Went West - Josiah B. Hodge Family

Missouri was a favored state for people to relocate after leaving western Kentucky.  One of the families who moved to Missouri was that of Josiah B. Hodge, who left Livingston County, and joined pioneers going west.  What were they seeking? Inexpensive land? A chance for a fresh start? Or something else?  Let’s follow this family who made the move west.

On the 4^th of July 1816, Josiah B. Hodge obtained a bond to marry Julia Williams in Livingston County, Kentucky. Bondsman was Allen Hodge. The bride and bridegroom were both residents of Livingston County. [1]  Josiah B. Hodge and family were enumerated on the 1830 census in Livingston County, [2]  but, in 1837, the family joined the pioneers moving to Missouri. The family located in Cole County, but in 1849 they went into the dry goods business in Brunswick, Chariton County. [3]

The Hodge family was enumerated in Yellow Creek, Chariton County in 1850. [4]  By 26 June 1860, the family had moved on to Robertson County, Texas when they were enumerated on the Agriculture Schedule. [5]  Josiah B. Hodge also appeared on a voter registration list that showed he had been in the state of Texas 15 years and in the county 5 years. [6] That places his move to Texas about 1852-1854 and his settlement in Robertson County 1862-1864.

Josiah B. Hodge continued to live in Robertson County, Texas and appears on the 1880 census in that county. He died 30 May 1882 and is buried in Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Robertson County.[7]  His journey took him far from his home in Livingston County and even farther from his birthplace in North Carolina.

 

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[1] Joyce M. Woodyard. Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol. 1, (Oct 1799 – July 1839), (n.p. 1992), 46.

[2] 1830 Livingston County, Kentucky census, Salem, Series M19, Roll 39, p. 12, Josiah Hodge, Ancestry.com.

[3] “Hodge,” Chariton Courier (Keytesville, Missouri) Fri., 9 Dec 1898, p. 1. Obituary of Robt. H . Hodge, son of Josiah B. Hodge, Newspapers.com.

[4] 1850 Chariton County, Missouri, Yellow Creek, Josiah B. Hodge, age 54, farmer born North Carolina, and family, Roll 395, p. 199b, Ancestry.com.

[5] 1860 Agriculture Schedule, Robertson County, Texas, Pct 5, U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1860, Ancestry.com.

[6] Robertson County, Texas  Voter Registration of J.B. Hodge on Texas, U.S. Registration Lists, 1862-1869, Pct. 1, Ancestry.com.

[7] Find A Grave, Memorial #331767956, Josiah Bryant Hodge, born 19 Aug 1794; died 30 May 1882; buried Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Robertson County, Texas.