Pioneer Association seeks family histories

The Hot Springs County Pioneer Association (Pioneers) recently announced the launch of a new project to engage the community in a historical effort to document family histories. The Pioneers have previously published a work called “Hot Springs County Memories from the Past” in 1996, and a supplement to that effort in 1998. The purpose of that project was to afford families that have deep roots in the area to share their family histories and then compile them for posterity to reference and enjoy. Those publications are still available at the Hot Springs County Museum gift shop.

However, Pioneers president, Ray Shaffer, noted there have been at least two generations that have lived life here, of whom we have no such documentation. Additionally, the Pioneers have been informed at class reunions that some were never aware of the opportunity to participate in previous publications.

Therefore, the Pioneers are announcing they are currently soliciting family histories, in story form, to be submitted either in person or electronically, to the Hot Springs County Museum by July 31, 2018. It is their intention to have the work published by the end of the year.

Guidelines for what to incorporate in the histories are available at the museum, or on the Pioneers’ website, hotspringscountypioneerassociation.org. Any board member is also available to answer any questions.

One such story from the Hot Springs County Memories from the Past Supplement, Copyright 1998, is as follows:

Hodgson, Nellie G. (Mrs. Paul)

Nellie Gladys Smith was born February 10, 1895 to John Madison and Mary Cynthia Smith near Lamoni, Iowa. After her father’s death in 1905, she was placed with a couple who ran a boarding house. Until seventh grade, she was taught at home by her mother who was a certified teacher.

She entered public school in Pella, Iowa. At the end of the year, she was given a special exam and was allowed to enter high school at age eleven. Then she attended Iowa State Teacher’s College for two years and two summer sessions. Nellie began her teaching career at age 17!

She married Paul Hodgson in the summer of 1914 in Iowa. In 1917, they moved to Thermopolis to help her ill health. In 1918, she taught in the Junior High system and was later elected County Superintendent of Schools for two years.

Along with her husband, Nellie opened an insurance office in 1931 and operated it for 20 years. Following the death of Paul in 1951, she traveled and substitute taught for a year. She resumed teaching in Hot Springs County in 1953. Nellie received the Classroom Teachers and Wyoming Education Association Teacher of the Year award in 1963 and retired in 1967 at age 72.

Mrs. Hodgson was a member of the First Baptist Church since 1918 and served at various times as treasurer, clerk and on the building committee and executive board. She also taught Sunday School for 11 years.

She was active in the U.S.O., American Legion Auxiliary, Thermopolis Woman’s Club, Rebekah Lodge, the Pioneer Association and Classroom Teachers Association as well as a charter member of both the VFW Auxiliary and Historical Society. She was a longtime Red Cross worker.

Nellie died August 8, 1989 at age 94 and is buried at Monument Hill Cemetery. Nellie and Paul had a son who died in infancy and a daughter, Marjorie Edwards.