BIO: Hodge, Fidelio T. - Livingston Co > >"HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH CO., INDIANA FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE PRESENT, >WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, ETC." BRANT AND FULLER 1889 > >PAGE 451 >CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE > FIDELIO T. HODGE, born January 30, 1817, is a native of Livingstone county, Ky. His parents, Thomas and Harriet (Barnes) Hodge, were natives of North Carolina, and with the pioneers who drifted from that section over into western Kentucky in the early part of the nineteenth century, migrated from their native home. It was in 1805 that they settled in the then wild west. There they lived and died, the father in 1837, the mother in 1850, each at the age of sixty years. The family consisted of nine children. Their lives were simple and their manners plain. All labored together for the common support. The subject of this sketch made his home at his father's cabin until he was twenty-five years of age. At that age he went to Golconda, Ill., and for some time was engaged there as a clerk. From 1840 to 1846 he added materially to his fortune by trading along the coasts of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, with the flat-boats and store boats that were so common at that period. Returning to Golconda, he began the business of a dry goods merchant,and continued so occupied until 1863, when he removed to Evansville. In the following year his business house at No. 200 Water street was erected at a cost of $27,000, where, ever since, he has been engaged in the wholesale liquor trade. During the twenty-four years of his residence here, he has been signally successful in business. Mr. Hodge has been twice married. In 1847 he was united in marriage with Julia A. Giffith, whose death occurred in 1861. Two years later, Miss Rose White, a native of New Orleans, La., born in 1838, became his wife. Of the first union seven children were born, Henry, Richard, Sally, Edwin, Clinton, all now deceased, and Indiana and Mary Agnes, now living; of the second marriage there are three children: Rose, Flora and Maydell. Transcribed by: Diana Flynn Date: 26 Aug 1997