is the only picture of Plesant that I know of.

Click this link for the Plesant Hodges Family Page On the back of the Plesant Hodges picture is directions of where to deliver the picture and how much to collect.

The land where the mill was located was originally owned by J. R. Galen and he is the one that built the mill. At one point in time the property was owned by William Franklin Barclay. The property then passed to Margaret Effie Hodges who married Fred Harrison Hodges after which the property became know as "the Fred Hodges place."

William Franklin Barclay, the father of Mary Jane Barclay was buried on the the farm. He was later exhumed and moved to the Union Cemetery in Woodville. This is a later picture of Mary Jane Barclay. Wife of Plesant Hodges.
This is Ernest Delbert Hodges who married Vada Lee Smith daughter of Harvey Smith and Jessie Hodges.

Plesant Willis Hodges and Mary Jane Barclay's second child was Willis Hodges who married Alice Wann. Willis and Alice are the parents of Ernest Delbert Hodges. Therefore, Ernest Delbert Hodges is the 3rd cousin once removed of Vada Lee Smith. This is a picture of a young James T Hodges son of Plesant and Mary Jane. And this is a later picture of James T Hodges with his wife Dora Elkins. Plesant and Mary Jane had a daughter Sallie Hodges that had Down syndrome. Pictured here are Sallie sitting in the rocker and her sister Effie standing beside her. This is Mary Hodges, daughter of Plesant and Mary Jane with her husband James Robert Page. This is Cora Page daughter of James Robert Page and Mary Hodges.
Maternal Cousins With the Same Last Name
My father Cecil Hodges told me that Julian Hodges the Medical Doctor was his first cousin through his mother and I didn't quite understand how that could be.

Plesant Hodges and Mary Jane Barclay had, among other children, Margaret Effie Hodges and Elizabeth Hodges. Margaret Effie married Fred Harrison Hodges and Elizabeth married Willie Julian Hodges. Fred and Effie had Cecil and Elizabeth and Willie had Emmett Julian Hodges.

That makes Cecil and Julian first cousins on their mother's sides with the same last name.
This is Rosa Ann Hodges. Daughter of Plesant and Mary Jane.

You can see that the picture with Sallie and Effie and this picture was taken in the same location (and presumably at the same time). They even used the same unbrella prop. The rocking chair that Rosa is standing beside above has survived and I have it in my possession.

The chair is old. My father Cecil told me that he can remember a man coming by the house and was paid 25 cents to varnish it. The cane had worn out a long time ago so they took bailing wire and ran it through the caning holes and covered the wire with cloth and pillows.

Then when Fred Hodges died, theives stripped his house and took everything of value. Cecil salvaged a few items that were skipped over including the rocker.

Cecil stripped and refinished the wood and had the chair recaned. Since that time the seat broke through and I had the seat recaned ... that's why it's a lighter color. The guy that did the caning identified the rocker as a "Lincoln" rocker.

Besides the picture above with Roas standing with the rocker, on this web page there are pictures of Sallie and Effie, and Fred and Effie in which the rocker can be seen. Also, we believe that Jim Strut is sitting in the rocker in the Jim Strut family picture. This is Rosa Hodges grown up a little. This is a picture of Rosa Hodges with her husband John Calvin Vernon together with children. I only have the name of one of the children.

Click this link for the John Calvin Vernon Family Page Another picture of John and Rosa Hodges. This is Rosa and John in later years. I don't know who the girl on crutches is ... maybe a grand daughter? Another picture of Rosa and John Vernon. I don't know the person on the left (but she kinda looks like Vicki Lawrence of 'Momma's Family' fame). This is Margaret Effie Hodges grown up a little.
Scrap Book
Just to the west of the Woodville High Schoole is a small park that commemorates the Hodges family.
Willis Hodges is the son of Johnson Hodges and Elizabeth Mullins. Willis with 2 brothers, Thompson and Pleasant, settled near Woodville, AL in 1835. he married Sarah and they setled at the place known as the Billy Boshart place now owned by Willie O. Butler. He and his first wife are buried on the homestead. Willis sold the home to Ellison Phillips. Fred and Effie Hodges These are the 5 sons of Fred and Effie. L-R Ted, Cecil, Verbon, Howard and Marvin. This the the Fred Hodges family. L-R Fred, Ted, Effie, Veda, Cecil, Ruby, Howard, and Verbon. These are the grandsons of Fred and Effie Hodges. L-R Tommy, Don, Joel and Mike. Homer "Barber" Hodges Cecil and Margaret Hodges I was born in this clinic.

In the picture on the right, Rayford is in the middle. Bob, Cynthia and Ruby Lakebrink Mike, Don and Ryan Hodges Ruby Hodges daughter of Fred and Effie Ted and Margaret Hodges Telford "Ted" Hodges Verbon Hodges with his mother Effie in the background.

Verbon is sitting in the aformentioned rocker. Howard and Veda Hodges. Ted and Howard Hodges. Lee Brewer, Veda (Hodges), Denise (Gates) and Tommy. Delbert Hodges Here is a picture of Lee Brewer, Veda Hodges' husband posing with his car. This is a photo of Fred and Will Hodges.
Do You Know Who These People Are?
Bud and Janie. Rayford Hodges is in the middle but do you know who the others are? This is Montgomery "Tobe" Thomason (1847-1923) and Mary Mexico Harper Thomason with grandchildren, Granville and Beatrice Lewis. Tobe was an older brother of Martha "Mattie" Thomason who was married to James "Jim Strut" Hodges. Tobe is buried at Mount Olive Cemetery. Who is this also buried at Mt Olive? Another brother of "Mattie?" I need a name to go with this picture.
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