Salida, Colorado newspaper articles for N.T. Dodge and family: 1887-1926

Below are the newspaper articles that I have found for Nathaniel T. Dodge & his family as found in The Salida Mail and The Salida Record

Salida Mail

January 14, 1887: Commissioners met on Monday, January 3, and adjourned to Wednesday. WEDNESDAY: Bonds of the following constables for $2,000 each approved: H.D. Dickinson, Frank Sullivan, N.T. Dodge, G.D. Merriam, John Lines and Robert Leadbetter.

September 10, 1889: District Court Items. Buena Vista, September 9: The following are the Grand Jurors: J.H. Tervis, J. Drach, H.D. Dickenson, J.M. Pyle, T.H. Price, W.H. Boll, B.F. Johnson, G.S. Wood, J.H. Wyman, Howard Kemble, J.T. Dodge, A.W. Root.

August 9, 1892: Towns around Salida – Buena Vista. From The Herald: G.M. Bowen went to Leadville Sunday and took possession of the registers office, where he will remain until after Weaver is elected president. He will then vacate the office in favor of Judge Dodge.

March 12, 1895: Is Hoyt A Fiend? Startling Charges of Brutality Against the Deputy Warden. Prisoners Hung Up by the Wrists and Beaten Black and Blue…In addition to these complaints of criminal carelessness and inhuman and brutal treatment, the deputy warden is charged with crimes against humanity too revolting in their nature to be dwelt on. M.R. Garaghty, A.J. Bell, W.C. Gregg and N.T. Dodge, former guards at the Buena Vista institution, furnished the most damaging testimony against Hoyt, while C.W. Coe, ex-bookkeeper at the reformatory, made the charges and provided the necessary evidence to back them up, against the commissioners.

November 19, 1895: Commissioners of Chaffee County Meet, Transact Routine Business and Allow Bills…The following bolls were allowed and warrants drawn for the amounts…N.T. Dodge, special constable, $5.00.

August 18, 1896: St. Elmo Items. Special Correspondence of The Mail. St. Elmo, Aug. 11. Sherman Dodge has been running on the mail route of late in Mr. Fisher’s place.

December 20, 1898: The January Court Docket…The List of Petit Jurors: The following named persons have been drawn to serve as petit jurors for the January term of court: Henry Schull, Samuel Pitman, P.H. Symons, W.G. Sisson, Ben Disman, Chris Kirsch, Joseph Brown, N.T. Dodge, B.F. Morley, Orley Mason, H.S. Williams, Samuel Sandusky, J.P. Harper, H.J. Foulk, E.T. Conquest, Joseph Malkmus, Lon Schultz, David Albright, W.W. Cantonwine, Ed. O’Brien, D.B. Phillips, Samuel Moch, Wm. Pruit, T.E. Gruver.

March 14, 1902: A.H. Dodge, one of the well-known young men of Buena Vista, has mysteriously disappeared and his parents have enlisted the aid of searching parties in an effort to locate a clue to his whereabouts. A special yesterday from the county capital says that Dodge has been in the employ of Alexander Barent at St. Elmo for some time as stage driver between Buena Vista and Tin Cup. He came in from Tin Cup Sunday evening and was to have taken the stage out for Tin Cup Monday afternoon as usual. He was seen about 9 o’clock Monday morning and since then his whereabouts cannot be ascertained. He had a .38-caliber revolver on his person and the suicidal theory has been advanced by some. Mr. Barent and the young man’s folks are making a thorough investigation today.

December 1, 1903: Commissioners Meeting. The following claims are allowed: Road Fund – N.T. Dodge - $6.00

