Franklin A. Hodges

Franklin A. Hodges was born in 1842 in Vergennes, Kent County, Michigan, the son of Amos (1805-1896) and Mary A. (1808-1873)

Amos was probably born in Vermont and married New York native Mary F and presumably married in New York although by 1831 they were living in Canada. Between 1831 and 1834 the family moved back to New York and then between 1834 and 1841 settled in Michigan. By 1850 Franklin was attending school with his siblings and living on the family farm in Vergennes, Kent County. In 1860 Franklin was working as a farm laborer and living with the Artemus Hoag family in Vergennes.

He stood 5’10” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion, and was 19 years old and probably still living with his family when he enlisted with his parents’ consent in Company A on May 13, 1861. He was probably shot in the left arm on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, and subsequently admitted to Judiciary Square hospital in Washington, DC. In early July one eyewitness reported that Franklin’s condition was “getting worse.” He apparently recovered to be discharged on August 22, 1862, at Judiciary Square hospital for “loss of left arm caused by gunshot wound.”

In September of 1862 Franklin (listed as “Frank”) applied for and received a pension (no. 9992).

It is not known whether Frank returned to Michigan, or whether he even survived the war.

By 1870 Amos and Mary were still living on a farm (Amos owned some $3500 worth of real estate) in Vergennes, Kent County; living near by was Amos’ younger brother Sylvester and his family. By 1880 Amos, who had remarried to another woman named Mary (1825-1882), was living in Grand Rapids, Kent County. By 1890 Amos was living in Michigan, probably in Grand Rapids when he applied for a dependent father’s pension (no. 463920) but the certificate was never granted. That same year Amos was probably boarding at no. 13 Holbrook Street in Grand Rapids.