Continuing with Gerald Nathan Hodgson’s Northwest family narrative, with thanks to Michael Howard Hodgson: The Hubbard-Eldora area where Dad grew up is in central Iowa. Present population – Eldora (pop. 3225) — Hubbard (pop. 806). Marshalltown to the, south, Waterloo east, Iowa Falls north, and Webster City west. Union (pop. 534) — Mom’s birthplace. other […]

Continuing with Gerald Nathan Hodgson’s Northwest family narrative, with thanks to Michael Howard Hodgson: Very early, his parents farmed him out to neighbors for his board and perhaps a little salary. He contributed the bulk of his income to the support of the family up to near the time of his own marriage. John later […]

Continuing with Gerald Nathan Hodgson’s Northwest family narrative, with thanks to Michael Howard Hodgson: To get back to Dad’s early life — his home, when he was there, provided a strongly religious atmosphere — grace at meals — morning and evening prayers. Which brings to mind the story that Dad told of the squabble he […]

Continuing with Gerald Nathan Hodgson’s Northwest family narrative, with thanks to Michael Howard Hodgson: While very young, Dad was once bedded down with a little Negro girl. Some visitors had her along and of course she had to sleep somewhere. Dad used to say that was the nearest he ever came to sleeping with a […]

Continuing with Gerald Nathan Hodgson’s Northwest family narrative, with thanks to Michael Howard Hodgson: Their first [male} child, Delwin Wilburn, was born in Burr Oak, Kansas, December 22, 1871. Not long after his birth, a plague of dysentery hit the community where they lived and many children died. Dad was very ill but did pull […]

Continuing with Gerald Nathan Hodgson’s Northwest family narrative, with thanks to Michael Howard Hodgson: After his marriage, Grandfather Elias moved around a good deal by oxteam and wagon. One of his anecdotes involved his two oxen, Broad and Brandy* — he picked up two children along a road. One of the children asked what the […]