Note: William Hodges parents were Francis Hodges (a revolutionary war soldier) and Mary Brock. He had at least 3 siblings (Albert Gallatin, Amanda M., and Calvin Brock). After Francis' death, Mary Brock Hodges remarried, a William Collins, and had at least 5 Collins children (William, James, Agnes, Elizabeth, and John). So, the listed Collins "siblings" are actually half-siblings to William V. Hodges.

Inscription: "Age: 66y 1m 27d". This would give a birth date of 19 Nov 1805. However, a Liberty newspaper account from 1870 quoted William Hodges as saying he was born 18 Jan 1805 (see below). Apparently, the headstone should have said 11 months, not 1 month.

William moved from Virginia to Fayette County, Kentucky in 1815 with his mother. He then moved to Clay County, Missouri in 1826 and married Louisiana Lingenfelter 20 Sep 1827. They had 12 children:

1. Albert G. (1828 - )
2. Thomas J. (1831-1852)
3. Mary A. (1832-1912)
4. George S. (1834-1860)
5. William H. (1836-1852
6. Norris Frank (1839-1930)
7. John L. (1841-1926)
8. Henry H. (1843-1918)
9. Calvin J. (1845-1871)
10. Zachariah Taylor (1848-1943)
11. Webster Verminette (1849-1874)
12. Frances S. (1852 - 1934)

"Missouri Pioneers of Clay County," published by InfoTech Publications, PO Box 86, Bowling Green, MO 63334. Liberty Tribune" of Liberty, MO, 1846 - 1848 and one HODGES is listed: W. V. Hodges. On page 12 there is an article about registration fraud where a Judge Hodges is mentioned.

Page 24: WILLIAM V. HODGES. "I was born in Orange Co., VA, on the 18th day of January 1805. My grandfather, Francis Hodges, was a soldier in the Continental army under Washington and was at Brandywine and Yorktown. I emigrated with my mother to Fayette Co., KY, in 1815. I came to Clay Co., MO, in 1826, and have lived here ever since. I served in the Heatherly, Blackhawk and Mormon Wars. I served 12 months in the militia in Clay Co. in the late civil war. I have raised 12 children. I have been a member of the old Baptist church 23 years. I have always been a Whig. In my old age, my negroes that I bought with my own money have been taken from me. I raised my children so that they did not do any stealing during the civil war."

The above response was taken by the editor of the "Liberty Tribune" of Liberty, MO who decided to bring to the attention of the public the fact that many of the earliest settlers of the county, those who had helped establish the county and its institutions, could not vote. He asked that each citizen past the age of sixty send in his name, age, and any prominent circumstances connected with his life and the statements were published in the paper in the late summer and fall of 1870.

Bruce Wolcott, GGG grandson.

See Louisiana Hodges' memorial for map of Hodges farm and Hodges Graveyard.