Emerson Hodges

Emerson Hodges
Hodges c. 1858
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 8th District
In office
December 2, 1857 – January 7, 1861
Serving with Charles H. Lindsley
GovernorSamuel Medary
Alexander Ramsey
Succeeded byMichael Cook
Personal details
Born(1826-06-27)June 27, 1826
Henrietta, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 20, 1888(1888-01-20) (aged 61)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeRock Creek Cemetery
Other political
affiliations
Nonpartisan

Emerson Hodges (June 27, 1826 – January 20, 1888) was an American lawyer, politician, farmer, and early citizen of Olmsted County, Minnesota. Emerson served two consecutive terms in the Minnesota Legislature from 1857 to 1861 as a member of the Minnesota Senate representing Minnesota's 8th Senate district.

Early life

Hodges was born on June 27, 1826 in Henrietta, New York.:371 Hodges was educated at Dartmouth College where he graduated in 1849.:372:38 Following his education Hodges moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin where he practiced law.:372 While in Fond du Lac Hodges served as the superintendent of schools.:372

Hodges later moved to Minnesota Territory in 1856 due to poor health and settled in the village of Eyota, Minnesota in Olmsted County, Hodges later moved to Marion, Minnesota.:372

Politics

In 1857 Hodges campaigned as a nonpartisan for a position in the Minnesota Legislature for a seat in the Minnesota Senate representing Minnesota's 8th Senate district alongside Dr. Hector Galloway of Oronoco, Minnesota.:37,47:60 Hodges won the election on October 13, 1857 and would serve in the 1st Minnesota Legislature from December 2, 1857 to December 6, 1859. During his term in the Minnesota Senate Hodges was on the Federal Relations, Internal Improvements, and the Roads and Bridges Committees.

From 1860 to 1861 Hodges served as the town superintendent of Eyota, Minnesota. In 1861 Hodges was appointed as a delegate of the Olmsted County Agricultural Society.:54

In 1859 Hodges campaigned for a second term and won the October 11, 1859 election for his previous position in the Minnesota Senate.:62 Hodges would serve in the 2nd Minnesota Legislature from December 7, 1859 to January 7, 1861. During his second term Hodges was the chair of the Ways and Means Committee and a member of the Elections Committee.

Later life and death

Following his term in the Minnesota Senate, Hodges was appointed in 1864 to serve as a clerk in the United States Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C.:372 Hodges would work for the Treasury for 22 years until his death.:372

Hodges died on January 20, 1888 in Washington, D.C.:371

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hodges, Almond D. (1896). Genealogical Record of The Hodges Family of New England: Ending December 31, 1894 (PDF) (3rd ed.). Boston: Frank H. Hodges.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Emerson Hodges". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Leonard, Joseph A. (1910). History of Olmsted County, Minnesota (PDF). Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association.
  4. 1 2 The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota Comprising the Constitution of the State, Rules of the Two Houses, Join Rules, Standing Committees, List of Members, etc (PDF). Saint Paul: Pioneer Press Co. 1877.

Emerson Hodges at Find a Grave