The Ely Miner, November 13, 1952

Mrs. J. Hodgon Dies Following Long Illness

Mrs. James Hodgon, 79, pioneer resident of this community, passed way on Monday, November 10, following a lingering illness. The burial services were held yesterday afternoon from the First Methodist Church with the Rev. Ralph C. Steele officiating. Burial was in the family plot in the Ely Cemetery with the Lynn Mortuary handling all arrangements.
The deceased was born Katherine Childers in Ishpeming, Michigan, on September 21, 1873. She has been an Ely resident since 1900, coming here from Soudan. Mr. Hodgon passed away about two years ago.
Pallbearers were her nephews, Fred C., Lyman, and Owen Childers, Stuart Schaefer, Frank and George Childers.
Survivors are one sister, Mrs. R.J. Whiteside, Duluth; one brother, Fred S. Childers, Ely, and several nephews and nieces.
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Sketch of Life written by her nephew, Warren S. Childers:

Catherine Childers was born in Saginaw, Marquette County, Michigan, during the trek of the Solomon Childers family from Jo Daviess County, Illinois, to Ely via Soudan; in June 1897, she married James Hodgon, an immigrant miner from Lancashire, England and, except for a brief sojourn in Hibbing, Minnesota, were to live the rest of their lives in Ely. While in Hibbing, Jim worked in the world famous Hull-Rust Mine and lived in the Webb location which was to be eventually "eaten up" by the expanding mine.
Jim became Captain in the Ely mines and was noted for his great strength; the men used to have a little sport with him by sizing up a large shoring timber and suggesting that it would take four men to handle it whereby he would scoff and lift it in place by himself. He was a very mild person ordinarily but once,when pushed too far by the "sports" in off duty time, he manhandled four of the other miners and succeeded in wrecking the saloon in so doing; his one master (his wife Kate) disabused him of any notion he might of had of ever doing that again - - it's not quite clear whether it was because of her social humiliation or the cost of chipping in for the repairs of the saloon that was her principal reason.
Aunt Kate wea very well known for her cuisine and sewing and took many, many prizes at the local fairs, year after year, for her canning, pasties, and especially her quilts with intricate designs containing thousands of pieces.
Both lived their lives out in Ely and are buried there.