Weld County, History of Colorado, BIOS: HODGSON, George A. (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II

p. 83-84



GEORGE A. HODGSON.

	George A. Hodgson, a resident of Platteville, who at one time was 
county commissioner of Weld county, was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, 
March 2, 1861. His father, David Hodgson, was born in England and was a 
lad of but twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents on their 
emigration to the new world. The family did not tarry on the Atlantic 
coast but made their way at once into the interior of the country, 
settling in Iowa county, Wisconsin, where David Hodgson was reared and 
educated. He there took up the occupation of farming as a life work and 
in 1860 he came to Colorado. After a brief period, however, he returned 
to Wisconsin, but in 1863 he removed with his family to this state and 
purchased government land near the present site of Platteville. He 
remained there with the Indians all around him and home-steaded, also 
securing a preemption claim. With characteristic energy he began the 
development and improvement of his property and continued Its further 
cultivation with notable success until about 1890, when he put aside 
agricultural pursuits and concentrated his efforts and attention upon 
mining interests. He was one of the first men, or probably the very 
first, to put in an Irrigation ditch in that locality, and this was 
done at a time when the workmen had to carry guns for protection 
against the Indians. He also invested in mining property and was 
interested in some gold mines at the time of his demise which still 
belong to his family. Throughout his later years he resided in 
Platteville and there passed away in 1915, when eighty years of age. In 
early manhood he had wedded Christine Hyde, who was born on Prince 
Edward Island and who passed away In 1911.

	George A. Hodgson, whose name introduces this review, spent his 
youthful days in the family home at Platteville and the educational 
opportunities offered by the public schools were those which qualified 
him for life's practical and responsible duties. After mastering the 
branches of learning taught in the district schools he continued his 
studies at Boulder for two years. He afterward devoted two years to 
government survey work and then made his way to the North Park district 
with cattle. He continued in that country for about ten years and took 
up land in that region. He always called Platteville his home, however, 
and in time he purchased his father's farm and also some adjoining land 
which he improved, becoming owner of a tract of four hundred acres in 
all. He was thus engaged chiefly in the cattle business for a number of 
years or until he was appointed county commissioner. He raised the 
first sugar beets that were loaded on a car at Platteville and he has 
been identified with the initial steps in the improvement of conditions 
here in many ways. He is always on the outlook for opportunities to 
improve his personal interests or advance business In general and his 
labors have been far-reaching and beneficial.

	In February, 1884, Mr. Hodgson was united in marriage to Miss 
Edith Lines, a daughter of John and Rachel (Yarnell) Lines, who were 
pioneer people of Colorado, taking up their abode in Platteville in 
1876, upon their removal from Illinois to this state. Her father was a 
farmer by occupation and carried on general agricultural pursuits in 
this district throughout his remaining days, both he and his wife 
having now passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson were born two children. 
Albert J., who was born in 1885 and is now cultivating his father's 
land, married Delia Camp and has two children, Marion E. and Mazella L. 
His wife died about 1913 and in May, 1917, he again married, his second 
union being with Frances Johnson. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George 
A. Hodgson died in infancy, almost at birth.

	In religious faith Mr. Hodgson is a Methodist and fraternally he 
is connected with the Elks Lodge No. 809, at Greeley. His political 
endorsement is given to the democratic party, of which he has long been 
recognized as a stalwart advocate. In 1912 he was appointed county 
commissioner to fill a vacancy and was afterward elected to that 
office, in which he served for tour years and nine months. He was also 
mayor of Platteville for two terms and he occupied the position of 
deputy county surveyor of Larimer county while he resided there. He has 
always been a great hunter and fisherman and knows every trail in 
Colorado that any one has ever traveled. He has traveled altogether one 
hundred and twenty-five thousand miles in motoring and hunting and 
business trips. He Is a public-spirited man and many evidences of his 
devotion to the general welfare can be cited. He served on the county 
board at the time the present courthouse was built and was largely 
instrumental in securing for the county one of the best courthouses in 
the entire country, it being erected at a cost of four hundred and 
sixteen thousand dollars. He is now state Inspector of bridges In Weld 
county and he has been the builder of many miles of highway in this 
county. Any plan for the development and improvement of community or 
state receives his endorsement and wherever possible he gives to any 
such project his practical aid.