Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 778. MONROE HODGES a farmer and stockman of Crook county, is also one of the earliest pioneers of the northwest and one of the first settlers in what is now Crook county. He resides at the present time in Prineville. His birth occurred in Allen county, Ohio, on December 18, 1833, his parents being Monroe and Catherine (Stanley) Hodges. The father was born in South Carolina, on December 8, 1788, and was a veteran of the War of 1812. He served during that entire struggle and participated in many battles and skirmishes, including the battle of Horseshoe Bend and New Orleans. In 1847 he brought his family across the plains with ox teams and made settlement in the Willamette valley. He died in Benton county, Oregon, in 1877, aged eighty-nine years. The mother was born in the same place as her husband and accompanied him in the pioneer journeys and died in Benton county. Our subject drove an ox team across the plains from Missouri, Platte county, to Benton county, Oregon, being then but fourteen years of age. They were six months making the trip and when they reached their destination, they sought out a claim in the wilderness nine miles north of the present site of Corvallis. The country was wild and almost entirely uninhabited and it was a great undertaking to carve out a home in such a place. Our subject was raised in this locality and completed his education as best he could. He remained with his father on the farm until 1854, then went to the mines at Jacksonville, where he was employed for one year, then returned to the old home place and took up farming, continuing in that until 1871. Then he came to the present site of Prineville and took a homestead. He soon moved his family there and engaged in stock raising. In 1873 he built the first hotel and livery stable in Prineville which he operated for a number of years. In 1876 he made final proof on his property and platted the town of Prineville. One line of his homestead is Main street at the present time and all west from that is built on his former homestead. He still owns forty acres of the original piece. Mr. Hodges has seen the entire growth of Crook county and Prineville and not only has seen it but has materially aided in the upbuilding of the country. He has always been a progressive man and has labored hard and wisely for the good end of making a fine county and a good town. He was here during the reign of the vigilance committee but took no past in such dealings, being a law abiding, citizen. On January 13, 1855, Mr. Hodges married Miss Rhoda Wilson, who was born in Missouri, on March 6, 1837. Her father, Samuel Wilson, was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, and was shot by a white man in 1853, while crossing the plains. He had married Sarah Delaney, a native of Kentucky. After her husband was killed, she succeeded in bringing the family across the plains and made settlement in the Willamette valley about nine miles above Corvallis. There she married Mr. Charles Johnson and moved to the vicinity of Corvallis. Her death occurred in Prineville. Mrs. Hodges died July 12, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges had the following named children, Lewis, Marion, Mrs. Sarah Luckey, Samuel, deceased, Arthur, Mrs. Carrie Wright and Eddie deceased. Mr. Hodges is a Democrat and always takes a keen interest in the campaigns. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church for forty years and always labored faithfully for the advancement of church interest and education as well as for the promotion of all good enterprises. It is of interest to note that when Mr. Hodges' train was crossing the plains they met the Pawnee Indians at Ft. Laramie and had a pitched battle, defeating the savages. The next battle was on the Snake river with the Snake Indians. On June 4, 1905, Monroe Hodges died at his home in Prineville. He had lived continuously here since 1871, in which year he filed on a homestead claim, which land is now where Prineville is situated. He was one of Crook county's oldest settlers and was largely instrumental in the establishment and upbuilding of Prineville. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.