- REV. MARVIN G. HODGE, D.D., who for fourteen years has been
pastor of the First Baptist
- Church of Janesville, is a native of Vermont, and was born
at Hardwick, on the 20th day of February, 1822. His parents,
Levi and Fannie (WHEATLEY) HODGE, were descended from old New
England families. The father was born in Rumney, N.H., which
was also the birthplace of his paternal grandfather. His mother
was a native of Lebanon, of the same State, and was of English
Puritan origin on her father's side, while on the maternal side
she was descended from the French Huguenots.
- The subject of this sketch was educated in his native State,
his preparatory studies being pursued
- in an academy at Craftsbury, following which he took a select
and theological course at the Literary and Theological Seminary
at Derby. In June, 1843, he was ordained at East Charleston,
Vt., a minister of the Baptist Church, and was assigned to labor
at Essex and Colchester, Vt. His next field was at Hinesburg,
of the same State, whence he was called to serve as pastor of
the Baptist Church at Stillwater, N.Y. His next charge was at
Brooklyn, N.Y., where he served six and a half years as pastor
of Hanson Place Church, during which time he was instrumental
in causing the erection of a house of worship at that place.
Finding his health failing, he sought a change of climate, and
came to Wisconsin, his first charge in this State being at Beaver
Dam, where he remained two years engaged in pastoral labors.
Returning to New England at the expiration of that time, he was
appointed District Secretary of the American Baptist Home Missionary
Society for New England, and on the 1st day of February, 1865,
he came to Janesville to accept the pastorage of the First Baptist
Church of this city. During the first years of service with that
society, his people built an elegant church edifice at a cost
of $40,000. He continued that connection for a period of six
years and eight months, when he went to New York City, where
he spent the winter, and on the 1st day of May, 1872, accepted
the position of pastor of the First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo,
Mich. Until the autumn of 1878 he retained that pastorage, but
at that time removed to Milwaukee, Wis., his charge being the
First Baptist Church of that city. His health being impaired,
he went to Georgia in the fall of 1880, and after spending the
winter in that State, returned, in May, 1881, to Janesville,
and again became Pastor of the First Baptist Church. On the 13th
day of January, 1884, their elegant church edifice was destroyed
by fire, but immediately the present tasty and commodious house
of worship on the site of the former was erected. The cost, not
including salvage and lots, was about $23,000, and the church
property is now valued at $30,000. Mr. HODGE was complimented
in 1849 by receiving the degree of A.M. from the University of
Vermont, at Burlington, and the same degree from the Rochester
University, of New York, in 1854, while thirteen years later,
in 1867, he received the degree of D.D. from the University of
Chicago.
- Dr. HODGE was united in marriage on the 14th day of October,
1846, at Irasburg, Vt., with Miss
- Harriet L. KELLAM, a daughter of John and Deborah (HAYNES)
KELLAM. The lady is a native of Irasburg, and her parents were
descended form English Puritan ancestors. Her father was born
at Windham, Conn., while her mother's birth occurred at Concord,
N.H. Mr. and Mrs. HODGE are the parents of five children, four
daughters and a son; Elizabeth, the eldest, is the wife of Edward
F. WELCH, of Janesville; Harriet wedded John S. HATCH, and resides
at Washington, D.C.; Emma F., is the wife of David F. WILCOX,
of Quincy, Ill.; Carrie L. married Clarence L. CLARK, of Janesville;
and Frederick M. wedded Edith GIBSON, and resides in Kalamazoo,
Mich., where he is now serving as Secretary of the Kalamazoo
Paper Company.
- Dr. HODGE is now serving his fifteenth year as pastor of
the First Baptist Church of Janesville,
- and has won a strong hold upon the respect and affections
of his congregation. From a character sketch of him, which was
written by a fellow clergyman, we quote the following tribute
to his ability and pure Christian life: "His sermons are
all clear expositions of the Divine Word. Theologically exact
and scriptural, always thoroughly prepared with the riches of
a ripe Christian experience, he brings to his people in his ministrations
a Gospel feast. His people like to see him in the pulpit; they
are sure to be instructed, and as a result he indoctrinates his
congregation and builds them up. Few congregations are better
instructed in the doctrines of the Word of God, than the churches
of Janesville and Kalamazoo during his ministry over them. As
a pastor, Dr. HODGE is wise and sympathetic, knows his people
thoroughly, is their recognized leader and guide, and feeds his
flock like a shepherd, gathering the lambs in his arms and carrying
them to his bosom. With his fine abilities as preacher, his decided
executive talents and excellent gifts for pastoral labor, he
has for many years been regarded as one of the ablest of Christian
ministers. In the State where he now resides, and in the city
where fourteen years of his life have been spent, he is known
as a good man and a faithful herald of Jesus Christ, watching
for souls."
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 464-465.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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