The Johnson Family of Derbyshire

7 children born in Nebraska, USA. At least 3 died in infancy

Hannah M. Hodkin, who was born in Yorkshire, England, October 9, 1841 (typo?-Sept. 7, 1849), daughter of George and Martha Hodkin. Before she was a year old her parents came to America, locating in New Hampshire, where her father worked as a mechanic, and Hannah at an early age was employed in the cotton mills at Lowell, Massachusetts, and other mills along the Merrimac River. Under such conditions she acquired but a meager schooling. She was naturally studious, and missed no opportunity to read good books and magazines.

In 1858 her father came West and settled near the Village of Nemaha. During the Civil war he volunteered in Company D of a Nebraska regiment of cavalry, and was useful as a veterinary in the army. He was a hard worker and one of the pioneer fruit men in Southeastern Nebraska. His eighty-acre farm just west of the Hawxby quarter was a model of neatness.

Hannah Hodkin became a leader in the pioneer life of that Nebraska community. She was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church. On a melodeon, which was carried in a spring wagon, she furnished music for the church at Brownville and later at Nemaha. She worked like a man on the farm, as her father had no sons, herding cattle with a horse, helping to gather corn, and earned money to purchase one of the first four organs owned in the county. She took lessons under the pioneer musician, James R. Dye, becoming proficient, and she herself gave lessons to most of the girls in the neighborhood. She used every penny to buy magazines and music and attended private school under Mrs. F. A. Holmes in Nemaha.

When she died, in 1918, her diary was full of records of early privations. She sacrificed everything for her children, never had a hired girl in the house, had given birth to eight children, rearing four to manhood and womanhood, and never had a nurse. She got soft water from rain barrels, did her own sewing and washing, tended a big garden and raised chickens, cultivated flowers, taught music, and was a leader in the social, religious and musical life of the community. Her hospitality was unbounded and many a girl looked back upon the kindly advice and assistance given her by Aunt Hannah Hawxby, as she was affectionately known in the neighborhood.

Of her children Frederick George was the oldest. The second, Mary, born in 1872, died at the age of three months. John W., born March 25, 1874, attended the country schools and Lincoln High School, and since the death of his father has owned the home farm. A daughter, Emma, born in 1876, died in infancy. The oldest living daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1877, and the youngest, Jennie P., was born in 1878. Twin children, born in 1881, died in infancy. The daughter Elizabeth graduated from the Peru Normal College and the University of Nebraska, taught in country schools and several high schools, for ten years was instructor of English and dramatics in the high school at Everett, Washington, and is now the wife of Lieutenant Kenyon of San Francisco. The other daughter, Jennie, is the wife of John F. Whitwell, and they have four children and reside at Peru, Nebraska.

Source: Nebraska the Land and the People: Volume 3

Hannah Maria Hodkin, was born at Uppermill, Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England, on September 7th 1849 and Baptised at St. Chad's Saddleworth Church, Uppermill. On October 9th 1849, daughter of George and Martha (Hambleton) Hodkin. - Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1849 - HODKIN Hannah Maria - Born: 7th September 1849 @ Uppermill District, Saddleworth - Oldham - Mother's Maiden Name: HAMBELTON - Ref No: Oldham BMD - 1849-UPP/7/112