Hodson, Ralph L.

HODSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 12:00:35

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.939

RALPH L. HODSON
R. L. Hodson is a well known and prominent farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 17, Union Township. He dates his residence in this county from 1858, being only two years old when brought here, for he was born in Henry County, Indiana, May 30, 1856. His father, Solomon Hodson, was a native of Ohio and from that state removed to Henry County, Indiana, where he married Miss Hannah Ogle, a native of the Hoosier state. As a nursery­man he carried on business there for several years, and being a well educated man he also engaged in teaching school for thirty-two winter terms. At an early day he and his father entered four hundred acres of land in White Breast Township, Warren County, Iowa, and upon this place he located in 1858, opening up a good farm. He also started a nursery, which he con­ducted for twenty years, and as one of the leading and influential citizens of his community he was called upon to serve as county auditor of this county for two terms. After a useful and well spent life, he died here in 1895, at the age of sixty-five years, and his widow still resides on the old home place.
Upon the homestead farm R. L. Hodson grew to manhood, and his early education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by a course at Ackworth Academy. He then engaged in teaching for a time. He was married in White Breast Township, December 7, 1879, to Miss Ella Reynolds, who was born in Indiana, but was reared in this county, of which her father, William Reynolds, now of Oklahoma, was an early settler.
After his marriage Mr. Hodson removed to Mitchell County, Kansas, where he engaged in farming for one year, and from 1881 until 1888 made his home in Adams County, Iowa, where he also engaged in agricultural pursuits. At the end of that time he returned to Warren County and purchased a farm in Belmont Township but after raising one crop he sold that place and bought eighty acres of land in Union Township, where be now resides. He has since extended the boundaries of his farm until he now has two hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land, which he has surrounded by good fences and improved with neat and substantial buildings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. He raises a large amount of stock, feeding one or more carloads of cattle each year and also a large number of hogs. In connection with his farming and stock-raising interests he is also engaged in the real-estate business and has handled a large amount of farm property.
Mr. and Mrs. Hodson are the parents of six children, namely: Myrtle M., now the wife of James A. Hicks, a farmer of Union Township; C. L., who is married and owns a farm adjoining his father's place; Harry S., who is also married and follows farming in Union Township; Grace E., the wife of Clayton Williams, of Belmont Township; Alta F., the wife of Pearl Adamson, of Bel­mont Township, and Cash, who is now eleven years of age and is still at home.
By his ballot Mr. Hodson supports the men and measures of the Republican Party but has never cared for official honors, though he has served as Township trustee and as a member of the school board. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sandyville. Their well spent lives have won for them the respect of the entire community in which they live and they have many friends throughout this county.