Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - Ben F. Hodges

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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Ben F. Hodges, of the firm of Meyer, Hodges & Co., of Van Buren, was 
born December 2, 1852, on a boat on the Ohio River, near Cannelton, 
Ind., and is a son of John and Ann (Medlicot) Hodges. The father was a 
native of England, there learned the butcher's trade, and before 
reaching his majority immigrated to America, locating in Louisville, 
Ky. He was married in 1852, soon after removing to Cannelton, Ind., 
and in 1852 came to Van Buren. He engaged in butchering throughout his 
entire life, and while in Van Buren packed and shipped pork to the 
southern markets. The mother was born in Dublin, Ireland, and came to 
the United States when a young woman. Both are deceased. Three of the 
children are now living: Mary, wife of Dr. Thomas Caster, of Ozark, 
Ark.; Harriet, wife of N. F. Cornelius, of Van Buren, and our subject. 
The latter was but six years of age when he was brought to Van Buren, 
and at the age of eleven began to clerk in a store. In 1865 he went to 
Rochester, Ind., to learn the baker's trade, and in 1869 returned to 
Van Buren, working at the business until 1871, when he again clerked. 
In 1879 himself, H. F. Meyer and J. W. Statler went into the general 
mercantile business. The last named gentlemen sold his share to the 
other two in 1885, and since that date the business has been owned by 
Messrs. Meyer & Hodges. They carry a complete and first-class line of 
goods and enjoy a large patronage. Mr. Hodges is a man of good 
business capacity, temperate habits and courteous manners. He is a 
Democrat in politics, and a member of Ivanhoe Lodge No. 27, K. of P. 

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