Editing Hodgkins, Illinois (section)

==History==
The first European visitors to present-day Hodgkins, explorers [[Jacques Marquette]] and [[Louis Joliet]], paddled down the [[Des Plaines River]] in 1673, passing through the area, making their camp in present-day [[Summit, Illinois|Summit]]. Settlement in the area, however, was somewhat stagnant until the early 19th century. It was at this time, around 1836, that Irish and Italian immigrants came to the area to work on the [[Illinois and Michigan Canal]]. The construction and eventual operation of the canal was responsible for the formation of many villages presently located along its banks, including Hodgkins.<ref name=centennial>Village of Hodgkins – 100 Years of Progress booklet, published by the Village of Hodgkins for its centennial (1996)</ref>

The village of Hodgkins was originally known as '''Gary''', a name locals claim was derived from "[[Garibaldi]]", in recognition of the large number of Italian laborers working in an area grain mill.<ref name=centennial/> After several name changes, the Village of Hodgkins was incorporated in 1896. Jefferson Hodgkins, the president of the Kimball and Cobb Stone company, which was also the first business to locate in the village, was the man for whom Hodgkins was named. Modesto Lenzi, the somewhat dubious "King of Gary", became the village's first president that same year.<ref name=centennial/>

===Patrick Crowley murder===
Modesto Lenzi was unsuccessful in his 1909 reelection bid. Lenzi was defeated by L. E. Thatcher in an election that contemporary newspaper accounts called "a political feud between the prohibition and liquor interests".<ref>''Fort Wayne News'', Ft. Wayne, IN, Tuesday, June 15, 1909</ref> The election campaign raged hotly for several months, culminating in Lenzi's ouster. On the night of June 14, 1909, the crowd gathered in Hodgkins during and after the election became unruly. Village marshal Patrick Crowley, in an attempt to restore order, placed Modesto Lenzi, who was allegedly inciting the crowd, under arrest for disturbing the peace. As Crowley was bringing Lenzi to the jail: "A shot was fired in to his breast by some person in a crowd of alleged Lenzi sympathizers gathered about."{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

The ''[[The News-Sentinel|Fort Wayne News]]'' reported the following on June 14, 1909:

::Modesto Lenzi, an Italian, was defeated for re-election as president of the village, after a hot anti-liquor fight at the last election...the man started peacefully to the village lock-up, but when half way there suddenly offered resistance. As Crowley as remonstrating with him, an unknown man suddenly appeared, drew a revolver and shot Crowley dead. In the excitement the slayer fled.<ref>''Fort Wayne News'', Fort Wayne, IN, Monday, June 14, 1909</ref>

On June 22, 1909, a grand jury concluded:

::The said Patrick Crowley now lying dead...in said village of LaGrange...came to his death...from shock and hemorrhage due to a bullet wound in the right breast, said bullet fired from a revolver held in the hand of one Harry Lenzi, on the road at Gary [Hodgkins], Ill. on June 13, 1909. And from the evidence presented, we the jury recommend that Harry Lenzi, as principal and now at large, be apprehended, and that Modesto Lenzi and John May, as accessories before the fact, be held to the Grand Jury on the charge of murder, until released by due process of law. We the jury further believe that if one Frank Meno, had not interfered, the above named Harry Lenzi would now be in custody. We therefore recommend that Frank Meno be apprehended and held as an accessory after the fact.<ref>Cook County death inquest #50075, June 22, 1909</ref>

On December 23, 1909, it was reported by the ''[[Pharos-Tribune|Logansport Pharos]]'' newspaper that the charges of murder against Modesto Lenzi and John May had been dropped. The paper reported that Assistant State's Attorney Benedict J. Short told Judge Kersten's court that the state had no evidence against the defendants.<ref>''Logansport Pharos'' Newspaper (Indiana), Thursday, December 23, 1909</ref>

Marshall Crowley was buried at [[Mount Olivet Cemetery (Chicago)|Mount Olivet Cemetery]]<ref>Grave 2, Lot 173, section 45; 2755 West 111th Street</ref> in Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mount+Olivet+Catholic+Cemetery/@41.6912276,-87.6908225,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x6c58b70fe1c8986b!8m2!3d41.6912276!4d-87.6908225|title = Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery · 2755 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60655}}</ref>