Founder's Grandfather Passed in 1831

Scanning the files of the Village Record, Cloyd R. Baldwin was interested in noting a sketch of William Hodgson, grandfather of William H. Hodgson, founder of the Daily Local News, this in the library of the Chester County Historical Society.The Rev. Mr. Hodgson, who had much to do with establishing the Methodist Church here, departed this life April 2, 1831, and the following sketch appeared in the paper named on April 8:"In this borough on Saturday morning the 2nd inst. after a long and painful illness, the Rev. William Hodgson, of the Methodist Episocpal Church, passed away, aged 54 years.In all his relations of life it may be truly said, he was an excellent man.His enterprise and industry contributed to the business and improvement of the town-as a neighbor he was obliging and friendly-to the poor charitable-as a citzen liberal and public spirited.As a preacher, Mr. Hodgson was sensible, pious, impressive, and in prayer highly gifted and eloquent.While to his amiable family thedeprivation of husband and family is irreparable, it is also felt as a public loss.During his long and distressing visitation, under the certainty of an approaching death from an incurable malady, he bore up with a fortitude and cheerfulness which nothing but the buoyant hope and sustaining faith of Christianty could inspire.He met the messenger sent by the divine Master to call him home with feelings of a man who was bound here by the tenderst ties, and yet with the unrepining firmness of one in relation to whom death had no sting, the grave no victory, supported by confidence his Saviour and the certainty of a Resurrection to glory beyond the tomb.We presume a more full biographical sketch of this valuable and amiable man will be prepared for the Christian Advocate, for he is worth to be kept in remebrance as an example"The Village Record at that time was published weekly by Asher and Charles Milner