James Samuel Hodges Sr.
1885-1963
James Samuel Hodges Sr.
James Samuel Hodges Sr. was born in Anderson, Indiana on March 25, 1885. He was 1 of 4 children born to John Shelton Hodges and Hannah E. (Lee) Hodges. James was 5 years old when his family moved from Indiana into Missouri ultimately settling in Sikeston, Missouri. At the age of 17 James married his bride Mary Irene Arnold, the daughter of Charles Mortimer Arnold and Laura Elizabeth (Woodward) Arnold in Charleston, Missouri on October 24, 1902. This union lasted 8 years until the death of his young wife in April 1910. The couple’s marriage produced 5 children, 4 of which lived into adulthood. Mary Irene (Arnold) Hodges died at the age of 25 and is buried in an unmarked grave at Silent Hill Cemetery near Bodgett, Missouri.
James and Mary's Children:
Laura Martha Hodges 1904-1904
John Shelton Hodges 1905-1974
Flora Ellen Hodges (Morse) 1907-1993
Wesley Mortimer Hodges 1908-1995
Sadie Mae Hodges (Patterson) 1909-1998
After the death of his 1st wife, James married Mary’s 16 year old sister Minnie Arnold on May 23, 1910 in Sikeston, Missouri. The marriage produced 1 child, Thelma May Hodges. The child died from complications of malaria on August 25, 1912 at the age of 1 years old. Tragically, Minnie (Arnold) Hodges died just 23 days after her daughter, the day before her 19th birthday on September 18, 1912. Her death certificate lists the cause of death as “Acute Gastritis” caused by unknown poison. The certificate does not indicate whether this was a suicide, homicide or accidental. Both Minnie and her daughter Thelma May are buried at Hart’s Cemetery in Sikeston, Missouri.
John Shelton Hodges 1905-1974
Flora Ellen Hodges (Morse) 1907-1993
Wesley Mortimer Hodges 1908-1995
Sadie Mae Hodges (Patterson) 1909-1998
After the death of his 1st wife, James married Mary’s 16 year old sister Minnie Arnold on May 23, 1910 in Sikeston, Missouri. The marriage produced 1 child, Thelma May Hodges. The child died from complications of malaria on August 25, 1912 at the age of 1 years old. Tragically, Minnie (Arnold) Hodges died just 23 days after her daughter, the day before her 19th birthday on September 18, 1912. Her death certificate lists the cause of death as “Acute Gastritis” caused by unknown poison. The certificate does not indicate whether this was a suicide, homicide or accidental. Both Minnie and her daughter Thelma May are buried at Hart’s Cemetery in Sikeston, Missouri.
James and Minnie's Children:
Thelma May Hodges 1911-1912
After the death of his 2nd wife, James married Mary and Minnie’s youngest sister Emma Thelma Arnold on February 5, 1913 in Sikeston, Missouri. Emma was 15 years old. This union lasted 50 years until James’ death in 1963 and their union produced 10 children.
James and Emma's Children:
Cassie Thelma Hodges (Patterson) 1914-1988
James Finis Hodges 1917-1919
Margaret Pearl Hodges 1919-1939
Mary Irene Hodges (Carter, Gross) 1921-
Virgin Lorene Hodges (Mays) 1922-
Vera Gertrude Hodges (Wilkinson, Stafford) 1924-2007
James Samuel Jr. “Bud” Hodges 1926-
Bettie Ruth Hodges (McGregor) 1928-2004
Billy Gene Hodges 1929-
Preston “Pres” Hodges 1932-1991
James married 3 of the Arnold sisters and fathered a total of 16 children. He was a member of the IOOF Lodge in Sikeston, Missouri for 43 years. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church and served on the Board of the Rootwad Grade School for all the years his children attended the school with the exception of 1 year. Until retiring in 1948, he resided and farmed the John Tanner Farm for over 35 years. 15 of his children were born at his residence on the Tanner Farm. (Wesley Mortimer was born in Arkansas). In his later years, he resided in a nursing home in Bell City, Missouri until he entered the Odd Fellows Rest Home in Liberty, Missouri where he died there at the age of 78 on June 26, 1963. Emma passed away on November 9, 1986. James and his third wife, Emma Thelma (Arnold) Hodges are buried at Sikeston City Cemetery in Sikeston, Missouri.
James Finis Hodges 1917-1919
Margaret Pearl Hodges 1919-1939
Mary Irene Hodges (Carter, Gross) 1921-
Virgin Lorene Hodges (Mays) 1922-
Vera Gertrude Hodges (Wilkinson, Stafford) 1924-2007
James Samuel Jr. “Bud” Hodges 1926-
Bettie Ruth Hodges (McGregor) 1928-2004
Billy Gene Hodges 1929-
Preston “Pres” Hodges 1932-1991
James married 3 of the Arnold sisters and fathered a total of 16 children. He was a member of the IOOF Lodge in Sikeston, Missouri for 43 years. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church and served on the Board of the Rootwad Grade School for all the years his children attended the school with the exception of 1 year. Until retiring in 1948, he resided and farmed the John Tanner Farm for over 35 years. 15 of his children were born at his residence on the Tanner Farm. (Wesley Mortimer was born in Arkansas). In his later years, he resided in a nursing home in Bell City, Missouri until he entered the Odd Fellows Rest Home in Liberty, Missouri where he died there at the age of 78 on June 26, 1963. Emma passed away on November 9, 1986. James and his third wife, Emma Thelma (Arnold) Hodges are buried at Sikeston City Cemetery in Sikeston, Missouri.
Source:
Biography written by Debbie West
Missouri Digital Heritiage
United States Census
James Samuel Hodges Obituary
Headstone Photo created by Graver Girl at Find A Grave Memorial# 28093644
Biography written by Debbie West
Missouri Digital Heritiage
United States Census
James Samuel Hodges Obituary
Headstone Photo created by Graver Girl at Find A Grave Memorial# 28093644