Was born at Crowle, in Lincolnshire, England, November 25, 1826, son of John hodgson and Mary Martindale. his grandfather, Thomas Hodgson, was of Scotch descent. He was raised on a farm in the vicinity of his birthplace. At Hull, England, April 30, 1851, he married Elizabeth Cawood, born in 1830, five miles from Goole, in Yorkshire. In the spring of 1852 he and his wife came to America, the voyage across in a sailing vessel requiring fifty-three days. He farmed fifteen months in Oxford county, Canada, then moved to Whiteside county, Michigan, where he bought eight acres of land, nine miles from Toledo; in 1854 he removed to Ogle county, Illinois; and in the fall of 1859 to Chesterfield township. When he came to the county he did not have enough money to pay for the forty acres of land he bought, but was industrious and economical, and now owns two hundred and fifty-five acres and the undivided one-fifth of three hundred and twenty acres additional. He has six children living and three deceased. Those living are Mary Ann, Sarah Elizabeth, Thomas Norton, Lois, Martha and Eunice. Sarah Elizabeth is the wife of Joseph Hightchew. He attends closely to his own business affairs and takes little interest in politics. When he votes he votes for the man rather than for party. he keeps his word, meets his obligations, and is a peaceable and useful citizen.