Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-19
ROBERT F. HoDGlN is DEAD
Proprietor of Omaha Trade Exhibit
succumbs to Long Fight with
BriRht's Disease.

r. F. Hodgin died at his home. 4o2T
Lafayette avenue, at 4:So p. m. Sunday Of
Brights disease. His funeral will be held
at p. m. Tuesday from the residence and
he will be buried in Forest Lawn cemetery.
Rev. A. S. c. Clarke OF the Lowe Avenue
Presbyterian church will conduct the serv-
ices
Re bert Fremont Hodgin was born July
.. 1857, at Bartlett, o. Reaching his ma
jority he engaged i'm tho tailoring business
with his late brother. f. L. Hodgin at
Chester HILL o. lie moved to Gladbrook,
Ia. in 1880, and for some time was asso-
ciated with his brother in the clothing
business at Des Moines When the latter
business was disposed of he travelled for
commercial agency. He came to Omaha
In 1883 and organized the commercial and
credit company known as the Nebra ska
State Business Mems association which
published a small paper showing monthly
corrections of ratings. Mr.. Hodgin acting
as secretary of the association. That pub
LEGATION was later known as the Nebras ska
State Business Mems Association Journal.
and still later became known as a trade
paper under name of Nebraska Trade
Journal After that first experience as
published, he left the commercial agency,
r.
hibit which was consolidated in 1896 with
the Nebraska Trade Journal under the
name of the Omaha Trade Exhibit. A
stock company was formed in October
1899 for the control of the Omaha Trade
Exhibit, the company being known as the
Trade Exhibit company. Mr.. Hodgin held
a large percentage Of the stock was presi-
dent of the company and manager of the
publication.
Mr. Hodgin was married twice, the first
time In his native state and the second
time in Iowa He was the father of four
children. Thomas B.. travelling man out
Of Omaha; and three daughters. Is. u and
years of age, respectively. Charles Il.
Ady. general agent of the National Life
Insurance company who has known Mr..
Hodgin for thirty-five years. and other in
innate friends speak of him as Il most de-
voted father and husband He came from
old Quaker stock. He was not "A member
of any other religious sect in Omaha.
though he and family have been communi-
cants OF the Lowe Avenue Presbyterian
church for some time
Mr.. Hodgin had been sufferer from
Bright's disease for a long time. Saturday.
February 3, after having rallied from a bad
spell, he went from his home to his office
at Fifteenth and Howard streets. But that
was his last time downtown or away from
home. He went to bed the next day and
never arose.
Mr.. Hodeins aged mother still lives at
the old home in Chester Hill o., and to
that home Mr.. Hcdgin made at least one
trip every year. He paid his last visit TO
his venerable mother last fall
lie was a prominent member OF the
Travellers Protective Association of Amer
lea and. with o. c. Holmes and John
Lee, assisted in organizing the Nebraska
division. Mr.. Holmes was the first state
secretary. being succeeded by Mr.. Hodgin.
who has since held this office He was also
secretary OF the local Post "a for years
and at time of his death. He attended
all the national conventions of the order
and was once honored with the position
| Of national press chairman. He was also
| member of ST. Johns lodge of the Masons
| and the Woodmen Of the World He was
| an active members of the Commercial club
! serving at one time on the board of d.
! rectors. He organized two Nebraska ex-
/ hibit trains which toured the east several
| years ago.