JOHN HODGES, Sheriff of Alexander County, Ill., and a resident of Cairo, was born at the old town of Unity, in Alexander County, August 19, 1836. His father, John Hodges, was born in the State of Tennessee in 1810, and came in an early day to Southern Illinois, first locating in Union County, and there married Miss Margaret Hunsucker, in 1833, soon after which event he removed to Unity, Alexander County, where the family of twelve children were born. He was by trade a hatter, but engaged mostly in mercantile pursuits, indeed, with the exception of the few closing years, his entire life was spent in merchandising. He was a man of strong physical development and, while of limited education, was possessed of a strong will power and brilliant intellect, somewhat slow to decide, but whose judgment when formed was seldom at fault. He was a Jackson Democrat, and represented Alexander County two years in the General Assembly — probably in 1848-49. Shortly after the close of his Legislative office, he purchased a farm a few miles from Unity, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1862. Mrs. Margaret Hodges is a member of one of the oldest families of Union County, and is still living on the old homestead near Unity. John Hodges, the subject of these lines, is the oldest of their family of twelve children, and received the benefit of a common school education, and obtained a practical knowledge of business while with his father. He was married in Mississippi County, Mo., on the 25th of July, 1858, to Miss Isophine I. Wicker, daughter of Charles and Margaret Wicker. She was born August 20, 1837. Mr. Hodges was elected to the office of County Treasurer and Assessor in 1859, but resigned to become a candidate for Sheriff, in 1860, and was elected to that office, which he filled for two years. From 1862 to 1864, he was Deputy Sheriff under O. Greenly, and, until 1866, in the same office under C. D. Arter. In 1876, he was again appointed to the office of Deputy Sheriff under Peter Saup, serving until elected to the Sheriff's office in 1878. He still holds the office, having been re-elected in 1880 and again in 1882. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Knights of Honor. They have a family of six children - Charles E., born May 30, 1859; John S., born March 17, 1866; Loraine, born June 17, 1868; Margaret, born September 26, 1870; Mary E., born August 19, 1873, and Fredoline B. Hodges, born March 13, 1875. Family residence on Ninth street, between Washington and Walnut streets.
Extracted 31 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, pages 21-22.
| Cape Girardeau MO |
Union | |
 |
Pulaski | |
| Scott MO | Mississippi MO | Ballard KY |
