Samuel Hodgeden — A continuation of the Sesquicentennial tour
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Hodgeden home as it looked in the early 20th century. Photo courtesy of Aitkin County Historical Society. |
By Connie Pettersen
Samuel Hodgeden (Part I)
Do you recognize this house in Aitkin? It is a Victorian Picaresque, three-story Queen Anne frame with turret, irregular roofline, scrollwork and patterned shingles. (Hint: It’s across from the old Carnegie Library).
The residence was built about 1895 for Samuel and Catherine Hodgeden. Following the Hodgeden’s, it became Seavy’s Funeral Home for many years, later purchased by Tom Cline for his law office and the upstairs was made into a rental apartment. Today the home is the Haberkorn Law Office.
Samuel Horace Hodgeden was a local lumber baron and early pioneer merchant. According to his obituary, he passed away in this house shortly after his 84th birthday and was buried in Lakeville Cemetery. At the time of his death, Hodgeden was still actively working at his mercantile store in the Hodgeden/McDonald building (today known as Butlers V Store).
Born in Maine, Jan. 16, 1842, Samuel Hodgeden came westward to Wisconsin and Minnesota following the lumber industry. His obituary reads: “He answered the call of adventure coming to northern MN and this place when all about was a vast forest and Aitkin a trading post. Lumbering being the main business of the community, Hodgeden’s principal efforts have been directed in that line but with the coming of farming, he did much in way of farm development and assisted others. He was a large employer of men and the fine buildings erected in the village by him are monuments to his enterprise and faith in Aitkin. He engaged in the mercantile business and associated with J. J. McDonald in business affairs.”
Hodgeden came to southern Minnesota in the 1860’s. He served with Col. Henry Sibley’s army during the 1864 Minnesota Sioux Uprising. Arriving in Aitkin County during the early lumber boom, Hodgeden realized excellent business opportunities.
Some records say he was an early mail carrier, but most of his interests followed the timber industry.
[The Samuel Hodgeden residence as it looks today the Haberkorn Law Office in Aitkin. Photo by Connie Pettersen.]
Apparently once on a riverboat trip back to Aitkin, Hodgeden met his future business partner, James McDonald, who was a timber cruiser. Their conversations turned into a friendship that lasted a lifetime.
McDonald first told Hodgeden about cheap timberlands in the Pacific Northwest.
Some records say he was an early mail carrier, but most of his interests followed the timber industry.
Apparently once on a riverboat trip back to Aitkin, Hodgeden met his future business partner, James McDonald, who was a timber cruiser. Their conversations turned into a friendship that lasted a lifetime.
McDonald first told Hodgeden about cheap timberlands in the Pacific Northwest.
The two men eventually went west and purchased timberlands, waiting for perfect opportunities to sell, and when they did, made good profits on those investments.
Samuel Hodgeden married Catherine* V. Humphry (* a 1920 census spells it with a K, other records show a C) on Dec. 16, 1883. The couple had three children; however, it is thought that two died fairly young. Their daughter, Irene Hodgeden Ness gave them two grandsons: Samuel Hodgeden Ness and James McDonald Ness. Irene was a very beautiful young woman who seemed to have a flair for acting at Aitkin High School. Her yearbook called her “the prettiest girl in town” and the riverboat Irene was named after her, although it is not known if her father had business investments in the Irene riverboat.
[Irene Hodgeden sitting on deck of the riverboat named in her honor. Photo courtesy of Aitkin County Historical Society.]
The following caption was taken from Seasons in Time, a publication of the Aitkin County Historical Society: “The first steamer Irene (1899-1901) built by owners C.D. Viebahn and Albert Tully hauled freight and passengers between Brainerd and Grand Rapids. It burned below the Mississippi bridge at Aitkin where it was docked. The second Irene (1901-1909) was built by Captain C.D. Viehabn, Engineer, W.V. Puteney and William Barlow. The second Irene continued freight and passenger service until a larger boat was needed. In 1908, the “Irene” was approaching the end of its career. May 1908 the Irene sank from overloading at the Verdon Landing to be raised and resume its regular run. The spring of 1909, it again sank at the Aitkin dock, and it was then hauled up on land and dismantled. Both boats were christened in honor of Irene Hodgeden, daughter of S.H. Hodgeden, believed to be the most beautiful woman in the area.”
Hodgeden and McDonald became prosperous partners in Aitkin. They operated a sawmill, kept combined interests in timber, opened a livery stable, sold implements, mercantile, etc. Eventually Hodgeden fancied one building that would house a combination of his business interests (a pioneer shopping mall) known as the Hodgeden/McDonald Building that today is called Butler’s V Store.
Catherine Hodgeden also had a keen interest in literary and cultural events and the new building included a second floor with an opera house complete with a stage for acting productions. Perhaps the idea regarding a stage came from his daughter Irene’s promising talent and interest in acting in school plays.
Part II of Samuel Hodgeden will continue with the Hodgeden/McDonald Building (today’s Butler’s V Store).