December 18, 1903: Nat Dodge Plays Critique. Buena Vista, December 18. Editor Mail: Having read in a late issue of your much esteemed paper an editorial entitled “socialism”, I feel moved to reply to some statements which you make in regard to socialism. You say republicans and democrats are socialists. Holy Moses! If I were not well acquainted with you I should certainly think you had a severe attack of the jim-jams, produced by Wolcott and Patterson whiskey. Forst you ask, “What is a socialist?” and then give the true answer, “A person who advocates a better social and political government.” In all honesty and candor I ask when, in the last thirty-five years, has either one of the parties named even tried to give the American people a better form of government, either social or political? Is it by persecuting labor till it has filled our country with hundreds of thousands of tramps and caused untold suffering with cold and hunger of our women and little children? Is it making a better condition by filling our big factories with little children, depriving them of an education, and making their little lives a hell on earth? What an idea of socialism! Do you for one minute suppose that a socialist government would send a Peabody or a Bell to terrorize the working people of Colorado? Do you think that a man can work better by having a gun held on him while he labors? You must have a queer idea of humanity if you look on things in that light. I suppose, according to your mind, that Harriet Beecher Stowe was a hundred years ahead of her time when she wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, and therefore she detracted instead of advanced the cause of humanity. But the world thinks different. With all due regard to your good intentions, Comrade Hollenbeck, I beg to inform you that you are away off in your ideas of socialism. I beg you to study up on the matter, and don’t let the democrats and republicans lead you to believe them angels of light when their past and present history proves them to be angels of another color. Take no offense, for none is intended. N.T. Dodge.

December 25, 1903: From ‘Fallacy of Socialism’: Mr. Dodge of Buena, in taking exceptions to you article entitled “Socialism,” says, “I feel moved to reply to some statements which you make in regard to socialism.” But did he reply to anything? I think not. He brings in an accusation of probable drunkenness, from the possible use of a certain brand of political whiskeys, which he names, but as to his being a competent judge of this brand of whiskey, is a question that I will not question, taking it for granted he knows whereof he speaks. Mr. Dodge asks a great many questions, and makes some assertions, but I fail to find where he has replied to anything, as he intimated in the outset he would, and I am disappointed, as I think there was plenty of room and also material, though in the whole, I liked your article. He asks the questions, “Do you think a man can work better by having a gun held on him while he labors?” Now, I didn’t know that condition existed, unless, indeed, it were a case where a man as committed some heinous offense, and had been tried and convicted of the same, and had become stubborn and unruly. Now, if such is not really the case, Mr. Dodge has by inference made a misstatement, one that has a tendency to deceive, and a statement that has a tendency to deceive, is called a – well I do not care to use harsh language…If Mr. Dodge will examine the statutes, of both Colorado and the United States, he will find that in the last 34 years, there have been many laws passed to better the conditions of laboring humanity, and if he will but compare conditions, he will find they are better, and that the people are better in general more social and more humane. I have no doubt that Mr. Dodge is at least as good as any of his ancestors. I think he underestimates himself, and I think the next generation will be at least as good as he is, or as good as any of us, and that it will be better in general than this generation. At least let us all hope so, and let it be every one’s duty to keep his own skirts clean. L.C. Johnson.

           

October 28, 1904: Socialist Platform and Ticket: County Ticket – For Commissioner 1^st District, N.T. Dodge of Buena Vista.

November 4, 1904: Socialist Platform and Ticket: County Ticket – For Commissioner 1^st District, N.T. Dodge of Buena Vista.

November 15, 1904: N.T. Dodge, Commissioner, 1^st District, 150.

November 18, 1904: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, Nathaniel…nw qr sw qr Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $100 - Amount of Tax: $5.57

November 25, 1904: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, Nathaniel…nw qr sw qr Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $100 - Amount of Tax: $5.57

December 9, 1904: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, Nathaniel…nw qr sw qr Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $100 - Amount of Tax: $5.57

December 16, 1904: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, Nathaniel…nw qr sw qr Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $100 - Amount of Tax: $5.57

December 8, 1905: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, Nathaniel…nw ¼ sw ¼ Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $80 - Amount of Tax: $3.29

December 14, 1906: County Commissioners in Special Session: Official bonds of C.A. Underwood, and A.J. Pelta, constables, and of N.T. Dodge, A.V.P. Day, D.E. Albright, justices of the peace, were approved and ordered placed on record.

November 15, 1907: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, N.T. …nw ¼ sw ¼ Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $80 - Amount of Tax: $5.02

November 22, 1907: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, N.T. …nw ¼ sw ¼ Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $80 - Amount of Tax: $5.02

December 6, 1907: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, N.T. …nw ¼ sw ¼ Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $80 - Amount of Tax: $5.02

October 13, 1908: Neighborly Echoes: N.T. Dodge visited Salida yesterday. Chaffee County Democrat.

October 20, 1908: Nathrop: Mr. Nat Dodge and Will Lunan of Buena Vista were in the vicinity the first of the week.

October 20, 1908: Neighborly Echoes: Miss Frances Dodge is here from Salida on a visit to her parents.

