My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL H. HODGE, a prominent business man of Murfreesboro, Tenn., a native of this city, was born November 6, 1838. His parents, Samuel H. and Sarah C. (Mitchell) Hodge were both born in North Carolina, in 1800, and immigrated to this county with their respective parents, about 1814 or 1815. Our subject’s father was raised, married and raised his family in this county, following farming the greater part of his life, in which he was very successful. He was an old-time Whig politically, and took an active part in the local campaigns in his day. He was elected by his party to the office of clerk of the circuit court, which he filled continuously and in a faithful and efficient manner for several terms. His death occurred in 1846. but his widow survived him twenty years. The immediate subject of this sketch secured a good education in his youthful days at the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn. In May, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company I, First Regiment Tennessee Infantry, and served in this capacity in the late war until 1863, when he was detached from his regiment to serve as a secret scout for Gen. Bragg, and was captured in the latter part of the same year, while engaged in discharging the duties of this most perilous and difficult task, and held as a prisoner of war at Fort Delaware until March, 1863. He was then exchanged and at the close of the war returned home. Here he began business life as a clerk, and in 1868 he established a mercantile establishment for himself, and has remained in the same to the present time, meeting with more than ordinary and well-deserved success. In January, 1883, Mr. Smith became his partner in business. Mr. William Mitchell, his former partner, having withdrawn to engage in business for himself. Alexander Smith was also a partner previous to Mr. Mitchell’s connection with the business, this partnership being severed by Mr. Smith’s death. Under the firm name of Hodge & Smith the present firm carry a large and well-selected stock of general merchandise of nearly every conceivable description and command the leading trade in their line in the city and county. They also buy and sell, probably, more cotton, grain and seeds than any other firm in Rutherford County. In December, 1868, Mr. Hodge married Emma Smith, of this county, by whom he is the father of five children; George W., Samuel H., Florence, Lillian and Emma Sue. Politically he is an unswerving Democrat. He has attained the Knight Templar and Scottish Rite degrees in Masonry and himself and wife are zealous members of the Presbyterian Church of this city.