AMOS HODGE

HODGE, SAFFORD, BENTLEY, LEFFINGWELL, MITCHELL

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 5/26/2004 at 08:10:11

Amos Hodge, a well-known resident of Maquoketa, is a native of Harrisburg, Lewis Co., N.Y., and the son of Ela Hodge, who was born in Schenectady, N.Y. His paternal grandfather, Palmer Hodge, who was a farmer by occupation, removed from Schenectady and settled near Harrisburg in its pioneer days, purchasing a tract of timber land, from which he cleared a farm. He also kept a public-house, and resided there a number of years, then removed to a point nears Tylersville, where he purchased a farm and occupied it the remainder of his days, rounding up the ripe old age of eighty-six years.

Ela Hodge was quite young when his parents took up their residence in Harrisburg, N.Y., and he was there reared to man's estate. Upon starting out for himself he purchased 100 acres of land two miles from his father's home, put up a log house and commenced clearing away the timber. After the lapse of some years what was once a forest was transformed into a farm, and there the father of our subject resided until his death, which occurred April 10, 1880, when he was in the eightieth year of his age. He had added to his first purchase, and accumulated a good property.

Mrs. Margaret (Safford) Hodge, the mother of our subject, was a native of Salem, Washington Co., N.Y., and the daughter of Samuel Safford, an early settler of Harrisburg. She passed away at the old homestead prior to the demise of her husband. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom grew to mature years. Harvey L. now owns and occupies the old homestead. John learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and died in Copenhagen, N.Y. Louisa A. and Marietta are also deceased; Merlis Delos died at the age of seventeen; Lorenzo D. resides with his elder brother on the homestead.

The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, and lived there until 1854, acquiring his education in the public schools. Then, starting for the Far West, on a visit to friends in Maquoketa, this county, he was so well pleased with the place and people that he concluded to make this his home. That same year he commenced the study of dentistry with Dr. J.G. Dearborn, and a few months after purchased the office fixtures and good-will of his tutor, and regularly established himself as a practitioner, and has been thus engaged since that time.

In 1860 Dr. Hodge was married to Miss Maria M. Bentley. Mrs. Hodge was born in Queensbury, N.Y., in October, 1839, and is the daugher of William Bentley, who came to this county in 1841. She died on the 14th of December, 1883, at the age of forty-four years and ten months. Of this union there were born two children, Lorenzo D. and Mary E., the latter of whom died Feb. 4, 1882, in the seventeenth year of her age. Lorenzo was graduated in dentistry from the State University in 1886, and is practicing his profession in Arkansas City, Kan.

Dr. Hodge was married a second time, in September, 1884, to Mrs. Ella L. (Leffingwell) Mitchell, who was born in Clinton County, this State, and is the daughter of William and Celinda Leffingwell and the widow of Theophilus Mitchell.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)