The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-04-21

Hon. Leonard Bacon Hodges, known
widely as the great tree planter died at his
residence in st. Paul on Saturday l4th inst,
from a complication o; diseases, having
their origin in All enieebed condition OF
the digestive organs Mr.. Hodges has long
been a su ilerer from chronic dyspepsia, and
although he had been coniired To his house
ior three weeks, and to his bed for two
thirds Of that time, his symptoms did not
take on an alarming charac-
ter until the latter part of last week. His
death, therefore, came somewhat unexpect-
edlv, and was shock TO the community at
large, as well as to his family and more im-
mediate friends. The Il, ceased was in many
respects remarkable man, and his faith
ful and intelligent devotion To the cause of
aboricul,ure, aud his vi!lorous accuracy of
the same by tongue and pen, placed him in
The front Of the sanatarians and economists
OF the age.
He was the founder and soul ofthe forestry
association, and his contributions TO the lit
erature of forestry, and especially in the
manual prepared by him, are, prehaps, Of
more practical value than all the volumes
which have been written on the subject by
Others He was the real author of the tim
ber culture act, and he inspired and moul-
ded most OF the state legislation on the sub
ject. lie originated the system of planting
trees as windbreaks along
the cuts of railroads, which
are found 10 be vastly more effective than
fences to protect the cuts from snow block
AIDES He was employed in this capacity on
the Northern Pacific railroad at the time of
his death He first saw the light Of day in
West Blomtiel Ontario county, \. Y,
where he was born upon the 18th OF July,
1923. His father was DR.. Lewis l.. Hodges,
who was physician and surgeon in the
war of 1872 His mother, Sarah Dunham
Bacon was sister of Leonard Bacon ID.
descended. When only thirteen years
old, Leonard B. Hodges left his home and
set out to face the world He first went to
New Haven, Conn, where he found EN-
ployment as clerk in a book store and
aiterward other employment. Then he
took up civil engineering and followed it
for sometime, residing al Rockford, H., ALI
amakee county, low and at Oronoco, Ohm
stcd Co., Minnesota. In the ye 1870, Mr..
Hodges, who had still continued to work
his farm, became candidate for the state
senate upon an anti'mouopoly platform.
Mr.. Hodges came to st. Paul in 1872.
His zeal for forestry now began to manifest
itself, and from the time he came TO the
day of his death his efforts to plant i'm the
minds of state and municipal authorities
and the people at large a realization of
the importance of the subject in which he
was so greatly interested was unremitting
and fruitful in practical results.
He had kind heart, and liberality was
among his pr minent traits. MIR. Hodges
was twice married. His first wife, Eliza
teth Collins, OF 10 va, TO whom he was mar
red in J nuary, l849, died the following
June. Miss Margaret Il. Rogers of Saratoga
county, New York, was bis second wife.
He was married to her on the 9th Of Au-
gust, 1855 OF the four children who were
the fruit Of this union, only one survives,
namely: Margaret Elizabeth who is now
nineteen years ola