Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Hodge, Allen Benson ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 3:13 am Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907 Allen Benson Hodge, deputy postmaster of Peotone, has been a resident of Will county since 1866, and during the forty years which have since come and gone has witnessed much of its development and progress. He was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, September 20, 1843. His paternal grandfather, David Hodge, was a member of a New Jersey regiment in the Revolutionary war and was one of Washington's bodyguards at the battle of Trenton, in which engagement he had an arm broken by a sword when in a hand to hand encounter with the enemy. John Hodge, an uncle of our subject, was a soldier of the war of 1812. His father, Levi Hodge, was a native of New Jersey and came to Illinois in 1839, settling in Sangamon county, near Mechanicsburg. He was a farmer by occupation and also conducted a meat market in Springfield for a number of years, during which time he became a warm personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, meeting the great emancipator almost daily. He finally removed to Piatt county, Illinois, where he passed away February 22, 1864, at the age of sixty-four years. He was a life long member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years served as a class-leader, while in all the departments of church work he took an active and helpful part. He joined the republican party on its inception and was always of that political faith. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Elizabeth Maxwell, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and died March 25, 1864, at the age of fifty-three years. She was a devoted Christian woman, also holding membership with the Methodist Episcopal church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Levi Hodge were born two sons, but the younger, Isaac Newton, was drowned in Kansas in 1871. By a previous marriage the father had four daughters: Susan and Elizabeth, both deceased; Christie Ann, the wife of S. G. W. Ely, a retired farmer living near Williamsville, Illinois; and Mary, who lives in Decatur, Illinois. Allen B. Hodge, reared to farm life, early became familiar with the work of plowing, planting and harvesting, and in his youth he acquired a good education in the district schools, also spending one term as a student in a high school. It was his intention to continue his education there but events shaped his course otherwise, for the Civil war was inaugurated, and at the age of eighteen years he enlisted in what afterward became known as the Joliet Battery, then Company I of the Second Illinois Artillery. He served in this organization until the close of the war and was mustered out at Springfield, June 14, 1865. He participated in the following general engagements: Island No. 10; Corinth, Mississippi; Perryville, Kentucky; Chickamauga; and many others. He was also on the march to the sea and was present at the grand review in Washington, where the victorious army passed through the streets of the capital city amid cheering thousands who witnessed the procession. He was wounded at Blackland, Mississippi, June 4, 1862, with a fragment of shell which shattered his hip, laming him for life. When he returned home his parents were dead and most of his friends gone, so that Mr. Hodge did not continue in the old neighborhood but in 1866 came to Will county, Illinois, and after three months spent in Plainfield, removed to Wilton township, where he worked at the carpenters trade until 1890. He then came to Peotone, where he has been employed in furniture stores. He was also assistant jailer under Sheriff Francis for four years and has been deputy postmaster for about two years under J. C. Adams, of Peotone. In 1876 Mr. Hodge was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Brereton, who was born in the town of Lockport, in 1855, and is a daughter of James and Martha Brereton, pioneer residents of Will county, who came from England at an early day. The father was manager of Colonel Dyer's farm while the colonel was absent in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Hodge have become the parents of two sons and a daughter, namely: Joseph Newton, who is a fireman on the Lake Shore Railroad, makes his home in Joliet. He served as a member of Company B, Third Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the Porto Rico campaign. Raymond Herbert is first sergeant of Company M, United States Infantry, stationed at Honolulu. He was likewise a member of Company B, Third Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the Porto Rico campaign. Ida, Elizabeth is is the wife of James Kruger, who is engaged in the bridge works at Peotone. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Hodge belongs to William Webb post, No. 657, G. A. R., of which he has been commander. In politics he has been a stalwart republican and in the office which he is now filling he is discharging his duties in a prompt and capable manner. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/hodge2447nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb