William Pressley Hodges and his bride Mary L. Taylor
For her family see Benjamin Franklin Taylor Family

William Pressley Hodges (July 31, 1857-March 12, 1936) married Dec. 17, 1882 Mary Lucretia Taylor (Feb. 25, 1867-Nov. 11, 1921). The marriage license issued Dec. 16, 1882, gives his age as 24, which agrees with his date of birth, but gives Mary's age as 16. The following is taken from A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region, written about 1893. "Probably there is not a man better known in Searcy and adjoining counties in Arkansas than W.P. Hodges, the efficient sheriff and collector of this county. He is an intelligent man of affairs, keeps abreast of the times and has the reputation of being one of the most enterprising and progressive men, as well as one of the most trust- worthy and capable county officials, being especially fitted for the offices of sheriff and collector. He was born in the county in which he now resides July 31, 1857, and therefore it is not to be wondered at that he has ever had the interests of the county at heart and is a public-spirited and loyal citizen. His father, Jesse M. Hodges, was born in Mississippi and at an early day became a resident of Searcy County, Arkansas, where he is living at the present time. His wife, Nancy Duncan Hodges was born in Tennessee and is still living. W.P. Hodges grew up in Searcy County on a farm and obtained his literary education in the schools of Marshall. He remained with and assisted his parents until he attained the age of 24 years, when he started out to fight life's battles for himself. He opened a mercantile establishment at Snowball, this county, and carried on this business there with success until 1892, when he was elected to the office of county sheriff and collector by the Republican Party, of which he has always been a staunch and active supporter. Soon after his election he moved to Marshall and there has since made his home, being at the present time a candidate for re-election. He has always taken a deep interest in the political affairs of this section, has been chairman of the County Executive Committee and has held other important offices. He is a man of shrewd and practical ideas, has made a success of the different occupations in which he has been engaged, and as a result has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Marshall and belongs to Chapter No. 94, of that place. He has shown himself to be an ideal public officer and assisted the U.S. deputy marshall, Silvian, to capture the noted train robber, Albert Monsker, near Witt Spring, the latter being eventually hanged. He was married to Mary Lucretia Taylor, a daughter of Captain B.F. Taylor of Snowball. Mr. Hodges and wife are members of the Christian Church and move in the highest social circle of Marshall." Newspaper articles from area papers indicate he was a "good ol' boy" in Republican politics in Searcy County. He was sheriff in 1893. In 1894, fraud was alleged in the primary election which nominated him to run as sheriff on that Republican ticket. However, nothing could be proven one way or the other. (A-183) Shortly before the election, he was accused in The Mountain Wave, a democratic paper, of paying "J. F. Henley $80.00 to hold up the sale of script until he could sell what he had. This is sufficient within itself to wind Mr. Hodges' official career...the whole of the so-called republican ticket will be defeated next Monday." (A-188) Both allegations are believed to have contributed to his defeat by V. C. Bratton 855 to 729 in the general election. The Marshall Republican attributed his defeat, the single Republican defeat in the 1894 election, as being "caused by a split in the Republican party, growing out of the primary, together with democratic trickery, whiskey, and money, the sheriff's office was well paid for by the democratic party." (A-189) The Mountain Wave reported, tongue in cheek, that he lost in the two nearest townships, because two "Democrats" "undertook to carry these townships for Mr. Hodges for a little boodle." (A-190) In 1987 his father-in-law B. F. Taylor was killed while raiding a still. (see p.) W. P. Hodges was appointed "Special Raiding Deputy" for the internal revenue service in Arkansas, clearing "the way for him to hunt down the perpetrators of the crime with all the powerful machinery of the government." (A- 47,130) He did not participate in the capture of Bruce which took place in Van Buren County. In 1899, it was reported that he made a trip to St. Louis, MO with B. F. Hensley. Along with business the two were reported to have conferred with top Republicans there concerning the next elections in that state. The family moved to Missouri about 1903/04 raising cattle and horses. William P. was the postmaster at Nance, MO (formerly Dit), Dec. 16, 1911 to Oct. 27, 1913 and Feb. 28, 1919 to Oct. 8, 1923.


Two of their sons, Roy Hodges and Pierce Hodges who married Sherrodd sisters.

Roy Hodges (Jan. 14, 1891, Snowball-May 1, 1927, Springfield, MO) of Nance married on Oct. 9, 1910 Claudia Ethel Sherrodd (April 12, 1892-Nov. 19, 1963, Billings, Montana) of Hercules. Claudia was the daughter of Sarah Johnson and James Allen "Bud" Sherrodd. Roy and Claudia divorced Oct. 23, 1919 in Taney Co.. Shortly after the divorce, Claudia moved with her brother, Audie Sherrodd, to Pompeys Pillar, Montana, taking their three little girls with her. Her father "Bud" and stepmother Stella Sherrodd followed soon afterward. Roy's brother Pierce Hodges and his wife, Roxie Sherrodd, followed in April of 1925.

