JOHN M. HODGE GRAVESTONE PHOTO
William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas
DICKINSON COUNTY, Part 6
HON. JOHN M. HODGE was born in Carroll Co., Ohio, February 4, 1825. He was educated in his native State, studying medicine in Willoughby Medical College and at the medical college of Cincinnati, by which last institution he was graduated a doctor of medicine in 1850. For fourteen years he was associated in the practice of his profession with the eminent Dr. Alden I. Bennett. Early in 1861, at the solicitation of Governor Dennison, he accepted the position of Quartermaster of the Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Stanley Matthews commanding. He acted as Quartermaster of Camp Jenkins, near Louisville, Ky., under General O. M. Mitchell. At Camp Wickliffe, Ky., he acted as Quartermaster of the Brigade commanded by Brig. General Jacob Ammon, of the Twenty-fourth Ohio. In July, 1862, he became Acting Brigade Quartermaster of the Twenty-third Brigade, Army of the Ohio, Colonel Stanley Matthews commanding. Colonel Matthews says of Dr. Hodge: "In all these different positions, most of which he served under my eye, he discharged his duty in all respects perfectly, showing untiring zeal, great faithfulness and complete knowledge of his business. In my opinion he is the best officer in the quartermaster's Department that I met with in the service." Although the condition of his health almost precluded the possibility of active service, he struggled on, however, kept up by a highly patriotic nature, doing splendid work until after over two years of arduous duty, he was compelled by an aggravated sickness to resign. His record in the army is an enviable one, as numerous official and private documents, emanating from the highest authority, attest, all of which confer upon him a degree of loyalty and administrative ability second to no one. Dr. Hodge was a presidential elector at the early age of thirty-one on the Fremont ticket, a rare honor in that period of American politics. After partially regaining his health he located in Mendota, Ill., where he engaged in mercantile pursuits until his removal to Abilene, Kan., in the spring of 1870. Since his arrival in this State he has borne a prominent part in politics, always having been an uncompromising Republican, and his represented his county in the Legislature twice - in 1874, 79. He has repeatedly been elected a delegate to various conventions - county, state and congressional of the dominant party. In the summer of 1874 Dr. Hodge was appointed Receiver of the United States Land Office at Cawker City, and with it removed to Kirwin, Phillips County, in January, 1875; he remained there until 1878. In 1880 he was appointed Register in the Salina Land District. Dr. Hodge, since his location in Dickinson County, has taken an active part in the development of the wonderful resources of Central Kansas. He was married August 22, 1847 to Miss Olive M. Tinker, of Bolivar, Ohio. Dr. Hodge has a beautiful and cultured home at Abilene, where he has also two sons in business. Highly respected all over the State for his ability and integrity, he may be classed, without any attempt at affectation, one of her prominent public men.