October 30, 1908: Election Ballot, 1908: Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 4. N.T. Dodge, Residence, Buena Vista. Socialist.

November 10, 1908: Official Election Returns, 1908: Precinct 4, Buena Vista, Justice of the Peace: John Borrell, 187; A.V.P. Day, 248; N.T. Dodge, 107; Jos. Garrahan, 254, Joe McLeod, 199.

February 26, 1909: Proceedings of the County Board: The following bills were allowed: N.T. Dodge…district court juror; $3.95.

March 30, 1909: Our Near Neighbors – Nathrop: Mr. Pat Dodge is spending a few days with the Anderson family.

June 22, 1909: Our Near Neighbors – Nathrop: Mr. Dwight Dodge of Riverside had business here Tuesday.

July 30, 1909: Mrs. James Newitt, wife of Judge Newitt’s son, was operated on at the Red Cross hospital Saturday, and is now doing very nicely.

August 3, 1909: Mrs. James Newitt who was taken to Salida to undergo an operation for appendicitis is reported as recovering nicely.

November 19, 1909: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, N.T. …nw ¼ sw ¼ Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $80 - Amount of Tax: $5.09

November 26, 1909: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, N.T. …nw ¼ sw ¼ Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $80 - Amount of Tax: $5.09

December 3, 1909: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, N.T. …nw ¼ sw ¼ Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $80 - Amount of Tax: $5.09

December 10, 1909: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, N.T. …nw ¼ sw ¼ Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $80 - Amount of Tax: $5.09

December 17, 1909: Delinquent Tax List – Dodge, N.T. …nw ¼ sw ¼ Section 6, Township 14, Range 78 - Land Valuation: $80 - Amount of Tax: $5.09

November 4, 1910: Election Ballot, 1910: Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 4. N.T. Dodge, address, residence and place of business Buena Vista. Socialist.

November 15, 1910: Election Returns Chaffee County: November 8, 1910. Justice of the Peace Precinct 4: A.V.P. Day, 372; J.L. Dimon, 268; N.T. Dodge, 120; Henry Stewart, 208.

April 11, 1911: John Dodge, who spent his boyhood days in Buena Vista, and who recently returned to remain in this vicinity for a few months, is recognized, wherever he has exhibited, as one of the best riders and bronco busters in the United States. He was Colonel Cody’s favorite horseman and traveled for years with the Wild West shows and other notable aggregations of like character. He has participated in many “bronco busting” contests and on such occasions, by his remarkable display of skill, nerve and endurance never failed to at once become the favorite of the spectators. – Buena Vista Democrat

January 6, 1914: Mrs. James Newitt, of Buena Vista, underwent an operation at the Red Cross last week.

January 13, 1914: Mrs. James Newitt of Buena Vista is convalescing at the Red Cross.

May 29, 1914: from Mrs. Saunders Found Guilty in County Court. – The jury was composed of Robert Williams, William Lunan, John Geisel, Ed. Pelta, N.E. Fletcher, J.J. Donnley, Henry Fehling, Al Cantonwine, S.A. Dobbins, Nat Dodge, Robert Caseboom and D. Paquette.

October 2, 1914: Anti-Democratic Mass Meeting Puts Up Ticket: Justice of the Peace – I.C. Terry, Mat Dodge, Hugh Boon and F.W. Brush.

October 30, 1914: Election Ballot, 1914: Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 4. N.T. Dodge. P.O. Box Address: Buena Vista, Colo. Residence: Buena Vista, Colo. Place of Business: Buena Vista, Colo. Citizens.

September 10, 1920: Notice of Primary Election. Justice of the Peace, Fourth Justice Precinct: N.T. Dodge, Buena Vista, Justice of the Peace, Fourth Precinct, County of Chaffee. Democratic.

December 16, 1924: In the November election, there having been a tie in the number of votes received by J.C. Terry and N.T. Dodge, also the fact that Justice James Garrahan, having received a majority of votes over the other two candidates, and having been indorsed by both the Democratic and Republican parties, left a doubt with the canvasing board as to which two were elected. The question was submitted to the attorney general and the opinion given was that Mr. Garrahan was legally elected, which still leaves the question to be settled as to Terry and Dodge, which will be settled in one of the following ways: cut cards, draw straws, or run a foot race.

