Herrick Hodges

In 1860 he was a 21 year old farmer on his parents' place in Lawrence, Van Buren County MI. He enlisted on 29 April 1861 at Paw Paw and mustered as a Private in Company C, 70th New York Infantry on 21 June. He was discharged for disability on 24 October 1861.

He enlisted again, on 29 May 1862, and mustered as Sergeant, Company I, 17th Michigan Infantry on 21 June.

He was wounded by a gunshot to his left leg in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862 and again, by a bullet to his left chest which lodged in his lung, as he was being carried from the field.

He was admitted to US Army General Hospital #4 in Frederick, MD on 3 October and transferred to the Camp B hospital there on 5 January 1863. He was sent back to his unit on 27 January and discharged for disability at the post hospital at Detroit, MI on 1 June 1863.

In February 1864 a pension examiner noted the bullet still remained in his chest "causing great functional disturbance of he heart, pain, and prostration."

By 1870 he was a wagon manufacturer in South Haven, Van Buren County and in 1880 was a book agent there. He was also township clerk and public librarian in South Haven. By 1900 he'd retired from business and he was still living in South Haven in 1910.

His service basics from the Record.1 Wound and hospital details from the Patient List 2 and the MSHWR.3 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860-1910. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph hosted on Michigan GenWeb, contributed by descendant James Kenline.

He married Portia Maria Selkirk (1846-1883) in August 1871 and they had 5 children. He married again, the widow Mary Elizabeth Kellogg Parker (1853-1895) in November 1892, and, for the third time, Mrs. Helen M Evrett Green (1849-) in June 1909.

His brother Oren, also in Company I, was wounded on South Mountain on 14 September.

10/17/1838; Spring Arbor, MI

11/06/1913; South Haven, MI; burial in Lakeview Cemetery, South Haven, MI