Dodge Family History: Emily (Dodge) Parlin (1832-1912)

EMILY⁸ (DODGE) PARLIN (James⁷, Benjamin⁶, John⁵, Thomas⁴, Josiah³, ‘Lt.’ John², Richard¹) born 9 Mar 1832 in Salem, Somerset (later Franklin) County, Maine. She married William O. Parlin on 13 Feb 1856. He was born 29 Jul 1830 in Sumner, Maine to Oliver & Sybil (Adams) Parlin. Before his marriage to Emily, William had married Zoa Melcher Jones on 1 Jan 1852. She was born in 1829 and died 12 Sep 1855. William O. Parlin died 29 Jul 1870 at Perkins Plantation, Franklin County, Maine. Emily died 22 May 1912 in Mt. Vernon, Kennebec County, Maine.

In the 1850 Census, Emily was living in 4^th Plantation (later Perkins Plantation) with her family. She was listed as having attended school within the past year. She is also listed as living in Wilton, Maine, presumably working as a Domestic. In 1857, William purchased in the town of Weld two parcels of land; ‘part of the lot numbered seven in the fifth range of lots,’ and a lot of land measuring ’63 rods by 22 rods,’ for $1,000 (recorded Jul. 3, 1857 – Franklin County Records vol. 36 pg 375). By 1860, William had sold his property in Weld and had moved to the town of Leeds, where he and Emily are listed in the census along with their children. Emily’s sister, Mary Ann Dodge, was also listed with them. She was one of their domestics. Their real estate was valued at $2,500 and their personal estate was valued at $850.

Also in 1860, William purchased a 200-acre parcel of land in Leeds ‘together with two certain islands in and near the mouth of Dead River,’ for $2,600 (recorded Aug. 31, 1860 – Androscoggin County Records vol. 26 pg. 359). In 1863, William moved his family from Leeds to the town of Livermore. William purchased two adjoining parcels of land totaling 85 acres in the town of Livermore from John Hutchings for $1,350 (recorded Apr. 30, 1866 – A.C. Records vol. 43 pg. 206). The land was located west of the Androscoggin River and a mile above the North Turner Bridge.

That year, his farm was valued at $2,500. He had 100 acres of land improved for agricultural use and 150 acres that was unimproved. His farm produced seven bushels of rye, 200 bushels of corn, 200 bushels of oats, 400 bushels of potatoes, 45 bushels of barley, 10 bushels of buckwheat and 40 tons of hay. He had two horses, six milking cows, two working oxen, 15 sheep and three swine valued at $550. They produced 30 pounds of wool, 200 pounds of butter and 250 pounds of cheese.

William fought and served in the Union Army during the Civil War. On Dec. 28, 1863, William, who was living in Livermore, enlisted in Company G, 30^th Infantry Regiment Maine (also called 30 Maine Volunteers). Asa S. Dodge, his brother-in-law, also enlisted in the same regiment and they served together. On February 7, 1864, the 30^th left from Portland, Maine on the steamer Merrimac and arrived at New Orleans on the February 16, 1864. They took part in the Red River campaign and 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 and moved with the Army of Shenandoah in August and early September of 1864. In November of 1864, the regiment took position between Kernstown & Newton. In late December of 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 of 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 Aug. 20, 1865. Four days later, they arrived in Portland, Maine, where the men were paid and discharged.

After he returned from the Civil War, William decided to return to Perkins Plantation. In Oct. 12, 1865 (recorded Aug. 11, 1866), William sold his 85-acre parcel of land in Livermore to his brother-in-law, Stephen C. Dodge, for $1,000 (A.C. Records vol. 43 pg. 484). He bought from his in-laws James & Stephen C. Dodge ‘the lot of land numbered five in the fourth range of lots…also the lot numbered six in the fourth range of lots in [Perkins] Plantation with the buildings standing thereon,’ for $1,500 (recorded Apr. 3, 1866 – F.C. Records vol. 53 pg. 557).

In the 1870 Census, William & Emily, with their children, are listed in Perkins Plantation. William was a farmer and Emily was a Mistress (taking care of the house). William’s farm was valued at $2,500 with 145 acres improved for agricultural use and 125 acres of woodland. His farm produced 45 bushels of wheat, 160 bushels of oats, five bushels of peas and beans, 125 bushels of potatoes and 60 tons of hay. He had two horses, three milk cows, two oxen, 13 sheep and two swine valued at $1,072. They produced 60 pounds of wool and 500 pounds of butter. His total production was valued at $1,682. Their real estate was valued at $2,500 and their personal estate was valued at $1,700. In July of 1870, William passed away at the age of 40. By the end of the Civil War, he was in bad health and never recovered from the rigors of his military service.

