Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: HODGES, George Lincoln (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 September 18, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 228, 230-231 photo p. 229 GEORGE LINCOLN HODGES. The history of the growth and development of Colorado reveals the names of certain men whose personality and achievements are synonymous with the state's advancement, morally, intellectually and financially. If in any single field her advancement has been greater than in others, that one is in the administration of justice, for among the members of her bar have been enrolled the familiar names of eminent jurists and talented counselors. Standing preeminent among his fellows, and enjoying honored distinction, is George L. Hodges, whose career furnishes a striking example of the success that comes to him who strives, even without the adventitious aid of chance and fortuitous circumstance. Few possessions are more valued and wished for than strength, but it is not generally realized that only through long, patient and continued effort can it be attained. It is thought of as a happy accident or a native gift to be passively grateful for, rather than as the direct result of toil and effort. This principle is equally manifest in moral and mental strength, as in physical vigor. The strong mind has accumulated power through hard mental activity; much earnest study, much effort of thought, have combined to give that vigorous force and elasticity which, to its possessor, is so valuable a boon. We look with favor upon the man thus endowed: We admire his clear vision, his sound judgment, his keen discrimination: We envy the ease with which he detects the point of an argument, or solves an intricate problem, or applies a principle, but we do not see and seldom even imagine the toil and patience that constitute the true source of his admired strength. The obstacles overcome and the trials which have been so hard to bear, have called forth the fortitude and heroism, component parts of every noble nature. It has come to him through effort and sacrifice, and the more it has cost, the greater the reward. Born of a line of sturdy ancestry, active participants in the stirring affairs incident to our nation's formative periods during the Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil wars, Mr. Hodges inherited those principles of industry, integrity and determination of purpose which have ever characterized his career. His father, James Luther Hodges, resided for many years in the Empire state and was a man of versatile attainments, as a farmer, also as a teacher in the public schools. In 1854, he went to Joltet, Illinois, and secured a contract for the building of the first high school in that city. He later applied for, and was appointed to, the position as the first principal of that school, while the assistant principal was none other than Anna Withall, whom he afterwards married. It is interesting to note that among the members of that first class in Joliet, were several young men who later became prominent in the business and financial world, and among -whom may be mentioned, Sir William Van Horn, the builder of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and who, in recognition of this achievement, was knighted by Queen Victoria; Harlow N. Higginbotham, of Chicago, and Eugene Wilder, now a resident of Boulder, Colorado, where he has served as city clerk, publicist and is otherwise prominent in state and local affairs. James L. Hodges and Anna Withall were married at Joliet, Illinois, about the year 1855, the ceremony being performed by Bishop Vincent. Anna Withall was born in England and during her infancy, had come with her parents to America. The family took up their abode near Rochester, New York, where her father, the Reverend Elija Withall, continued his pastoral duties. She received the advantages of a thorough and careful educational training, and graduated with honor, from the well known Women's College at Albion. James L. Hodges, following his term of principal at Joliet, returned to New York where George L. Hodges was born on the old family homestead, near Rochester, August 7, 1856. The following year, the family removed to Minnesota where they were numbered among the pioneers of Olmsted county, which was largely settled by families from the same eastern neighborhood and the county seat given the name of Rochester. At the outbreak of the Civil war, and in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, James L. Hodges enlisted in his country's service as a member of the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned as first lieutenant by Governor Ramsey, Minnesota's "war governor." He was subsequently elected captain of his company and afterwards served on the staff of General Steele, in which connection he was placed in charge of the military prison at Little Rock, Arkansas. He also participated in the suppression of the Indian outbreak at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and had won renown for military skill. When the war closed Captain Hodges was in Arkansas, and he remained there, making Little Rock his home. He was admitted to the bar and took an active and potential part in the affairs of the state during the period of reconstruction. He also served as a. member of the Arkansas constitutional convention in 1868. In 1871, President Grant appointed him postmaster at Little Rock, but he resigned this office the following year. In 1873, he removed with his family to Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago where his wife died, in 1874, at the age of forty-two years. In 1878 