Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-03-01
A Memoir
OF THE
BY GEORGE F. HoUGHToN, ESQ.,.

Not long after the last special Getting
of this Historical Society, a disting uishcd
Ncrmontcr, having long occupied places of
honorable trust and responsibility, 'Joincd
the majority ''-aJiit ad plureS-leaving
behind him the assurance Of an hOnored
memory.
The late Hon. GEORGE TIsDALE HODGES,
of Rutland, was a descendant of an ancient
family who came over from Great Britain
as carly as 1880 Their principal settle
ment for long time was in Norton, Brls-
tol County, Massachusetts,, and subsequent
ly many of them resided in the neighboring
town of Taunton, and arc now scattered
through the United States, andeven beyond
the bounds Of the Union.
His father, SmAs HODGES, was born IN
Norton, and was practising as physician
in Dunbarton. Nerrimack County, New
hampshire, when the war Of the American
Revolution broke out. He entered after
wards into the service Of the Patriots, and
was personally employed by Gen. WASH
IyGToN, both in his professional capacity
and in undertakings requiring especial con-
fdcnce. At the close Of the war he re-
sumed practice in Clarendon, Vermont,
and followed it until prevented by dis
ease. He died in 1904, after having ac-
cumulated handsome property, which was
chiefly invested in real estate In his own
vicinity, and in the then wild lands IN the
northern part of Vermont.
DR.. HoDGEs' third wife was MARY GOULD,
native of Concord, Mass, who survived
him forty years. The subject Of this bio
graphical sketch was her third son. He
was born in Clarendon, Vt, July 4th, l7o9,
and fitted for College under the tuition Of
SAMUEL WALKER, ESD, of Rutland, well
known teacher who performed the same
Office for many Vermont graduates. MIR.
IIoDGEs entered Middlebury College, as
near as can now be asccrtained, IN 1902.
Upon his fathers death he left college and
devoted himself to the mercantile business.
In 1908 he removed from Clarendon to
Rutland, where he was actively engaged
in business until his death. In May, 1910,
he was married to Miss EMILY Bliss, who
survives him. 1t is 4 noticeable fact that he
always after marriage occupied the house
in which he died, and never changed his
place of business, but up to the time Of his
last sickness continued in the same store
where more than fifty years before he laid
the foundation of his ample fortune. Triv'
ial as these circumstances apparently arc
they serve to illustrate the stability of pur'
nose for which he was distinguished through
his whole career.
Mr.. HoDGEs entered into the militia ser
vice as early, at least, as required by law
and in few years rose to the rank from
which he derived the title by which he wa
generally designated. Major fioDGEs re
Stoned his commission in 1878, C!)-afte
which date he took no active part In tn
service. ,
Although opposed by habit and taste t
what has been aptly called "the harsh en-
counter of partisan warfare" he was re
ncatedly called upon by his townsmen t
e renresent Rutland in the General Assembly
e In 1897. '2S and %, and also in 1889 an
e 184O he was elected Representative
c the House of Representatives from hu'
land. .bo ,.;r
, During his legislative career the ,I ZIP !
;, Judgment, practical knowledge as ,onl.. wei! .
It cultivated taste for which he was remarks
5 HE at home, became well known ana eSVa'
i Iisbed and in 1882 he was appointeo o
e Ex.Goy. WILLIAM A. PALMER, cogolntl
e With the Hon. SAMUEL CHANDLER GRAFT
It of Craftsbury, and the Hon: ALLEN " All Az
d MFR. of Windsor, committee to Tx G, on
IS nIace nLD, = in Montpelier for erecting Sta
III House, and to prepare plan tor the same
/, How faithfully that duty was dIScnargeu lis
4 IS i,s superauous now to speak . The }, beaut m
ir frl and substantial memorial OF their tas
s. and Judgment remained here for our adnl
n rat;on rud for twenty years, but in an unluci
IT night in January, 1851 it was deS'r0y'
fs Nor was Major HoDGEs' sphere OF Pu
is lie duties limited to single service of