Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2896 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSentirely upon individual merit, and the intellectual vigor, analytical powerand judicial capacity of Judge Hodges have combined to secure for him thehigh office of judge of the County Court of Liberty County at an age whenmost men are just beginning to realize the real possibilities of life.Judge Hodges was born August 25, 1886, in Liberty County, Georgia, andis a son of John G. and Eugenia (Wheeler) Hodges. The family was founded> in Georgia by Judge Hodges' great-grandfather, William Hodges, who was a' native of Virginia and who on emigrating to Georgia settled at Taylor'sCreek, in Liberty County, among the pioneers of that region, continuing tomake his home there on a plantation until his death in advanced years. Hisdescendants have since all been worthy citizens and industrious and successful workmen in various fields of endeavor. The son of the Georgia pioneer,Elias R. Hodges, the grandfather of the judge, was born near Taylor's Creek,Liberty County, was there reared and educated, and married a Georgia girl.When the Civil war came on he answered the call of the Southland andentered the army which fought under the standard of the Gray, fighting gallantly until he received a severe wound in the upper part of the left arm,and being then honorably discharged because of disability. He then returnedto his home, where he resumed his interrupted labors as an agriculturist, andcontinued to be engaged therein during the remainder of his life, his deathoccurring February 6, 1901. Like his father, at the time of his death he wasin advanced years, the family being noted for its longevity. He was a manof consequence and influence in his community, an honorable, upright citizen, and one who had the confidence and regard of those among whom hislife was passed.John G. Hodges, father of Judge Hodges, was born April 5, 1852, inLiberty County, Georgia, and there his entire life has been passed in the pursuits of the soil, in which he has attained well-merited success. In spite ofhis more than sixty-three years, he is in the best of physical health and mental strength, and gives every promise of maintaining the family reputationfor many years of living. Mr. Hodges married Miss Eugenia Wheeler, whowas born also in this county, a daughter of Ripley and Zilphi Wheeler, andto this union there were born twelve children, of whom two died in infancy,the others being: John C., James C., Harry E., William Clinton, Miss TheodosiaE., Henry C., J. Leon, Miss Sarah Allie, Hugh M. and Roswell E. .The early education of William Clinton Hodges was secured in the countryschools of the district known as Rye Patch, in Liberty County,,starting whenhe was six years old and continuing his studies there until he was eighteenyears of age. He went then to a boarding school for one year, and at the conclusion of that time began teaching in the rural district schools. He passedtwo years thus employed in Liberty County, a like period in Tattnall County,and one year in Duvall County, Florida, and at the end of that period resumedhis own studies with his funds earned as an educator, entering the law schoolof Mercer University, at Macon. He was duly graduated from that institution with his degree in 1910, and in that same year entered upon his professional labors at Ludowici, Liberty County. There he soon attracted tohimself a large clientele of the most desirable character, and his connectionwith a number of important cases brought him favorably before the people,who were not. long in coming to the conclusion that he was made of judicialtimber. In the fall of 1914, therefore, he was elected judge of the CountyCourt of Liberty County, and on taking his place upon the bench changed hisplace of residence to the county seat at Hinesville, where he now lives. TheCounty Court of Liberty County was abolished in August of 1916, and onSeptember 12, thereafter, Judge Hodges was nominated judge of the CityCourt of Hinesville for a term of four years. Judge Hodges' service on thebench has been one in which he has maintained the high dignity of his officeand has dispensed justice in a capable, impartial and expeditious manner.