February 10, 1925: The contest between N.T. Dodge and I.C. Terry for Justice of the Peace was finally settled by commissioners recognizing Mr. Dodge’s legal right to the office.

           

May 12, 1925: Ed Dodge is over from Avon and as his locomotion was somewhat impaired by the kick of a horse, he is aided in his movements by a cane.

September 1, 1925: J.E. Dodge leaves the early part of September for Providence, Rhode Island, on important business, which the writer is not privileged to divulge, but the fair lady at the further end of the line will make answer to any further inquiries.

December 1, 1925: Fred Meteer made a trip to Salida on Wednesday for the transaction of legal business for Judge N.T. Dodge’s court.

January 8, 1926: Mrs. James Newitt of Grand Junction arrived Saturday for the purpose of looking after her father, N.T. Dodge.

January 12, 1926: Judge N.T. Dodge handed his resignation as justice of the peace to the county commissioners, to take effect at once, on account of illness. Mr. Dodge was conveyed to the county hospital. I.C. Terry was appointed by the commissioners to fill the vacancy.

April 6, 1926: Word has just reached us that the 14 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Newitt, Frances, of Grand Junction, succumbed to a surgical operation on Saturday, the 27^th of March. Mr. Newitt is the nephew of our County Judge, and Frances was born in Buena Vista.

May 4, 1926: The funeral of N.T. Dodge was held Thursday from the Webb chapel. Mr. Dodge was one of our pioneer citizens, having come from Augusta, Maine, in 1875. Those of his children who attended were Mrs. Ray Newitt of Grand Junction, Mrs. Anna Graham of Colorado Springs, and a son, Ed. Dodge, of Avon, Colorado.

The Salida Record

January 13, 1899: Warrants Allowed. At the commissioners meeting held last week at Buena Vista the following bills were allowed: N.T. Dodge, juror, $2.50.

February 4, 1899: Commissioners Proceedings. Board met Monday, February 6…The following claims were allowed and warrants ordered drawn…N.T. Dodge, juror district court, $7.95.

December 21, 1900: Favors Park Horse for U.S. Senate. Buena Vista, Dec. 16, 1900. Editor Record: I see in you last issue that Mr. Thomas does not like the idea of the people expressing their wishes in choosing a senator. Well, I don’t suppose he does; it is not according to democratic principles – or republican, either – to have the people say who they want to rule over then, but the time is coming, and is now at hand, when the people are going to be heard. There is one thing evident. The people of Colorado don’t want Mr. Thomas and if the people could have their say neither of the men that the democratic gang have picked out would misrepresent our state in the United States senate. Is it not about time that we rise up and stand like American free men and not be bossed around by a gang of politicians that pay no heed to the wishes or wants of the people? If our legislative representatives would choose a man outside of the gang, then would the people of this state speak and say, “Well done, good and faithful servants.” I would ask the producers of this county how much of their interests will be represented in congress by such men as Thomas, Patterson or Adams? How long will it be before you will wake up and vote for your own homes and interests? Have you not worked long enough filling the pockets of these millionaires? Don’t you want something for yourselves and families? Tell me what you have gained by voting for Bryan or McKinley? Do you expect them to lift the debt of nearly half a million that this country is in? If you do, you will be disappointed. Think of these things and then use then intelligence given you to throw off this burden. N.T. Dodge.

March 21, 1902: The Buena Vista Democrat says that Alfred Dodge, son of N.T. Dodge of that town, has mysteriously disappeared and that no cause can be assigned. The missing young man was employed as driver on the stage line between St. Elmo and Tin Cup.

October 31, 1902: Election Ballot, 1902: For Constable in Justice Precinct No. Four. N.T. Dodge, Buena Vista, Colo. Socialist.

October 28, 1904: Socialist Platform and Ticket. County Ticket. For Commissioner 1^st District, N.T. Dodge of Buena Vista.

November 4, 1904: County Ticket. For Commissioner 1^st District, N.T. Dodge of Buena Vista.

October 30, 1908: Election Ballot, 1908: For Justice of the Peace in Justice Precinct No. Four. N.T. Dodge, Buena Vista, Colo. Socialist.

November 4, 1910: Election Ballot, 1910: For Justice of the Peace in Justice Precinct No. Four. N.T. Dodge, address, residence, and place of business, Buena Vista, Colo. Socialist.

