Jesse Lynn Hodson 1888-1976

PRICE, MANNING, SPEAR, SEAGER

Posted By: Kara Seager-Segalla (email)
Date: 3/14/2005 at 13:16:11

Jesse Lynn Hodson was born Feb. 16, 1888 on his parent's farm in Eldon, Wapello, Iowa, a few miles east of Ottumwa. His parent's were Reuben Hodson and Mary Eliza Nicholson, both born in Iowa. He was named for his grandfather, Jesse Hodson, but was called by his middle name, "Lynn". After his mother's death, Jesse, age 9, and his younger sister, Edna, were left alone with their father to care for them. Lynn learned early in life to take of the responsiblities of farming. He was only educated through the sixth grade, but was an avid reader and a self-educated man. As a young adult, he belonged to the Asland Literary Society, which met every Friday, where poetry was fashionably read, music was played, and politics discussed. When Lynn became a young man, he left home and homesteaded in Deerwood, Minnesota, where he worked in a lumber business. On Oct. 3, 1910 in Duluth, Minnesota, he married Myrtle Anna Price, who he had met in Eldon. Jesse and Myrtle's first child, Madelyn Lucille Hodson (Manning), was born in 1911 in the north woods country of Deerwood, where the population was sparse. Apparently when their second baby was due, they decided life was too difficult for them in thie forested area. Also Jesse Lynn's father, Reuben, was in failing health and wanted them to return to Iowa. In 1913 Jesse and his family went back to Iowa, where they farmed four years near Fairfild, but made their final home on Lynn's great grandfather's farm, Vincent Vass, north of Eldon. Here they had another four children, Helen Marjorie Hodson (Spear), Dorothy Mae Hodson (Seager), Robert Lynn Hodson, and Harold Price Hodson. Lynn's wife, Myrtle, died of a heart attack on New Year's day in 1965. Lynn lived an additional eleven years on his farm. His daughter, Helen, lived near by in Agency and was a great help to him in his later years. His sister, Edna Hodson (Gilbert), also lived in Eldon, but they didn't have a close relationship after she got married. Lynn died on Dec. 12, 1976 of pneumonia at the age of 88, and is buried in the Eldon Cemetery. Jesse was always remembered as a good farmer and neighbor, and was an extremely hard worker. He was also a president of the Ottumwa Production Credit Association; a member of the Olive Branch 21, Agency Masonic Lodge; and a member of the Methodist church. One of his last acts was to donate books to his church library. He was well known in Wapello County as one of its leading citizens. Sources: Family history from Lynn and Myrtle and their children.