Julia Ann Boyd ~ John Hodges

Lowndes Co., GA

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A native and lifelong resident of Lowndes county, the owner of many broad and fertile acres near Hahira, John A. Hodges has succeeded in life through ability and well timed industry, and has long been a prosperous and influential citizen of his community. He was born in Lowndes county on the 11th of February, 1849, and represents one of the old and prominent families of south Georgia.

His grandfather Nathan Hodges was, so far as known, a native Georgian, and about 1828 moved from Tattnall county to Lowndes county, settling some five miles south of the present site of Hahira. Lowndes county then comprised a much greater territory than at present, with Franklinville the county seat, which was subsequently transferred to Troupville. Nearly all the land was under state ownership, and directly from the commonwealth Grandfather Hodges bought a lot of four hundred and ninety acres, nearly all timber. His family were sheltered under tents while he was erecting the first log-cabin home. For many miles around no mills had yet been built. He had brought with him a steel mill, operated by hand, for grinding grain, and this became such an institution that the neighbors brought their packs of corn long distances to be ground into meal. The date of the Hodges settlement was also several years previous to the final expulsion of the Florida Indians, and it was a not infrequent occurrence that marauding bands crossed the border and disturbed the south Georgians. A log fort stood on the grandfather's place during these years, and it several times sheltered the inhabitants of this- vicinity while hostile redskins were near. On this old homestead the grandfather and his wife spent their last years. They reared eight children, three sons and five daughters, namely: John, Daniel, Aleck, Elsie, Eliza, Caroline, Maria and Polly.

Of this family John was the father of John A. Hodges. He was born in Tattnall county, being nineteen years old when his parents came to Lowndes county. He was one of the militia or minutemen of the settlement during the period of Indian strife, and also participated in the final struggles that broke the power of the red men. These occurred in 1836, in which year there were three Indian battles, including the well-known conflict at Brush Creek, when the Indians made their last stand. On attaining his majority John Hodges bought a lot of land consisting of four hundred and ninety acres, and gave what was then considered a very good price for it, $50, a sum which would hardly buy one acre now. Not a railroad had yet come into this region. Marketing was difficult, and for several years the cotton from his and other plantations was hauled by team and wagon to Newport, Florida. He established on his farm one of the old cotton gins operated by mule power, its capacity during a long day's run being half a bale. He improved and developed a considerable quantity of land in this vicinity, and continued his residence there until his death in 1875 at the age of sixty-six years.

The maiden name of his wife was Julia Ann Boyd, and she was a daughter of Banar and Sarah Boyd, also early settlers of Lowndes county. Her death occurred in 1872. Her twelve children were named as follows: Hardy, Polly Ann, Sarah J., Thomas B., Susan, George, John A., Julia, Laura, Charlotte, Henry B. and Samuel H. Hodges.

The pioneer scenes which have been above referred to had not yet vanished from this section of Georgia during the childhood and youth of John A. Hodges, and his memory goes back to the time when deer, wild turkey and other wild game were plentiful among the sparse settlements. His mother did all her cooking at a fireplace, no stoves having yet been introduced, and she carded, wove and spun the wool or cotton or flax with which she dressed all the family in homespun. In such a household John A. acquired early habits of industry. His assistance when a boy was given to the farm labor, and when the weather did not permit outdoor labor he helped his mother at the wheel or loom. He is one of few men living who were once skilled in the old-fashioned art of spinning and weaving. Mechanical skill was one of nature's gifts to him, and though he never learned a trade for a regular vocation he had a practical craft for various lines of handiwork, and during his youth earned all his spending money through this skill, never calling on his father to supply him a cent. At the age of fourteen he made a substantial but plain saddle, which he sold for $10. Buying some brass tacks, he ornamented his next saddle, and secured $15 for it. He also made shoes.

When he was twenty-one he began his career as an independent farmer by working a tract of his father's land for half the crop. Four years later he bought two hundred and fifty acres at $2 an acre, paying two hundred in cash and obligating himself for the balance with twenty per cent interest. It took him six years to clear himself of the interest and principal. At his father's death he inherited land worth $300 and also bought the share of a sister. He later bought a tract of six hundred acres a mile north of Hahira, going in debt $2,400 with interest at fifteen per cent. It is on this latter land that he has spent most of his career as a general farmer. He has long been known as a practical farmer, one who could produce profits from his land, and besides his own prosperity his example has been valuable to the general welfare of this agricultural region. In 1912 Mr. Hodges moved to an attractive modern home which he had built on land adjoining the town of Hahira. His land holdings embrace upwards of fourteen hundred acres in the vicinity of Hahira, and for this material evidence of prosperity he owes all to his own efforts and good management.

At the age of thirty-two Mr. Hodges married Miss Susan L. Lawson. She is a native of Lowndes county, and a daughter of John and Mary A. (Sineth) Lawson. On the paternal side she is descended from Ashley Lawson (see sketch of Irvine and L. F. Lawson). Her mother was a daughter of William and Mary Sineth. The following children compose the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hodges: Lewis, Corine, Perry (deceased), Slater, Edward, Irene, Louell, Robert T. and Bevins. Lewis married Sally Marshall and has two children,. Anna Lee and John Lewis. Corine is the widow of James Hall.

Source: A history of Savannah and South Georgia by Willliam Harden; Chicago [Illinois]: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913. FHL Film 1425645
 

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