Gilbert M. Adams was appointed administrator of the estate of William O. Parlin in October of 1870. William’s estate was valued at $3,316.08; with $1,800 in real estate, $1,214.50 in goods and chattels and $301.58 in rights and credits. His personal estate was valued at $1,516.08, with $885.53 of this money being used to pay debts owed by William Parlin. After these payments were made, Emily, his widow, received $631.55. In January of 1871, David G. Jones was appointed as guardian of Joseph R. Parlin, minor and Emily was appointed guardian of the other minor children; namely James W. Parlin; Zoa E. Parlin; Frank E. Parlin, Rachel E. Parlin, & William O. Parlin. Under their guardianship, ‘the lots of land numbered five and six in the fourth range of lots in Perkins Plantation’ were sold in May of 1871 with each child receiving $200 from the sale. Revel B. Fuller was petitioned by Emily Bean to be appointed guardian for her minor children in 1873.

Emily eventually remarried. She married Rev. Lewis Bean 16 July 1873 in Wilton, Maine. Lewis Bean was a widower and was born 9 August 1808 in Jay, Maine. When Emily’s parents died in 1877, Emily acted as attorney for her sisters Mary Ann (Dodge) Bray & Sarah Jane (Dodge) Bray, who were living in Colorado. Emily received $56 from her parent’s personal estate and $100 from their real estate. In 1879, Emily sold her land in Perkins Plantation to her son James W. Parlin for $850 (recorded Nov. 13, 1880 – F.C. records vol. 89 pg. 527).

In the 1880 Census, Emily is listed with her husband, Lewis Bean, and her children in the town of Jay. Emily was keeping house and Lewis was a farmer. Lewis Bean died 5 February 1882 in Jay, Maine. Emily later married George Ireland on 6 September 1883 in Mt. Vernon in Kennebec County, Maine. He was born 23 September 1829 in Chesterville, Maine. He fought in the Civil war, enlisting in Company K, 7^th Maine Infantry Regiment in August 1863 and was transferred to Company K, 1st Maine Veteran Infantry Regiment when he re-enlisted in August 1864. He was mustered out on July 5, 1865. They are listed in the 1900 Census in Mt. Vernon, Maine. Emily is listed has having three living children out of seven born to her. They are again found in the 1910 Census in Mt. Vernon. Again, Emily is listed as having three living children out of seven born to her. They are both listed as being in their second marriage. George R. Ireland passed away September 7, 1912 at Mt. Vernon.

Emily died in Mt. Vernon on May 22, 1912 at the age of 80. Her son, Frank E. Parlin, was appointed Administrator over her estate. Her goods & chattels were valued at $615.45, her rights and credits valued at $289 and her personal estate valued at $1,000. Her final will and testament, dated March 23, 1895, left her grandson Harold Perry, son of her deceased daughter Rachel Etta Parlin, ‘$200 to be held in trust and paid to him when he becomes 21 years old.’ She left her step-son Joseph R. Parlin $100 and her sons James W., Frank E., & William O. Parlin ‘all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real and personal wherever found and however situated, the same to be divided equally among them.’ She is buried at Center Hill Cemetery in Weld alongside her first husband, William O. Parlin. Children:

i. Joseph Robinson Parlin (from first marriage of William O. Parlin & Zoa Melcher); b. 14 Feb 1853, Weld, Maine; d. 22 May 1941, Hampstead, New Hampshire. He m. Hariette Shattuck 7 Apr 1881. They had one child.

ii. Everett Oliver Parlin (from first marriage of William O. Parlin & Zoa Melcher); b. Jun 1855; d. 5 Sep 1855, Weld, Maine.

iii. James Walter Parlin; b. 9 Dec 1856, Weld, Maine; d. 5 Dec 1928 in South Dakota. He m. Ada E. Wilkins 18 Oct 1879. They had 10 children.

iv. Zoa Emma Parlin; b. 10 May 1858, Weld, Maine; d. 8 Apr 1876, Jay, Maine.

v. Frank Edson Parlin; b. 3 Jun 1860, Leeds, Maine; d. 28 Mar 1939 Hampstead, New Hampshire. He m. (1) Etta May Baker 11 Aug 1884; (2) Hattie Emory Start 21 Nov 1889; (3) Marguerite Lilian McKeever 3 Dec 1910. He had five children.

vi. Jennie Emily Parlin; b. 18 Feb 1862, Leeds, Maine; d. Jan 1865, Livermore, Androscoggin, Maine.

vii. Rachel Etta Parlin; b. 24 Dec 1863, Livermore, Maine; d. 5 Apr 1891, Waltham, Mass. She m. Francis Ashbury Perry, Jr., 30 Nov 1882. They had two children.

viii. William Oliver Parlin; b. 14 Aug 1866, Perkins Plantation, Franklin, Maine. He m. Mildred Mae Blanchard 24 Oct 1889. They had three children.

ix. Charles Sherman Parlin; b. 1 Oct 1868; d. 16 Apr 1869 Perkins Plantation, Maine.