Children of this marriage:
1. Ethel Lois Hodges, born October 12, 1911 at Nance, Missouri. She married Ollie Frank Strickland on June 2, 1936 in Gillette, WY. Ollie died Jan. 9, 1985. She married Alem L. LeBar, July 1, 1989 or 1990 in Billings, MT. She graduated from Easton Montana College. She taught in Ronon, Albuquerque, NM, Custer, and 32 years in the Billings District 2, before retiring in 1970. Ethel died August 27, 1997 of cancer of the throat.
2. Zoe Hodges (Dec. 15, 1912-Dec. 16, 1912)
3. Cloe/Chloe Hodges. Zoe and Chloe were twins. They lived only seven hours.
4. Jessie Virginia Hodges (Jan. 5, 1914, Rueter, MO-Dec. 1, 1988) married June 6, 1939 Lewellyn "Bud" Price, Jr. in the living room of the Price family home. They went to the World's Fair (Century of Progress) in San Francisco for their honeymoon. She was "a driving force in the realization of the museum in Baker, MT, and the publication of the book O'Fallon Flashbacks. She was an active member of the Baker Community Church and a charter member of the O'Fallon Historical Society and Baker Homemaker's Club....She moved to Baker to teach in 1934." In addition to being active in numerous community activities from Cub Scout den mother to president of the Community Ladies Aid, Jessie was also an accomplished artist, enjoying painting and other related mediums. (The Billings Gazette, Dec. 3, 1988, p.14-A) She is buried at Bonnievale Cemetery, Baker, MT.
5. Marea Gertrude Hodges (Sept 28, 1915, Taney Co, MO) married May 24, 1939 Walter Lee (March 7/8, 1912-May 20, 1979).

Roy married second on Nov. 2, 1919 in Forsyth, MO, Tressa Dugger.

Children of second marriage:
6. Harold Wilford Hodges (Dec 8, 1920 - June 28, 1977) (SSA Index) married Nov 18, 1940 Mildred Amanda Lippelmann (April 23, 1918).

7. Russell Blaine Hodges (Oct 17, 1922-Oct 31, 1922)
8. Wanda Maxine Hodges (May 25, 1924-June 2, 1992) (SSA Index death 6/3/92, SSN 489-52-0106) June 10, 1946 married Eugene C. Fouts (Sept 8, 1925). She died at her home after a 4 year fight against cancer.

This is Harold and his sister Wanda when they were kids.

In one news article about Roy Hodges' death it stated, "Lefty Hodge, baseball pitcher, was instantly killed here this afternoon when he was thrown from an unbroken horse. He suffered a fracture skull." A longer article stated that "Three times the animal fell, Hodges leaping clear each time and then regaining his seat as the animal rose to its feet. Then the horse ran east on Pacific street to the point of the accident. ("Sub-headline states, "Head hits motor car that animal shies at, then strikes pavement")
Hodges, who was 33 years old, was employed in the barber shop of C. F. Payne, 1717 North Campbell Avenue." This article also states "...he had sustained a broken jaw, a broken shoulder and fracture skull. He died a few minutes after arriving at the hospital.... For several years, Mr. Hodges had lived in the west and had acquired considerable skill in the handling and riding of horses, winning a number of awards in bronco breaking contest." He is buried at Gobbler's Knob Cemetery, Hollister, MO.
What the articles do not say is that he left a widow with two small children to support. Fortunately, Tressa had sisters who assisted her. She ran the Hodges Hotel in Springfield for many years.

There seem to have been a large number of deaths due to cancer in the Hodges line, beginning with William P. and Nancy.


Harold W. and Mildred Lippelmann Hodges had two children. The younger is my husband, Harold ROY Hodges (1951). Pictured here with me, Joyce E. (Moore) (1952) Hodges, our only son, Jay A. Hodges (1974), and his son, our grandson, Damien D. Hodges (1992).

We also have a daughter, Jerri C. (Hodges) Barr (1972). She has her own web page with pictures.

When we were "young."

Finally got around to making a page about myself and my immediate family. It even includes photo that has now ceased to be recent, but is much closer to the present than the ones above.


Family Mystery

Arkansas/Missouri family tradition says Jesse M. Hodges, his sister Emaline, and his brother LaFayette, were born in Mississippi (near Tupelo) and were orphaned in the Butler Creek area near Iron City, Tennessee. The three orphans were brought to Searcy County, AR, by a Hodge (no relation) family, to be with relatives. It is thought that an aunt, Mrs. Bromley, took the orphans. However, the census records list Jesse's and Emaline's birth places as TN.
The names of parents and grandparents remain unknown: however, one grandmother was said to have been named Qualls. She was thought to be one-fourth Cherokee Indian, which means that her grandchildren were one-sixteenth Cherokee Indian.
According to Oklahoma family tradition the father of Jesse M. Hodges married in Georgia, then came to Butler's Creek, near Iron City, TN.
Jesse M. Hodges gave his birth year variously as 1828, 1829, and 1830; his sister's as 1832, and his brother's as 1834. [His sister's age maybe incorrect as the Oct. 9, 1850 census shows her age as 23, also in TN, making her the oldest with a year of birth in 1827.] The first public record I have found that I know is "our" Jesse Hodges is the 1850 census. Jesse is listed as a laborer, 21, living with Bowman Turney in Searcy Co, AR. He is listed as being unable to read or write.


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Moore Family: picture of Kent Co. farm and John A. Moore family

Lounsbury or Lounsberry Family: Picture of Jacob Lounsbury and Sarah Jane McCombs

Turrentine Family: Arrival in America in 1749

Baker Family: Oldest document marriage William Baker and Hannah Edwards in Jefferson Co., TN in 1801.

Keown Family: of Victoria County, Ontario, Canada

Surname List: Surnames, dates and locations for major names working on or cousins trying to contact

jehodges@email.com

or snail mail
Joyce (Moore) Hodges
17952 168th ST South
Bonner Springs, KS 66012