My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL E. HODGE. Although now deceased for the long period of thirty-eight years, the great excellence of character which distinguished Mr. Hodge has caused him to still be remembered with thoughts of kindness by his neighbors, and with affection by his immediate family. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Clark County, coming hither when the country was practically a wilderness, and bore with his fellow-settlers the heat and burden of the day in bringing a portion of the soil to a state of cultivation, and building up a home upon what was then practically a frontier. His energy and industry were proverbial, and he was prospered in his labors as a tiller of the soil, leaving to his family a comfortable property. He was born near Mt. Sterling, Ky., December 11, 1796, and departed this life December 7, 1852, at the age of fifty-six years.

Mr. Hodge came of respectable parentage, being the son of Andrew and Isabel (Mateer) Hodge, who were natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. Andrew Hodge when a young man ran away from home and went to Kentucky, where his brother Hamilton had already located, and there happily he found his fate in the person of Miss Mateer, to whom he was in due time married. In 1806, leaving Kentucky they came to Ohio, and selecting a tract of land in Pleasant Township, Clark County, Mr. Hodge there with his wife took up his abode, and his family still continue their residence there. He entered three hundred and twenty acres of land, occupying a part of section 25, in the southwest part of the township, and made an arrangement with parties to put up a cabin, then went back to Kentucky. In the meantime the Indians had been troublesome, and when Mr. Hodge returned in December following with his family, he found no roof to shelter them, and they lived in a tent until he could build a house.

Mr. Hodge next set about the improvement of his property, clearing the land and bringing the soil to a state of cultivation. He followed farming all his life with the exception of the time he served in the army during the War of 1812. There were born to him and his excellent partner six children, whom they named respectively: Williams, John, Samuel, James, Sarah M., now the wife of William Baird; and Jane M., Mrs. Jerry Yeazell.

Andrew Hodge, the father of Samuel, died in March, 1857, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. He was twice married, but by his second wife, Jane McClintic, of Virginia, no children were born. Both he and his wives were Presbyterians in religion. Mr. Hodge was a stanch Democrat, politically, a good man in his family, and a kind and hospitable neighbor. He was greatly attached to his children, and gave each of them a farm. Samuel E., the subject of this notice, obtained such education as was afforded by the pioneer schools, and lived unmarried until approaching the fortieth year of his age. He was then wedded, November 4, 1836, to Miss Sebina Spencer. Mrs. Hodge was born March 4, 1815, two miles east of Harmony Village, Clark County, and is a daughter of Matthew and Abigail (Rice) Spencer, who were born, reared and married in Otsego County, N. Y.

The Spencer family, removed to Clark County, this State, in 1811, and the father took up a tract of land in Harmony Township, where with his good wife he endured all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and where they both spent the remainder of their days, having in the meantime built up a comfortable homestead. Mr. Spencer only lived about thirteen years after the removal to Clark County, his death taking place in 1824. The year following his removal here he enlisted and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Spencer survived her husband for the long period of forty-six years, her death taking place in May, 1874, when she was nearly eighty years old. Seven children had been born to them, the eldest of whom, a son, Hamilton, died in Champaign County, Ill. The others were named respectively — Sebina, Julia Ann, Angeline, Maria, Fanny and Matthew. With the exception of Mrs. Hodge they all removed to Champaign County, Ill., where the survivor’s are still living.

The subject of this notice was a man greatly respected in his community, and as the township advanced in prosperity and importance he was called to fill various offices of trust and responsibility. To him and his good wife there was born a family of eight children, all of whom lived to mature years. Mary Jane died unmarried; James H. is a resident of Harmony Township; Angeline is the wife of John A. Yeazell; Andrew and Matthew are at home; Isabel is the wife of James Ingle, of Moorefield Township; Abigail died when twenty-seven years old; Sarah E. is at home. Mr. Hodge was for many years a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, to which he was a liberal contributor, and he was uniformly the supporter of every enterprise calculated to promote the welfare of his community. At his death he left one hundred and ninety acres of land, and Mrs. Hodge is now the owner of an equal amount elsewhere. She has remained at the homestead with her unmarried children since the death of her husband, and they have carried on the improvement of the farm, putting up a fine residence and other buildings, and managed it in that wise and capable manner which has made of it one of the most valuable estates in Clark County. They are people of more than ordinary intelligence, and hold a high position socially.