Albert James Hodges

Albert J. Hodges, one of the independent and enterprising farmers of Dutch

Mills Township, is the son of William C. and Nancy (Davis) Hodges, both of

whom were natives of Tennessee, the father born in Lincoln County, and the

mother in Wilson County. In early life they moved with their parents to

McNairy County, Tenn., and later in life were married in this county, where

they located. The mother died in 1846, and afterward the father married Miss

Julia A. King. In 1854 they moved to Denton County, Tex., where the father

died in 1860. He was a farmer and stock dealer, and during the Mexican War

·he raised a company, of which he was elected captain, and during the days of

militia he was elected major of a regiment. Mr. Hodges was the father of nine

children by his first marriage and three by the second marriage. Albert J.

Hodges was the eldest of these children. He was born 'September 15, 1833, in

McNairy County, Tenn., was reared to farm life, and educated in the primitive

log school-house of pioneer times. At the age of eighteen he began business

for himself on a farm, where he remained for a short time, and then engaged in

the carpenter's trade for about two years, after which he returned to farming.

In 1858 he married Miss Mary M. Thornton, a nati".e of Hardin County, Tenn.,

and by her became the father of nine children, five sons and four daughters,

eight of whom are living, the youngest having died a few weeks ago. Previous

to his marriage, in 1853, Mr. Hodges moved to Grayson County, Tex., and soon

after to Denton County. In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. 0. G. Welch's company

of Texas volunteer cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He participated

in the battles of Pea Ridge and Cabin Creek, and at the latter place was

captured and held a prisoner at Camp Mort.on, Ind., for about eighteen months,

being paroled at Ricllmond, Va. He then returned to his family in Texas, and

in 1867 moved to Washington County, where he has followed farming and trading

ever since. He, like his father, is a Democrat in politics; he is also a Master

Mason, and both be and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

He is the owner of 230 acres of land, besides property in Salem. HODGES, J.D. – (Dutch Mills Column) J.D. Hodges is one of our good citizens and enjoys the distinction of shipping out of here the first car load of apples shipped out of Washington County. He hired John Stonestreet to go into the “boundless continguity of shade” to make red oak barrels bound with hickory hoops. Each barrel held four bushels and he hauled to Gibson station on the then young M K & T. He rode the cars with them to Austin, Texas, about 37 years ago, and sold for $5 per barrel to the apple loving Texans. [Fayetteville Democrat 3/19/1908]