The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-22
SILAS HENRY HODGES,

We are panied to announce the death of
our fellow citizen, Hon. Silas II. Hodges,
one of the examiners in chief of the United
States patent office, which occurred at his
residence in Washington, Wednesday
morning, April 2lst, 1875, in the seventy
second year of his age.
He was descended of an ancient family,
which came from Great Britain to this
country as early as 1880. Their principal
settlement, for long time, was at Norton,
Bristol county, Massachusetts, and, sub
sequently, many of them resided in Taun-
ton, and are now scattered through the
United States, and have occupied nearly
every department Of public life as well as
adorned all professions and business call
ings. His grandfather, Slas Hodges, was
native of Norton, and was practising
physician in Dunbardton, New Hampshire,
when the war of the revolution broke out,
and entered the army and was personally
employed by General Washington, both in
his professional capacity and in under
taldngs requiring especial confidence. AT
the close of the war, he removed to Clar-
endon, in this state, resumed the practice
of medicine, and died in 1904. His son
Henry Hodges, father of Silas H., was one
of the judges of the Rutland county court
from 1921 to 1926 and from 1897 to 1884
Silas Henry Hold ses, son of Henry and
grandson OF Silas, was born at Claredon,
Vermont, January 12, 1904, and graduated
at Middlebury college in 1921. Among his
classmates were Rev. Josiah F.Goodhue, au-
thor of the history of Shoreham, Rev.
Henry b. Hooker of Rutland, Rev. Ova
Phelps Hoyt, Rev. Samuel c. Jackson, D..
D., state librarian of Massachusetts, Hon.
Ezra June of Brandon, Rev. Charles d.
Mallary, d. d., of Charleston, s. c., Hon.
Samuel b. Mattocks of Danville, and Rev.
John Stevens vice president of the Gran
vile, Ohio, college.
Soon after graduation, Mr.. Hodges CON-
menced the study of law in the Office of
William Page, esq, of Rutland. and was
admitted to the bar at the June term, 1895,
of the Rutland county court. He immedi-
ately opened an Office in Rutland, and con-
tinued the practice of his profession until
1882, when he relinqulshed 1t to enter upon
a course of study preparatory to the sacred
ministry. He studied theology for about a
year at the Auburn theological seminary
and elsewhere was for some months con-
nected with the financial department of the
American home missionary society; sup
piled the pulpit of the Congregational
church in Ludlow tor two years, and
preached several months in Perkinsville ;
was installed pastor of the church in Ches-
ter, November IS, 1887 and remained there
until 184l, when he abandoned the minis
try and resumed the practice of law in
Rutland, in which he continued until about
1861 or 1862.
He was auditor of accounts for the
state of Vermont from 1S45 to 1850, and
was laborious and painstaking officer. In
the fall of 1862, he was appointed, by
President Fillmore, United States commis.
sioner of patents, and remained as such un.
til the incoming of the Pierce administra-
tion, when he was superseded by Charles
Mason. That he was good officer and
made himself familiar with the routine
business of the department, and acquainted
with the law of patents, is shown by the
fact that, in the change of the patent sys
tenn, early in Lincoln's administration, hi
was made chairman of the board of exam
liners in chief of the patent office, and con
tinued to occupy that position until hi
death. He was good citizen, q sount
lawyer, well versed in theology, faithful al
public officer, beloved in all the relations
of life, and, withal, an honest man.
lie leaves, surviving him, widow, tn,
daughter Of the late Major William Fay
and four children-Mrs. Julia f. Dewey
Mrs. Lydia f. Wheeler, Anna, and Willis
His Oldest son, Henry Silas, graduated a
Williams college IN l840, and died the fol
lowing year. Two brothers-Edward f.
an attorney residing in Boston, and Georg'
w., residing on Staten lsland-and two sis
ter, Mrs. Solomon Foot and Mrs. Waller
also, survive him.