The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-06-16

Thomas Hodson, one of Nicollet
cOunty's oldest and best known resi-
dents, passed away at $3.50 O'Clock
Sunday morning at his home in
Hebron Mr.. HOdson was naturally
a man of robust health and a sturdy
constitution. He lived a well or
dered life and his habits and prac-
tices were of the kind that insure
long life and freedom from the
pains and discomforts of disease
Last fall his friends noticed signs
of declining health and Mr.. Hodson
planned trip to the Pacific coast
with the hope of regaining his usual
vigor. A slight attack of heart trou-
BILE interrupted his plans and later
on an examination by his physician
revealed the serious nature of his
disease During the winter and
spring he failed rapidly, and about
two months ago he entered the I'M
manuel hospital for treatment. Re-
covering some of his strength he
was removed to the home of his
daughter, Mrs. E. H. Conklin in
West Mankato, where his trouble
took serious turn, and realizing
that the end was near he expressed
a desire to return to his old home
in Hebron where he could spend his
last hours on the scene of a we'll
spent and useful life One short
week, surrounded by the devoted
members of his own family and his
old neighbors and associates, and
the end came. His death was as
peaceful and painless as if falling to
sleep.
Death and Irreparable Loss.
In the death of Mr.. Hodson his
family and neighbors sustain an ir-
reparable loss. He was a kind and
considerate husband and father, a
wise counsellor and true friend. His
habits and tastes were simple and
his home life ideal. The one ambi-
ton of his life was to equip his
home with all the comforts and con-
veniences obtainable and to assist
his children in securing education
and experience that would enable
them to fill well their positions as
intelligent and useful citizens. He
was man of strict honesty, and
his genial and kindly disposition
won him friends wherever he went.
1t is doubtful if any other man in
Nicollet or Blue Earth counties
could claim more friends among all
classes of people than Mr. Hodson.
No work ,or expense was too great
for him to undertake if it promoted
the welfare of his children and the
high standing of each and every
member of his excellent family is a
living monument to the fidelity and
faitfulness of this good man.
Promoter of All Things Good.
He was a promoter of education,
religion and clean citizenship and
deeply interested in all forms of
public improvement His services
were always at the command of the
public when something useful was
to be developed for the common
good of ALL
Mr.. Hodson was born near Man.
chester, England, May %, 1S43. He
to America at the age of four
teen years and after spending two
years in Illinois he came to Nicollet
county where he has resided to the
time of his death. He enlisted in
Company /, Sixth Minnesota Regi-
ment, August 10, 1862, and served
his county to the close of the war
with the same courage and zeal that
has characterized all his efforts
his, life.
Developed a Beautiful Farm.
Returning home at the close Of
the war Mr.. Hodson took up the
broken thread of farming operations
and pursued this occupation with
he vigor and diligence that won for
ali the early Minnesota pioneers
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