Dodge Family History: Asa Swett Dodge (1834-1910)

ASA SWETT⁸ DODGE (James⁷, Benjamin⁶, John⁵, Thomas⁴, Josiah³, ‘Lt.’ John², Richard¹) Yeoman and Sawmill Laborer, born 9 Apr 1834 in Rangeley (then known as Township 3 Range 2), Oxford (later Franklin) County, Maine. He married Olive Brown Berry on 1 Jan 1860. She was born 29 Oct 1836 in Pittsfield, Maine to Richard & Elmira (Torsey) Berry. Olive died on 17 Feb 1902 in Winslow, Kennebec County, Maine. Asa died 2 Apr 1910 in Chelsea, Kennebec County, Maine.

Asa was living in 4^th Plantation (later Perkins Plantation) with his parents and siblings in the 1850 Census. Asa was listed as a farmer along with his father, James Dodge, and his brothers Wilson & James Harvey Dodge. According to the census, Asa had attended school within the past year. On Apr. 10, 1857 (recorded Jan. 13, 1858), Asa bought from his brother James Harvey Dodge ‘the southerly half of lot…numbered five in the fifth range of lots in…Perkins Plantation,’ which contained 80 acres for $100 (Franklin County Records vol. 38 pg. 325). He later sold it back on Dec 3, 1859 for $300 (recorded Jul. 11, 1860 – Franklin County Records vol. 46 pg. 287) On Jun. 7, 1858 (recorded Apr. 28, 1862), Asa bought from Lafayette Perkins ‘lot…numbered three in the second range of lots containing 160 acres,’ for $100 (Franklin County Records vol. 42 pg. 219). Asa sold the south half of this lot of land on February 7, 1862 to Almond Newell for $50 (recorded October 4, 1866 – Franklin County Records vol. 59 pg. 267) and sold the north half of this lot of land to his mother, Rachel Dodge, for $100 on March 10, 1862 (recorded Apr. 28, 1862 – Franklin County Records vol. 41 pg. 349).

In the 1860 Census, Asa and his wife Olive were living in Perkins Plantation. Asa was listed as a farmer and Olive was listed as a mistress (taking care of their home). His real estate was valued at $1,000 and his personal estate was valued at $500. He had 120 acres of land, 50 acres of which was cultivated. He produced 30 bushels of wheat, 20 bushels of oats, 4 bushels of peas & beans, 120 bushels of Irish potatoes, 12 bushels of barley and 20 tons of hay. He had two mils cows, two working oxen, one sheep, and one swine. He also produced six pounds of wool and 250 pounds of butter.

On May 18, 1860 (recorded May 18, 1860) Asa bought ‘the lot of land numbered four in the fourth range of lots in Perkins Plantation…containing 160 acres,’ from his sister-in-law, Mary Ann Dodge, for $800. (Franklin County Records vol. 46 pg. 437). On July 10, 1860 (recorded July 11, 1860), Asa mortgaged ‘the lot of land numbered four in the fourth range of lots in Perkins Plantation’ for $500 to his brother James Harvey Dodge. The mortgage was paid in full on January 7, 1862 (Franklin County Records vol. 43 pg. 411). On the day the mortgage was paid in full, Asa sold this land to Sylvanus Wilkins for $750 (recorded January 18, 1862 – Franklin County Records vol. 48 pg. 545).

On February 6, 1862 (recorded October 15, 1862), Asa bought two parcels of land in East Livermore in Androscoggin County for $900 from Mayhew & Eliza Chase. The two parcels of land contained 35 acres. (Androscoggin County Records vol. 33, pg. 201). Asa agreed to a $700 mortgage for the purchase of this land to be paid within seven years (Androscoggin County Records Book 30, Page 157). However, on March 30, 1863 (recorded April 18, 1863), Mayhew & Eliza Chase foreclosed on Asa Dodge. (Androscoggin County Records vol. 4 pg. 371). On September 14, 1864 (recorded April 11, 1865), Asa ended up paying $125 to Mayhew Chase for ‘all my right, title and interest in’ the land he had lived on in East Livermore (Androscoggin County Records vol. 36 pg. 504). By this time, Asa was living in the town of Wayne in Kennebec County and had enlisted in the Union Army.

On Dec. 28, 1863, Asa, who was living in Winthrop, enlisted in Company G, 30^th Infantry Regiment Maine (also called 30 Maine Volunteers). Asa was described as 5’10”, light complexion, blue eyes and dark hair at the time of his enlistment. He was a laborer when he enlisted. William O. Parlin, his brother-in-law, also enlisted in the same regiment and served together. On February 7, 1864, the 30^th left from Portland, Maine on the steamer Merrimac and arrived at New Orleans on February 16, 1864. They took part in the Red River campaign as well as in the battles of Sabine Crossroads and Pleasant Hill in April of 1864.

After being involved in these campaigns, the regiment was sent north to Virginia, where they moved with the Army of Shenandoah in August and early September 1864. In November 1864, the regiment took position between Kernstown & Newton. In late December 1864, they took quarters for the winter at Stephenson’s Depot. A few days later, they were moved to Winchester, just a few miles away. The 30^th remained at Winchester until April 1865, when they went to Washington and participated in the grand review of the Army of the Potomac. In June, the regiment was sent down to Savannah, Georgia until they were mustered out on August 20, 1865. Four days later, they arrived in Portland, Maine, where the men were paid and discharged.

Asa was absent and sick in Washington, D.C. during July & August of 1864. According to the 1890 Veterans Census, Asa held the rank of Private. Asa also sustained a chronic inflammatory injury in the left part of his chest and spine. On his pension application, Asa described his illnesses: he suffered from varicose veins in one leg, kidney, bladder and urinary problems, rheumatism and heart problems.