January 2, 1914: Mrs. James Newitt, of Buena Vista, was operated on at the Red Cross Hospital Monday. Her sister, Miss Frances Dodge, of Buena Vista, is attending her.

June 12, 1914: Mrs. James Newitt visited Salida the early part of the week.

October 2, 1914: Citizens Name Winning Ticket. Justices of the Peace, Justice Precinct No. 4, I.C. Terry; M.T. Dodge.

October 30, 1914: Election Ballot, 1914: For Justice of the Peace in Justice Precinct No. Four. N.T. Dodge, P.O. Address, Residence, Place of Business: Buena Vista, Colo. Citizens.

The disappearance of Alfred Hampton Dodge

Doing genealogy research, you never know what information on your family you will find or where you will find it. This is one of those pieces of information I found in a place I would not have thought to look. 

For eleven years, I have been looking for Alfred Hampton Dodge. He was born November 25, 1877 in Gardiner, Maine, the second child of Nathaniel T. Dodge & Fannie Harris Stevens. In 1880, he went to Buena Vista, Colorado with his family and grew up there. He is listed in the 1880 U.S. Census, the 1885 Colorado Census and the 1900 U.S. Census. In the 1900 U.S. Census, his occupation is listed as mining ore. After 1900, the trail went cold. The only thing I found is that he was living in California in 1919, according to his mother's obituary. Following that lead didn't turn up any records and left me back where I started.

A few years ago, I found out that his brother Sherman was sentenced to prison in 1909. When I received a copy of Sherman's prison record, there was a health form that asked about the general state of health of his siblings. The form only listed the ages of Sherman's siblings. For the age that corresponds to Alfred, Sherman answers 'Do not know.'

I then decided to go back and look at the 1910 Census. The 1910 Census lists the number of living children that were born to Fannie. When I first found the 1910 Census, I wasn't sure if it said that she had eight or nine living children. If it had said she had eight living children, I thought this was in error. After looking more closely at the 1910 Census, I found that this was no error. Fannie was listed as having only eight living children. 

When I had found Sherman, I realized that I had now found Fannie's eight living children listed in the 1910 Census. Now the question was: 'What happened to Alfred?' 'Where did he go?' 'Why aren't there nine living children?'

I now have found some light to shed on these questions. These answers have come from a place I would not have thought to look: newspapers from Salida, Colorado. I recently took a trip to Salida and decided to look through some of the newspapers there. While there, I was told that the Salida newspapers through 1916 were now online. I took the opportunity to look through the Salida newspapers that have been published online and found these two articles from March of 1902.

Article from The Salida Mail, March 14, 1902

Article from The Salida Record, March 21, 1902

The article from The Salida Mail lays out the timeline leading up to his disappearance. He was last seen on the morning of Monday, March 10, 1902, having arrived from the town of Tin Cup the evening before. A search for Alfred was conducted without any results. The Salida Record references an article that was published in The Buena Vista Democrat; however, this particular publication of The Buena Vista Democrat does not exist.

Although these newspaper articles finally shed some light on what happened to Alfred and explain why there is no record of him after 1900, they still leave a number of unanswered questions, such as: 'Where did he disappear to?' 'Why did he leave?' 'What happened to him?' 'Did he leave and suffer an unfortunate accident - or deliberately take his own life?'

***DECEMBER 2022 UPDATE*** I just found another newspaper article for Alfred's disappearance. This newspaper article was published in The Rocky Mountain News, one of the Denver newspapers, on March 13, 1902. This newspaper was just published on the Colorado Historical Newspapers website. The newspaper article, although brief, states that his father, N.T. Dodge, went to St. Elmo to help search for his missing son. Again, it is unknown if he was ever found. 

The Rocky Mountain News; March 13, 1902

Relinquished Homestead Records for NT Dodge, James R. Dodge & Dwight H. Dodge

This is a post that I have been meaning to publish for the last couple of years; I just haven't taken the time to put it together until now. Back in 2008, I found a power of attorney in the Chaffee County Recorder's office dated August 2, 1918. My great-grandfather, James Robert Dodge, had been drafted into the U.S. Army and was soon to report for duty. To make sure that his affairs at home would be properly taken care of, he appointed his brother, Dwight H. Dodge, with power of attorney to manage his affairs. One sentence that caught my attention reads: '[G]ranting to my said attorney the right to lease or sell my interest in my homestead rights as recorded in the Leadville Land Office.' 

