1896

It is a distinct pleasure to your Secretary to present a story of the life and career of our late classmate, Frank Trowbridge Hodgdon and of his family.

Frank was a member of our class from 1892 to 1894, and was well liked. Unfortunately distance prevented him from regularly attending our five-year reunions.

Frank's father was Charles Frank Hodgdon. His mother was Alice Trowbridge Hodgdon. The family lived in Quincy, Ill., moving to a farm in Hannibal, Mo., in 1887. His father was a carpenter by trade, later becoming a contractor.

Frank Trowbridge Hodgdon was born in Quincy, April 13, 1873. He attended the schools in Hannibal, then entered Dartmouth.

He married Annie Porter Roberts in Trinity Episcopal Church, Hannibal, June 2, 1898. She was born in Joplin, Mo., June 22, 1876, moving to Hannibal in 1883. The Hodgdons celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1948. Frank died October 2. 1950. His wife died July 1, 1953.

Banking became his life work. During the summer after finishing high school and during summer vacations while in college, he was employed by the bank which became the Farmers and Merchants Bank and Trust Company of Hannibal. He advanced from clerk and bookkeeper to cashier, vice president, director and president.

Frank was active and efficient in many and varied local, state and national affairs. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, serving as vestryman and for nine years as member of the Diocesan Council of Missouri. He was elected to the Triennial Conventions of the Episcopal Church by the Diocese in 1925 and 1928 - a high honor.

In civic affairs he was city treasurer for eight years; secretary of the Board of Education; trustee of the Y.M.C.A,; secretary of the Empire Lands - providing sites for factories in Hannibal; director of the Chamber of Commerce; president of the Hannibal Mutual Loan and Building Association; director and secretary of C. L. Downey Company; director and member Executive Committee, Associated Industries, Mo.

In club affairs Frank served as president of Rotary, Charter Member of the Hannibal Country Club and of the Elks, member of the Hannibal Lodge of Masons and of the Commandery, and of the University Club of St. Louis.

He was very active and efficient in banking affairs, representing his bank, since becoming cashier in 1906, in all but two meetings of the Missouri Bankers' Association.

He was also a member of the American Bankers Association, serving on the executive council. In 1921 he was elected president of the Association of Missouri Bank and Trust Company, opposed to branch banking. This case went to the Supreme Court of the United States and was decided in favor of the Association.

Frank's greatest interest was the Cancer Commission, to which he was appointed by Governor Lloyd Stark. He helped to plan and build the Ellis Fischel State Cancer Hospital in Columbia, O. When Dr. Fischel lost his life in an automobile accident, Frank was appointed chairman, serving until his death in 1950. This was his crowning service to his state and to humanity.

On September 27, 1945, he had completed fifty years of continuous service to the bank of which he was then cashier, vice president and director. A large and elaborate dinner was tendered him, attended by all employees of his bank, officers of competing banks in Hannibal, as well as officers of banks in St. Louis and elsewhere. It is not given to many to serve any institution for 55 years.

He was elected president of the bank in 1948, serving until his death. Certainly Frank T. Hodgdon was one of our most successful and useful classmates. He was active and influential in many affairs.

The Hodgdons had three children.

Frank Trowbridge Hodgdon Jr. was born in Hannibal April 29, 1899. He is a member of the class of 1921. After college he worked for Grief Brothers Cooperage Company, first in their plant in Hamilton, Ontario, then in their main office in Cleveland.

In 1926 he was employed by Nau, Taylor and Swearingen, certified public accountants. When this firm was dissolved in March 1932 he went to Quincy to work with his uncle in the Hodgdon Dairy Company. After three years he returned to Cleveland and did independent accounting work. A year later he was employed by C. C. McConkie, certified public accountants. In 1948 he was retained by the Forest City Publishing Company as an independent accountant, and on July 1, 1953, was elected controller and assistant treasurer of this company and its subsidiaries. When his father died, he was elected to his place as director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank and Trust Company of Hannibal.

On January 30, 1937, he married Dora Janice Hirshheimer of LaCrosse, Wise. They live at 13302 Comers Ave., Cleveland.

Julia Porter Hodgdon married Carl Mueller Boegholt of Newport, R. I., June 24, 1924. She attended Smith College. Her husband graduated from Massachusetts Agricultural College. He is now professor of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin. They have one daughter, now Mrs. Thomas P. Clinard. The Clinards have two young sons — Thomas P. Jr. and James Carl. They live in Lake Placid: Fla.

Ann Dorsey Hodgdon attended Belmont College and Washington University, from which she holds a Master's degree. In 1942 she enlisted in the Woman's Army Corps, receiving her commission at Fort Des Moines. In 1944-1946 she was assigned to the Military Intelligence Division of the War Department General Staff. She was retired with the commission of major. (It is interesting that another Ann of our '96 group - Ann Cummings — is also a W.A.C. major located at Fort Wayne, Mich.) Ann Hodgdon is assistant cashier of the bank her father served so long and well. She is active in community life.

An Oscar from '96 to this outstanding family.

June is the final month of the 1954 Alumni Fund campaign. If your contribution has not already been made, please get it in early this month. We will never be asked to support anything that means more to us or is worthier than Dartmouth College.

FLORIDA VISIT: The Aborns '93 are entertained by the Baketels '95 in St. Petersburg. Shown in the Baketels' garden are (l to r): Willard G. Aborn, Mrs. Aborn, Mrs. Baketel, and Dr. H. Sheridan Baketel.

FRANK T. HODGDON '96

Secretary, 206 Appleton St., Arlington, Mass.

Class Agent, 21 Forest Rd., Cape Elizabeth, Me.