he removed to Colorado, locating at Leadville, where he at once entered public service as collector of United States revenue. Later, he made Glenwood Springs his place of residence and was twice elected mayor, also served as judge of the county court of Garfield county. In 1884, President Arthur appointed him register of the United States land office, at Glenwood Springs. In September, 1894, he located in Denver and, in 1898, was appointed by President McKinley, assayer in charge of the United States mint, in that city, which office he held for many years. Judge Hodges was always a stalwart republican and served continuously for many years as a member of the republican state central committee, of Colorado. He was twice chosen chairman of this committee, and as such, conducted the McKinley presidential campaign of 1896. Thus it will be seen that James Luther Hodges had active part in the affairs of Colorado, and left upon the history of two states the imprint of his personality and character. He died in Denver, in December, 1906, in his seventy-third year, rich in the respect and esteem of his fellow men. He was a member of the Loyal Legion and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was also, a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite mason, having been a master mason for more than fifty years. George L. Hodges was but an infant when he went with his parents to Minnesota where he was subject to the rigors and the dangers of a frontier community. His educational advantages, though they may have been restricted in a sense, were of a high character. His home surroundings were most favorable and the training there received, as well as his public school training, was supplemented by a course of study at the Wesleyan Seminary and also the State Normal School, at Brockport, New York. While the family home was established at Oak Park, Illinois, he further advanced himself by taking a course in the Bryant. & Stratton Business College and his first business experience came to him in closing up the receivership in the United States court, in which proceedings the well known soap manufacturer, B. T. Babbitt, was the complainant. While attending the Centennial exposition in Philadelphia, in 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Ella Van Derveer, of Westville, New York. He entered upon the study of law in the spring of 1877 at Cooperstown, New York, in the office and under the tutelage of Hon. Hezekiah Sturges, one of the three judges of the Canal appraisers court, remaining there until July, 1879, when he came to Colorado, locating in Leadville, He was admitted to the bar of Colorado in September, 1879, and continued in active practice until October, 1883, when he returned to New York state and, in connection with his father in-law, he engaged in hop raising, in dairying and in mercantile pursuits, in Chenango county, where he was also called upon for public service, filling the office of county supervisor. At the expiration of his term of office, he was tendered the unanimous renomination by both the democratic and republican parties, but he declined to again become a candidate. With the desire to again become an active practitioner at the bar, he was admitted to the New York bar in January, 1886. In June of the following year however, he returned to Colorado and in October, 1887. entered into partnership with S. H. Ballard of Denver. This association was continued until July, 1889, when Mr. Hodges withdrew and formed a partnership with Thomas W. Lipscomb. As the years passed, Mr. Hodges more and more largely specialized in corporation law and soon became known as an able practitioner in that particular field. In 1893, he was appointed general counsel, and made a director and a member of the executive committee of the Mexico, Cuernavaca & Pacific Railroad Company, constructing and operating a line projected from the city of Mexico to the harbor of Acapulco. He won distinction in his preparation and presentation of the answer of a federation of the employes of the Union Pacific Railway system, to the petition of the receivers for leave to put in operation new rules and regulations governing the basis of pay, and to reduce the scale of wages in Colorado and Wyoming. The hearing was held at Omaha, and resulted in April, 1894, in the vacation of the famous "Dundy" order, and in the maintenance of the rules, regulations and wage scale in force prior to the receivership. He also had charge of litigation protecting the patent of the well known Wilfley Ore Concentrating Table. This litigation extended over a period of more than ten years and was won through the ability of counsel to make plain to the court the basic fact that the invention, though simple, was in reality, an advanced step in ore concentration. Socially, and in part as a diversion from the exactions of his chosen profession, Mr. Hodges has been a diligent and discriminating student of the mysteries of Masonic lore and has advanced through the several grades to exalted honor. Holding membership in Colorado Consistory, No. 1, he is also past master of Denver Council of Kadosh, No. 1; a member of Denver Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M.; Colorado Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M.; and of El Jebel Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member, by succession, of the Loyal Legion, and an honorary life member of the Denver Athletic Club. To George L. and Ella (Van Derveer) Hodges, have been born three children: William V., of whom a personal sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Ella F., now Mrs. Norman Read, of Denver; and Enna C.