Howell Hodges

HODGES, Howell of Cane Hill, Arkansas was born March 19, 1830 in Washington County, Tennessee, the son of Roland Hodges of the same place and Margaret Ellis, daughter of John Ellis. He was a Democrat and Cumberland Presbyterian. He served in the 31st Texas. He married Martha Jane Morrow, daughter of John Morrow and wife Mariah Cox, on November 19, 1857 at Washington County, Arkansas. Wife’s grandfather was Coleman Cox and grandmother was Martha Buchanan. On father’s side was John Morrow and grandmother Mary Calhoun. The children are; Thomas Ewing married to Altonia Smith, Little Rock, Arkansas; Mariah Jane married to E.L. Cline, Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Maggie Lee Married to I.D. Blakemore, Stillwater, Oklahoma; Lilly Eliza married to W.L. Jones, Siloam Springs, Arkansas and Emma Lacompte Hodges, single of Cane Hill, Arkansas. [1911 Arkansas Confederate Census]

Howell Hodges, 94, pioneer resident of Northwest Arkansas, died Wednesday morning at the home of his son, Dr. T.E. Hodges, at Rogers. Deceased was a native of Tennessee, coming with his parents to Arkansas in 1835, locating on a farm near Cane Hill, Washington County, where most of his life was spent. Following the death of his wife in 1915 Mr. Hodges went to Rogers to make his home with his son. The remains were returned to Cane Hill for burial. [The Springdale News 5/2/1924]

Howell Hodges is on the Confederate Pensioners list to receive $70 from the Washington County Clerk’s office. [Fayetteville Democrat 9/22/1910]

Howell Hodges filed Veteran Application #13213 with the Confederate Pension Board of Washington County for a Confederate pension and it was received as allowed August 11, 1908 at the State, citing service with Company G, 31stTexas Cavalry. [State of Arkansas Confederate Pension Archive

HODGES, Howell -Howell Hodges, one of the pioneer citizens of Northwest Arkansas, died yesterday morning in this city at the home of his son, Dr. T.E. Hodges, at the age of 94 years, one month and four days. Funeral services will be held this morning at Cane Hill in Washington County where he will be laid by the side of his wife who died there November 1, 1915. Services will be conducted by Rev. A.E. Carnahan of Pea Ridge whose family had been a neighbor and friend of the deceased for many years. Howell Hodges was born March 19, 1830 in East Tennessee but came to Arkansas with his parents in 1835. The trip as far as Van Buren was made on a flat boat on the Arkansas River and from that point they came on to Washington county where they settled on a farm six miles east of Cane Hill where most of his life was spent. In 1850 he joined the great crowd of fortune seekers in the gold fields of California and he remained in the west for seven years. Shortly after his return home in 1857 he married Martha Jane Morrow and to them were born five children, four daughters and one son, three of whom are still living: Miss Hodges is matron of the Presbyterian school at Durant, Okla.; Mrs. Lillian Jones of Fort Worth, Texas and Dr. T.E. Hodges of Rogers. Mr. Hodges lived on the farm until 1904 when he moved to Cane Hill. After the death of his wife in 1915 Mr. Hodges came to make his home with his son. He had been in failing health for some time and unable to often get away from the house. His condition had been serious for several weeks and his death was not unexpected and brought to a peaceful end a long and useful life. He was the grandfather of Dr. Guy Hodges and Howell Hodges of this city. [Rogers Democrat 4/24/1924]

Howell Hodges was born March 19, 1830, Washington county, East Tennessee. Died at the home of his son, T.E. Hodges, Rogers, Arkansas April 23, 1924 at the ripe old age of 94 years, 1 month and 2 days. He was the father of one son and three daughters: Mrs. Lillie Jones, Ft. Worth; Mrs. Jennie Kline, Tahlequah; Miss Maggie Hodges, Blackmore, Okla. Two daughters died years ago. He was the grandfather of Dr. Guy and Howell Hodges of this city. His wife passed away in 1915 at Cane Hill where he had made his home since he was 10 years old with the exception of seven years spent in hunting gold in California which is a story full of interest and is best told in his memoirs which he wrote for his friend, Rev. A.E. Carnahan, who preached his funeral sermon at Cane Hill last Thursday where he was laid to rest beside his wife and children. "In 1850 I joined a train, or company, bound for the gold fields of California. The company formed at Cane Hill and consisted of about 12 men, including Isaac Spencer, Lon Kisson, Anson Hodges (cousin), Jas. Hagood, Henry Allen, Jonathan Allen, Isham Burrow, Lon Latto, Jack Latto, Eli Latto, Frank Shannon, Robert Cox and William Grey. We left Cane Hill April 10. Our captain was Jonathan Allen. At Carthage we stopped ten days waiting for grass to grow. Corn then cost fifteen cents a bushel. From there we went to Fort Laramie on the Platt river and on to Salt Lake. At this point we were joined by another company from Arkansas under Jack Holt. The two companies united. We were one day and night crossing the desert, starting at nightfall and traveling through the night and the day following reaching Carson River at the close of day. Two old people and two small children, a boy and a girl, who were unable to cross the desert were overtaken by this company. The children were taken forcibly from the old couple and taken on to California. Later the girl was married in California. The boy returned to Arkansas and settled in Benton County, near Maysville. We were four months on the trip and gone from Arkansas seven years. On the return trip we took ship from San Francisco on the mail steamer Golden Gate, going by way of Panama. Crossed the isthmus on the railroad. The fare was 55 cents for 25 miles. From there on to Cuba and from Cuba to New Orleans on the Philadelphia. The entire trip cost $300 in gold." Mr. Hodges speaks of having heard Brigham Young at Salt Lake City. Mr. Hodges joined the Haupt regiment, 31 Texas, Co. Y under Capt. Ellis of the Confederate army. He was in the battle of Newton, Mo., Grove, Ark., Mansfield, La., Pleasant Hill, Mo. and was mustered out at the close of the war under Col. E.S. Strum at Ft. Smith. He was a farmer for many years until tiring of hard work he moved in Cane Hill and spent his time happily and quietly. He was a member of the Cane Hill Presbyterian church and was active in church work. He was temperate in his habits and actively believed in "early to bed and early to rise." He smoked a pipe and often joked about smoking shortening one's life. He was respected by his many friends and his relatives made the last years of his life as comfortable and happy as was possible for them to do so. His daughter-in-law, Mrs. T.E. Hodges, who cared for him as tenderly as a child the past ten years says of his character and life: "He lived by the side of the road and was a friend to man. Having been in the family for 35 years and having him in my home for ten years, I know whereof I speak. Gentle, kind and patient, and always cheerful seeing the bright side of life and saying good of everyone he knew. All who knew him well will bear me out in saying his life was worth living. He studied and practiced the real things in life." [Rogers Daily Post 4/29/1924]

[Prairie Grove Herald 9/23/1915]