| Benjamin Hodge | |
 Hodge in an undated photo. | |
| Birth: | 23 December 1812? Chemung, Chemung County, New York, USA |
| Death: | 1 October 1933 Black River Township, Butler County, Missouri, USA |
| Age: | 120 years, 282 days? |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Longevity claimant | |
Benjamin Franklin "Uncle Ben" "Ben" Hodge (23 December 1812?/December 1847? – 1 October 1933) was an American longevity claimant from Missouri. He claimed that he was born in Chemung, Chemung County, New York, USA in 1814. His father Aris Hodge was born in England. He married Margaret Elzina Colony and they had four children. He died in Black River Township, Butler County, Missouri, USA on 1 October 1933 at the claimed age of 120 years, 282 days when he had gangrene on his left leg. However research confirmed that he was actually 35 years younger which would mean that he was actually born in December 1847 which would make him only 85 years old.
According to story of his obituary (Commercial Appeal Tuesday, Oct 03, 1933 Memphis, TN Page: 1 and Page: 9), Hodge was born in Chemung, Chemung County, New York, USA on 23 December 1812. When he was 6 years old, or about that age, his parents, Aaros and Katherine Hodge, decided to cast their lot in the new country. They took a boat with Ben and two other children, and sailed for America. Landing in New York, they made their home while the father worked on steamships. After becoming a young man, Ben decided to leave home and look out for himself. He had been rather successful trading toys and pocket pieces with other boys of the neighborhood, and developed quite a knowledge of horses through his work at a livery stable. Buy a few horses, Hodge started west. He bought and sold horses and traded them with farmers as he went. When he arrived in Illinois, he had something over $100 in cash, besides several horses. He worked at odd jobs, operated a livery stable, and continued a financial success for several years. He was married three times and he had at least 19 children. During the period between his first and second marriages, Hodge enlisted in the Confederate Army under General Price. His major engagements were fought in Southeast, Missouri, and that was the reason he finally located in this section. His second and third wives were natives of Missouri. For more than half a century he had considered Missouri his home. Although he traveled much, continuing his trading business, he always returned to Butler County, and finally settled on a farm some 15 miles from Poplar Bluff. In September 1933 doctors had amputated his left leg in an effort to stop advances of what doctors termed "old age gangrene," which started on his left foot. He withstood the operation remarkably well, doctors said, and they believed that he would recover. He suffered a relapse, however, and attending physicians said that they could do nothing to prolong life.
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References[]
- Benjamin Franklin Hodge Find A Grave
- Benjamin Franklin Hodge Geni
- Benjamin Franklin Hodges FamilySearch
- Small Obituary Newspapers
- Bigger Obituary (more information on Benjamin's life) Newspapers
- Small Article Newspapers