Willis Hodges: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:29, 17 April 2026

Born: February 12, 1815

Died: September 24, 1890

Married: Sarah Ann Corprew Gray

Children: four

Willis Augustus Hodges was an African-American abolitionist, journalist, and political organizer who became prominent in Brooklyn, New York. Born to free parents in Virginia, Hodges became an outspoken advocate for enslaved African Americans during the Antebellum period, giving aid to the Underground Railroad in the North after a move to New York, and collaborating with such notable figures as William Lloyd Garrison, John Brown and Frederick Douglass. He also published an antislavery newspaper, The Ram’s Horn. (Wikipedia:Willis Augustus Hodges)

For about five years he lived in a community called Blacksville on Loon Lake on land granted by abolitionist Gerrit Smith in order to enable members to meet property requirements for voting.

Chateaugay Record, March 21, 1930

EARLY HISTORY OF NORTHERN N.Y.

(By F. L. Turner)

Gerrit Smith's "Negro Colony" was an interesting innovation in trying to find homes for this unfortunate race. Smith brought several families into the town. The deeds were worded something like this: "In consideration of $1.00 and the grantor's desire to have all share in the means of subsistence and happiness which a bountiful God has provided for all." There were at least seven families—Morehouse, Hodge, Smith, Wicks, Hazard, Thomas and Runyon. One of them, Smith, settled first at Elbow Pond but soon moved out to the turnpike. Hodge settled near a hill about mid-way between the Loon Lake hotel and Inman station, which still bears his name, "Hodge Hill..."

See also:

Encyclopedia Virginia: Willis A. Hodges
Adirondack Explorer: Honoring Blacksville

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 '''Willis Augustus Hodges''' was an African-American abolitionist, journalist, and political organizer who became prominent in Brooklyn, New York. Born to free parents in Virginia, Hodges became an outspoken advocate for enslaved African Americans during the Antebellum period, giving aid to the Underground Railroad in the North after a move to New York, and collaborating with such notable figures as William Lloyd Garrison, John Brown and Frederick Douglass. He also published an antislavery newspaper, ''The Ram’s Horn.'' ([[Wikipedia:Willis Augustus Hodges]])
+----For about five years he lived in a community called [[Blacksville]] on [[Loon Lake]] on land granted by abolitionist [[Gerrit Smith]] in order to enable members to meet property requirements for voting.
+----Chateaugay Record, March 21, 1930
+[[Early History of Northern New York|EARLY HISTORY OF NORTHERN N.Y.]]
+(By F. L. Turner)
+Gerrit Smith's "Negro Colony" was an interesting innovation in trying to find homes for this unfortunate race. Smith brought several families into the town. The deeds were worded something like this: "In consideration of $1.00 and the grantor's desire to have all share in the means of subsistence and happiness which a bountiful God has provided for all." There were at least seven families—[[Stephen W. Morehouse|Morehouse]], Hodge, Smith, Wicks, [[Alexander Hazard|Hazard]], [[John Thomas|Thomas]] and Runyon. One of them, Smith, settled first at Elbow Pond but soon moved out to the turnpike. Hodge settled near a hill about mid-way between the [[Loon Lake Hotel|Loon Lake hotel]] and [[Inman|Inman station]], which still bears his name, "Hodge Hill..."
 ''See also:''
 * Encyclopedia Virginia: [https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/hodges-willis-a-1815-1890/ Willis A. Hodges]
+* Adirondack Explorer: [https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/communities/history/honoring-blacksville/ Honoring Blacksville]
 === '''Comments''' ===