El
Dorado County
Biographies
DECOUREY C. WILLIAM HODGKIN
A native son of the golden west,
through the years of his boyhood and of an active business career, Mr. Hodgkin
has been identified with the interests of California and is now a prominent
merchant of Shingle. He was born in San
Francisco on the 27th of June, 1854, and is the son of J. W.
Hodgkin, whose birth occurred in Buffalo, New York, in 1823. He came to California in 1854 and during much
of his business life followed merchandising.
In his early manhood, however, he was captain of a vessel sailing from
Chicago. He is a Republican and is a
valued member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having exemplified in
his life the beneficent spirit of that fraternity. He is now seventy-six years of age and his
wife is seventy-four years of age. They
are spending the evening of their days with their son, D. C. W., receiving from
him filial care and attention. Thus he
repays the debt which he owes them for their tender rearing. They had five children of whom three are
living: Calista,
wife of C. I. Pelton; Ella R., wife of A. J. Hare, a
resident of Oakland, California; and D. W. C.
The last named was educated in the
city of San Francisco and entered upon his business career in the capacity of
an accountant and cashier in a lumber yard.
He followed this pursuit for a number of years during which time he
gained a thorough knowledge of practical business methods. In 1886 he embarked in business on his own
account and has since carried on merchandising.
He has a large stock of goods and also owns his store at Shingle, and by
close attention to business, liberal methods and a straightforward policy he
has secured a good trade which is constantly increasing. He carries everything needed by the mining
and farming community by which the town of Shingle is surrounded and his
patronage is now quite extensive. Mr.
Hodgkin also has several valuable mining interests and one of his placer claims
is now being worked with gratifying results.
In 1879 Mr. Hodgkin was united in
marriage to Miss J. G. McClure and their union was blessed with two children,
Howard and Ray. In 1898 he wedded the
lady who is his present wife and who bore the maiden name of Emily J. Cobal. They now have
one child, Kenneth Lee. Mr. Hodgkin
holds membership relations with the Native Sons of the Golden West, belonging
to the South San Francisco Parlor. In
1884 he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason and in that fraternity
he has many warm friends. The salient
features in his success have been his earnest purpose and his indefatigable
energy and through these means he has advanced to an enviable position in
commercial circles.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 720-721. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2011
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden
Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies