Background on Creator:
Brothers Charles Williams Hodges and Joseph Francis Hodges were are among ten children born to Williams and Avis (Whitmarsh) Hodges of Norton, Mass. Charles, the eldest child, was born on Sept. 12, 1823, and worked as a clerk before establishing himself as a merchant by the mid-1850s. A community minded man, he served on the Norton School Committee in 1848-1850 and was elected to represent his town in the state legislature in 1853.
Relocating to Foxboro in 1857, Charles developed a grocery partnership with a man named Messinger (probably Allen H. Messinger), but achieved wealth as a real estate and insurance agent. Hodges' prowess with money is suggested by his service as town treasurer and a stint as President of the Foxboro Savings Bank beginning in 1880. He continuing in public service, as well, working on the school committee, as town assessor, selectman, and overseer of the poor.
Four years younger than his brother, Joseph was born on Dec. 1, 1827, and worked as a carpenter and builder before joining Charles in the grocery trade, later expanding with him into furniture and carpets. Like his brother, Joseph also achieved a degree of local notice in Foxboro, serving as town treasurer and postmaster before retiring from business affairs and moving to Hyde Park.
Charles died on Mar. 20, 1900, survived by his wife Mary Eliza Nichols (1827-1910) and seven children, with Joseph following in 1901.
