William Lee Hodges was born 30 September 1843 in Moniac, Charlton County, Georgia, the son of William Riley Hodges and Nancy Leigh. William Lee had four brothers and two sisters, all born in Carlton County.
Moniac, Charlton County, Georgia
Click here to learn more about Moniac, Charlton County, Georgia.
Young Man
Military Service
The Civil War broke out in April of 1861. William Lee would have been 17 years old, turning 18 the last of September. We don’t know exactly when he entered the war but we know he was in active duty April 26th 1865 when the war ended.
We do know that he suffered hardships that left him at the effect of ill health during his life time. It has been said by several sources that he wept when he heard band play, or attended a parade.
When Union General Sherman captured Savannah on December 21, 1864 andWilliam Lee was in a hospital there. We do not know the reason for his confinement.When he was strong enough, he was taken prisoner of war and sent to ………………….where he stayed until the war was over, which was four months later. After the war, he returned to Moniac. He married Roxy Hogan a year later.
Marriage
During his life time William Lee had two wives, Roxie Ann Hogan and Victoria Sweat Phillips. It was Roxie’s first marriage and Victoria Sweat’s second. She had been married to William Eli Phillips and had a son, Joe Phillips who was born in 1882. They were later divorced.
1. William Riley Hodges and Roxy Hogan married on 30 April, 1866 in Moniac, Charlton, Georgia.
2. In Family Search http://familysearch.com is says that William Lee Hodges was married to Victoria Sweat Phillips in about 1886. Grandson, Laurie Whitfield the family geneologiest said that they were not married until after several of their children were born, due to the fact that the “Preacher” did not come around in rural country very often. There is reason to believe that they were never married, due to the the transfer of property from William Riley Hodges and Victoria Phillips in .
Children
Nine Children of William Lee and Roxy Ann: Martha Bethany 1867 – Lieuraney 1868 – Deloram 1876 – Julian 1877 – Susan 1880 – Matilda 1881 – Zilpa 1884 –
Penelope 1886.
Nine Children of William Lee and Victoria Sweat: Tolbert 1887 – Child un-named 1889 who died the same day – Alma 1891 – Lela 1893 – Lossie 1896 – Virginia 1900 –
Ella 1902 – Melissa 1904 – Everette 1908 – (Elizabeth Victoria 1917 adopted daughter.)
Occupation
Church
There is no apparent religious affiliation for William Lee, even though his wife, Victoria and children joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.
Death
William Lee Hodges died 8 April 1913 at Floral City, Citrus County, Florida. He is buried at the Lake Lindsey Cemetery, Brooksville, Florida. Apparently he ultimately died as a result of skin cancer that appeared on his lip. Ella, his daughter told her grand daughter, Kathy Distefano, “He kept picking at it and would not leave it alone. The sore got larger and larger”.
Stories
History of Hodges Family – Interview by Lela Hodges.