Mention the
name Blount Hodge to a genealogist familiar with Livingston County, Kentucky
records and you will likely receive a
big smile in return. That is because Blount Hodge lived life to the fullest and
left a legacy of going against the norm during his lifetime (1801 - 1877). There
are all sorts of stories told about Blount Hodge, but in this blog I am trying
to stick to what can be proven.
Hodge was
twice married. His first marriage was to Ann Eliza Phillips, daughter of Mark
Phillips, in 1823.
Then, on 22 October 1834 he married Mrs. Elizabeth P. (Rice) Bigham, widow of
Robert C. Bigham.
Several children were born to Blount and Elizabeth P. Hodge, including
Blount Hodge Jr., who died at age 14, and James Campbell Hodge, who was a lawyer in
Smithland.
Following
the death of Elizabeth P. Hodge in 1864, Blount began a relationship with Almira
Wynder, his African-American housekeeper, resulting in the birth of at least
two daughters.
Blount wrote his last
will and testament in 1874 and added a codicil to the will just two days later.
To his son, James C. Hodge, he left only $5,
having previously given him money and real estate. Blount stressed that his son
was to have no more and expressed the belief that his son was "fixing up
plans to thwart and destroy this will & I hope to God the County Court ...
will scout all such subterfuges if any should be attempted."
Almira
Wynder had three daughters, Lucy Wynder, Almira Hodge Jr. and Lillian St. Clair
Hodge, the latter two acknowledged by
Blount as his daughters. To Lucy Wynder
he left a house and lot on Charlotte Street, a lot on Main Street and 63 acres
of land. He directed his executors to sell the property and use the money from
the sale in schooling Lucy. Blount left 700-800 acres of land valued at $8,000
- $10,000 plus other property to Almira
Hodge Jr. and Lillian St. Clair Hodge.
As if this
will was not already unusual, Blount went on the say that "there has been
an attempt to take my life with Stricnine." He said he believed he knew
who did it and believed they might try to destroy his will.
Whew!
Strong words.
When I first read this will, I thought maybe he was paranoid and just
thought someone was trying to poison him. Then, I came across a newspaper
article published a few months before Blount Hodge died.
It stated that Blount Hodge of Smithland, "who was poisoned a short
time ago we learn
is out of danger...
Mr. Hodge has but one legitimate child, Mr. James Hodge, a lawyer of Smithland.
For years the old gentleman has been living with a negro woman, and has a family
of children by her. Not long since he made his will, leaving the large bulk of
his property to the negro, and little or nothing to his son James. This woman,
when she drank or pretended to drink the poison with Hodge, was instantly
affected by it, and commenced screaming and declared she was poisoned, while it
was nearly three hours before the poison took effect on Hodge. The woman at
once charged James with poisoning her and his father and satisfied the old man
of the fact."
Were they
poisoned or not? I will let you decide,
but I did not find a court case regarding a case of poisoning and/or a contested will. The unusual happenings did not stop with the death of Blount Hodge
in 1874. Remember he had a son, James
Campbell Hodge, who was a lawyer in Smithland.
James C.
Hodge was good friends with Capt. John W. Bush, a veteran of the Union Army
during the Civil War and also a lawyer in Smithland.
Hodge was returning from Paducah on board the
steamer,
Royal, in 1906. He had just
stepped ashore from the gang plank, turned to speak to his son, also named Blount Hodge, when
he threw up his hands and fell
dead to
the ground.
His friend, Capt. Bush, who
had been ill for about two months but was on the mend, died instantly upon hearing the news of his
friend's death.
One more
event involving the Hodge family that made the news. Blount Hodge, the son of
James C. Hodge and grandson of the older Blount Hodge, was involved in a
"shooting affray" in Smithland in 1905. The ingredients in this
"affray" included
river pilot Blount
Hodge, Dr. F.G. LaRue and LaRue's "handsome young wife."
The shooting began in front of Grayot's drug
store. After the first shot, which hit the victim over the eye, Hodge ran down
the street with Dr. LaRue in close pursuit. Two more shots followed, one striking
in back of his ear and the other hitting his leg at the hip.
Dr. LaRue surrendered, gave up his pistol,
and said, "I have shot a man down on front street who wrecked my
home." The description of this "affray" brings up a really vivid picture in my mind!
Blount Hodge
later served in World War II, where he piloted seagoing Navy vessels from
Evansville, Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico. He settled in Seattle, Washington
and died there 16 September 1950, age 71.
