Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-01-31


GEO. T. HOUGHTON, ESQ.
OF ST. ALBANs, VT.
Not long after the last special meeting OF
this Historical Society, distinguished Yer
uomter having long occupied places Of hon
orable trust and responsibility, Joined the
majority ''-dbiU al piureS-leaving beh.nd
aim 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 a.
early as 1880. Their principal settlement
tor d long time was in Norton, Bristol County,
Massachusetts,, and subsequently, many OF
them resided in the neighboring town OF
Taunton, and are now scattered through the
United States, and even beyond the bounds
OF the Union.
His father, Silas Hodges, was born in Nor
ton, and was practising as a physician i'll
Dunbarton, Merrimack County, New Hamp-
SHIRE when the war OF the American Rcyolu-
ton broke out. He entered afterwards into
the service of the Patriots, and was person
ally employed by Gen. Washington, both in
sls professional capacity and in undertakings
e,'; .arlug especial confidence. At the close
OF the war be resumed practice in Clarendon,
VI. and followed it until prevented by dis
lated a handsome properly, which vas chief
" 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,
a native OF Concord, Mass, who survived him
forty years. The subject of this biographical
,a,etoh was her third He was born in
Clarendon, VT. July 1889, and fitted for
College under the tuition OF Samuel Walker.
Esd OF Rutland, well known teacher who
performed the same office for many Vermont
Lraduates. Mr., Hodges entered Middlebury
College, as near as can now be ascertained,
IN 1902 Upon his fathers death he left col
lege and devoted himself TO the mercantile
business In 1908 he removed from Claren,
4on to Rutland, where be was actively en-
gaged in business until his death. In May
1910, he was married to Miss Emily Bliss
who survives him. 1t is noticeable fact thai
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. Trivial
as these circumstances apparently are, they
serve to illustrate the stability of purpose for
which he was distinguished through his whole
life
Mr. Hodges, entered into the militia ser
vice as early, at least, as required by law, and
N a few years rose to the rank from which
he derived the title by which he was gener-
ally designated Major Hodges resigned his
commission in 1918 (O-after which date be
took no active part in the service.
Although opposed by habit and taste to
what has been aptly called . the harsh en-
counter of partisan warfare" he was repeat
edly called upon by his townsmen to repre-
sent Rutland in the General Assembly. In
1927, '2S and '29, and also Ia 1889 and I840
he was elected Repr, ntative in the House
Of representatives from Rutland.
During his legislative career, the ripe
Judgment, practical knowledge as we'll as
ultvated taste for which he was remarkable
1t home, became we'll known and established.
and in 1882 he was appoin'el by Gov.
Palmer, conjoinIly with the Hon. Samuel
Chandler Crafts, of Crattsbury, and the Hon.
Allen Wardncr, OF Windsor, committee
t fix on place IN NJ ntpeier for erecting
State House, aud to prepare a plan for the
<arne." How faithfully that duty was dis
harged it is supertiuouS here and now to
speak. The beautiful ami substantial memo
nal Of their taste and jld5ment remained
in an unlucky night, in January 1857, it was
destroyed by fire.
Nor was Major Hodges sphere of public
duties limited to single service or single
town. Without attempting to enumerate al
OF his public services or his connection with
benevolent institutions, | remark that he was
elected a Senator from Rutland Comfy, for
I845, '46 and ~, and for the last two years
his tact, courtesy and impartality won for him
he honorable position of President protein
pore. a post for which few mercantile gentle
men have either experience or especial
claims In 1S48 he was one of the Vermont
Presidential electors, and gave his vote for
Zachary Taylor for President, and Millard
Fillmore for Vice President.
For more than a quarter of a century, Ma
ior Hodges was the President of the Bank OF
Rutland An influential New York paper
remarks that that Bank owes to his unrlvall-
ed Judgment, prudence and sagacitv, the high
and honorable stand it holds among the mo-
ney institutions of New England"
He was President OF the Western Vermont
Railroad Company in 1858, and Director
of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad
Company from the time of its organization
until 1852.
Ever on the alert to advance all enterpri-
ses by which the interests of his native State
could be promoted. he was an early and eff
cient friend of the Vermont State Agricul-
tural Society and, perhaps, to no Yermonter
If we except the late Timothy Follett-is
the success of the Rutland and Burlington
Railroad more indebted than to George Tis-
dale Hodges.
Although he was always an active business
man-his energy and method ensuring him
lage measure of pecuniary success-yet he
always found time and opportunity for the
discharge of those high and re-
sponsble duties which he owed to God and
his fellow-creatures. He was one OF the chief
instruments in the hands of Providence in
the Episcopal Church in Rut-
land, which has always depended largely.
upon his IibePalty and in his daily walk and