On May 15, 1866 (recorded August 7, 1869) Asa bought a 34-acre ‘parcel of land situated in Leeds’ from Mary A. Richmond, Administratrix of the Estate of A. Richmond, for $76.23 (Androscoggin County Records vol. 56, pg. 347). On November 14, 1867 (recorded November 22, 1867), Asa mortgaged this land to Isaac Boothy for $200, agreeing to pay off the mortgage in three years. The mortgage was paid off on August 6, 1869. (Androscoggin County Records vol. 45 pg. 572). On August 6, 1869 (recorded August 7, 1869), Asa sold this land to Lucy Jennings for $200, ‘reserving the present growing crops on said premises and the privilege of occupying the buildings till next April.’ (Androscoggin County Records vol. 59 pg. 40).

By 1870, according to the Census, Asa and his family were again living in the town of Wayne in Kennebec County. Asa was a farm laborer working on the farm of Richard Berry, his father-in-law. His personal estate was valued at $165. By 1876, Asa was living in the town of Gardiner. According to the local directory, Asa was living with or next to his brothers Curtis & Nathaniel Dodge on River Road. They also worked at the local sawmill together. On June 3, 1876 (recorded March 26, 1877), Asa purchased ‘a certain piece of land situate in Gardiner’ from Martin C. Phillips for $125. Asa agreed to pay the $125 in three years from the time of the purchase.’ (Kennebec County Records vol. 312 pg. 421).

According to the 1880 Census, Asa, with his family, were listed in the town of Gardiner. Asa was working at the sawmill in Gardiner, Olive was keeping house and their daughters were attending school. A few years later, Asa and Olive would move to the town of Winslow where Asa was a teamster according to the local directories during the 1890’s. October 15, 1885 (recorded October 16, 1885), Olive Dodge, Asa’s wife, and their daughter, Nellie I. Delano, bought a lot of land in the town of Winslow in Kennebec County for $800. (Kennebec County Records vol. 358 pg. 88). They agreed to pay a $700 mortgage for the land.

On October 30, 1889 (recorded July 19, 1890) Nellie Delano sold her interest in the land to Olive Dodge for $150 (Kennebec County Records vol. 380 pg. 181). The mortgage was paid in full on June 14, 1893. (Kennebec County Records vol. 357 pg. 170). Asa & Olive mortgaged this land to Charles E. Warren for $250 on June 23, 1894 (recorded June 25, 1894 – Kennebec County Records vol. 404, pg. 57). On July 14, 1894 (recorded July 18, 1894), Elmer L. Jones mortgaged his land and home in Winslow to his father-in-law, Asa S. Dodge, for $300. This mortgage was paid in full to Asa S. Dodge on June 21, 1898 (Kennebec County Records vol. 404 pg. 94).

In the 1900 Census, Asa was listed as a laborer and Olive was keeping house. According to the census, Asa was born in April 1834 and Olive was born October 1836. They had been married for 40 years and had two living children out of four born to them. Olive passed away on Feb. 17, 1902 at the age of 65. On February 21, 1902 (recorded April 10, 1902), their daughters, Evelyn E. Jones and Nellie I. Delano, sold to their father ‘the homestead of which out mother, Olive B. Dodge, died seized and in which we as her only heirs at law convey all our right, title and interest by this deed,’ for $1 and other valuable considerations (Kennebec County Records vol. 442 pg. 131). On Nov. 11, 1905, Asa Dodge remarried. He married Meda E. Goodrich Jones of Winslow. She was born in 1846 in Maine and had previously been married twice. She died Jan. 6, 1930. By this time, Asa was living at the US National Home for Disables Soldiers in Chelsea, Maine.

On January 2, 1906 (recorded March 6, 1906), Asa mortgaged the land he and his first wife, Olive, had owned since 1885 to his second wife, Meda Dodge, for $200. The mortgage was paid in full to Meda Dodge on April 29, 1907 (Kennebec County Records vol. 467 pg. 437). Asa sold this same parcel of land to Albert R. Clifford on April 27, 1907 for $1 and other valuable considerations (recorded April 29, 1907 - Kennebec County Records vol. 480, pg. 14). Albert Clifford agreed to a $600 mortgage payable to Asa S. Dodge as part of the purchase of this land. The mortgage was paid in full on June 13, 1910, to Meda E. Dodge (Recorded April 22, 1910 – Kennebec County Records vol. 498, pg. 331)

On May 4, 1907 (recorded May 20, 1907) Asa purchased a three-acre parcel of land in Chelsea from Arthur N. Douglas for $1 and other valuable considerations. (Kennebec County Records vol. 480 pg. 118). Asa passed away on Apr. 2, 1910 at the US National Home for Disables Soldiers in Chelsea, Maine. At the time of his death, Asa was receiving a pension of $20 per month for his service in the Civil War. His wife Meda was appointed administrator of his estate. Asa’s real estate was valued at $800; goods and chattels valued at $243.30 & rights and credits valued at $636. Asa is buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Winslow, Maine alongside both wives.

Children:

i. Hattie Dodge; b. 1862; d. 1863, Perkins Plantation, Maine.

ii. Evelyn Etta Dodge; b. 26 Mar 1864, Wayne, Maine; d. 11 Jul 1946, Flushing, Michigan. She m. Elmer L. Jones 3 Nov 1885. They had eight children.

iii. Nellie Irene Dodge; b. 18 Apr 1869, Leeds, Maine; d. 2 July 1904, Woburn, Massachusetts. She m. William E. Delano 17 Nov 1883. They had two children.

iv. Asa Swett and Olive Dodge had 4 children – 2 living according to the 1900 Census.