Ben Hodges (8387528)
According to ‘Lost Trails of the Cimarron’ (Chrisman, HE; 1961), a local history of the Oklahoma panhandle and surrounding areas, Ben Hodges was a celebrated figure. Hodges was the illegitimate son of a 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier and a Mexican belle from a wealthy and established family in San Antonio. Mexican Americans in the area called him Don Benito Hogero. He became known as both a skilled cowboy on many of the local ranches near Dodge City, Kansas, as well as a sometime cattle rustler. He liked to dress ostentatiously to appear to be a man of means, though he had little money and was virtually illiterate.
Hodges initiated a scheme in which he attempted to take advantage of a legal ruling in favor of allotting land in the panhandle to citizens who could show rightful historical claim. Hodges leveraged his Mexican ‘bloodline’ to make claim. Hodges’ scheme nearly succeeded in awarding him 32 sections of ranch land, though he had no legal standing at all, primarily because he was such a colorful character and was able to convince many of his fellow citizens to back him through petition. At first, the citizenry of the area thought it was funny and were entertained by seeing how far Hodges could take his claim. But Hodges’ efforts got him high into the established federal courts before it was discovered that his claims were fraudulent.
The prominent ranching families of Dodge ensured that Ben Hodges was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery among the wealthy elite ranchers in deference to his larger than life personality. One of his pall bearers jokingly said Hodges was buried there because “We wanted him where they could keep an eye on him.” pp 175-180
Contributor: Quinn O’Keefe (50338937)
According to ‘Lost Trails of the Cimarron’ (Chrisman, HE; 1961), a local history of the Oklahoma panhandle and surrounding areas, Ben Hodges was a celebrated figure. Hodges was the illegitimate son of a 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier and a Mexican belle from a wealthy and established family in San Antonio. Mexican Americans in the area called him Don Benito Hogero. He became known as both a skilled cowboy on many of the local ranches near Dodge City, Kansas, as well as a sometime cattle rustler. He liked to dress ostentatiously to appear to be a man of means, though he had little money and was virtually illiterate.
Hodges initiated a scheme in which he attempted to take advantage of a legal ruling in favor of allotting land in the panhandle to citizens who could show rightful historical claim. Hodges leveraged his Mexican ‘bloodline’ to make claim. Hodges’ scheme nearly succeeded in awarding him 32 sections of ranch land, though he had no legal standing at all, primarily because he was such a colorful character and was able to convince many of his fellow citizens to back him through petition. At first, the citizenry of the area thought it was funny and were entertained by seeing how far Hodges could take his claim. But Hodges’ efforts got him high into the established federal courts before it was discovered that his claims were fraudulent.
The prominent ranching families of Dodge ensured that Ben Hodges was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery among the wealthy elite ranchers in deference to his larger than life personality. One of his pall bearers jokingly said Hodges was buried there because “We wanted him where they could keep an eye on him.” pp 175-180
Contributor: Quinn O’Keefe (50338937)
Ben Hodges (8387528)
According to ‘Lost Trails of the Cimarron’ (Chrisman, HE; 1961), a local history of the Oklahoma panhandle and surrounding areas, Ben Hodges was a celebrated figure. Hodges was the illegitimate son of a 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier and a Mexican belle from a wealthy and established family in San Antonio. Mexican Americans in the area called him Don Benito Hogero. He became known as both a skilled cowboy on many of the local ranches near Dodge City, Kansas, as well as a sometime cattle rustler. He liked to dress ostentatiously to appear to be a man of means, though he had little money and was virtually illiterate.
Hodges initiated a scheme in which he attempted to take advantage of a legal ruling in favor of allotting land in the panhandle to citizens who could show rightful historical claim. Hodges leveraged his Mexican ‘bloodline’ to make claim. Hodges’ scheme nearly succeeded in awarding him 32 sections of ranch land, though he had no legal standing at all, primarily because he was such a colorful character and was able to convince many of his fellow citizens to back him through petition. At first, the citizenry of the area thought it was funny and were entertained by seeing how far Hodges could take his claim. But Hodges’ efforts got him high into the established federal courts before it was discovered that his claims were fraudulent.
The prominent ranching families of Dodge ensured that Ben Hodges was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery among the wealthy elite ranchers in deference to his larger than life personality. One of his pall bearers jokingly said Hodges was buried there because “We wanted him where they could keep an eye on him.” pp 175-180
Contributor: Quinn O’Keefe (50338937)
According to ‘Lost Trails of the Cimarron’ (Chrisman, HE; 1961), a local history of the Oklahoma panhandle and surrounding areas, Ben Hodges was a celebrated figure. Hodges was the illegitimate son of a 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier and a Mexican belle from a wealthy and established family in San Antonio. Mexican Americans in the area called him Don Benito Hogero. He became known as both a skilled cowboy on many of the local ranches near Dodge City, Kansas, as well as a sometime cattle rustler. He liked to dress ostentatiously to appear to be a man of means, though he had little money and was virtually illiterate.
Hodges initiated a scheme in which he attempted to take advantage of a legal ruling in favor of allotting land in the panhandle to citizens who could show rightful historical claim. Hodges leveraged his Mexican ‘bloodline’ to make claim. Hodges’ scheme nearly succeeded in awarding him 32 sections of ranch land, though he had no legal standing at all, primarily because he was such a colorful character and was able to convince many of his fellow citizens to back him through petition. At first, the citizenry of the area thought it was funny and were entertained by seeing how far Hodges could take his claim. But Hodges’ efforts got him high into the established federal courts before it was discovered that his claims were fraudulent.
The prominent ranching families of Dodge ensured that Ben Hodges was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery among the wealthy elite ranchers in deference to his larger than life personality. One of his pall bearers jokingly said Hodges was buried there because “We wanted him where they could keep an eye on him.” pp 175-180
Contributor: Quinn O’Keefe (50338937)
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