For several years, I wondered where these records existed (if they still existed) and where I might be able to access them. In 2014, I found unindexed BLM Tract Books on familysearch.org. After some additional research, I found which tract book to look through. I found the correct tract book and clicked through each page. I eventually found the information I was looking for: James Robert Dodge - 120 acres - Date of purchase: May 20, 1918 - Date of Relinquishment: April 6, 1920.

I also found two other entries: Dwight Hector Dodge - 160 acres - Date of purchase: May 29, 1917 - Date of Relinquishment: January 6, 1920. 

Nathaniel T. Dodge - 120 acres - Date of purchase: December 9, 1916 - Date of Relinquishment: May 20, 1918. It appears that Nathaniel tried to add to his homestead that he had received back in 1903.

Leadville, Colorado Land Office Plat Record - Book 54, Page 224

Map of homesteads and land owned in Buena Vista, Colorado

Now that I had found the tract book entry, my next question was: where are the records held? I quickly found that the relinquished homestead records are held by the U.S. National Archives office in Denver. After sending an inquiry, I had copies of the records I had been looking for. Below are the records I had wondered about. I will try to go through them as best as I can. 

Additional Homestead Application for Nathaniel T. Dodge- December 1916

Nathaniel filed for the additional homestead in December of 1916 and attempted to make entry upon the land. Upon entering on the land, he found that the previous homesteader had failed to remove the improvements that had been placed upon the land. Nathaniel requested the previous homesteader that remove the improvements. His request was refused. Nathaniel was also refused entry upon the land by the previous homesteader. Nathaniel first contacted the General Land Office in Washington, D.C. He was referred to the Leadville Land Office as they held jurisdiction in the matter of his inquiry. He inquired to see what recourse was available to him. He was advised by the Leadville Land Office to file suit against the previous homesteader in the local courts, which he did. Nathaniel also requested an extension of time to enter upon the land. This request was granted, and he was given until September 1, 1917 to make entry upon the land.

Letters to U.S. Land Office - January & May, 1917

 Responses from General Land Office and Leadville Land Office - January & May 1917

It is unknown if Nathaniel prevailed in the suit he brought against the previous homesteader or if he was able to obtain entry upon his additional homestead. Eventually, Nathaniel relinquished the homestead in May of 1918.

Relinquishment of Homestead Claim - May 1918

James Robert Dodge then applied for a homestead on the same parcel of land the same day in May, 1918. However, with the First World War raging, and having been classified as 1A following his registering for the draft the previous year, it is unknown if Jim was able to enter on to the land or if he was able to make any of the required improvements upon the land as he was inducted into the U.S. Army in early August of 1918. Jim served with the American Army of Occupation in Germany and returned home in August of 1919. His brother Dwight, whom Jim had appointed with power of attorney in his absence, appears to have relinquished the homestead in April of 1919, but the relinquishment was not recorded with the Leadville Land Office until April of 1920, after Jim had returned from the Army.

 Homestead Entry for James Robert Dodge - May 1918

Relinquishment of Homestead Claim - April 1920

Power of Attorney from James R. Dodge to Dwight H. Dodge - August 1918

Dwight Hector Dodge also applied for a homestead in Buena Vista. However, he applied for his own parcel instead of following Nathaniel & Jim on to their parcel of land. Dwight purchased a 160-acre homestead in May of 1917. Dwight registered for the World War I Draft in June of 1917 and claimed his parents as dependent on his support. As a result, Dwight was not classified as 1A and was not drafted into the Army. Even though Dwight had ample opportunity to pursue his homestead, he made the decision to relinquish his homestead in January of 1920. Shortly after this time, Dwight left Colorado.

Homestead Entry for Dwight Hector Dodge - May 1917

Relinquishment of Homestead Claim - January 1920

The family of Sherman Elwood Dodge

Here is a post I never expected to write...the family of Sherman Elwood Dodge. For years, I knew that Sherman had been married and divorced and that he had lost a child during his brief marriage. For years, this is all I had found and knew about Sherman's family...until now.

Let me start with their child. Sherman's wife, Mary May Brown, divorced him in the fall of 1903. Her divorce complaint stated that in May of 1902, she was pregnant with their child. Early on in my research, I had come across the following burial record from the Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

Dodge, S.E. - 22 June 1902 (interment date) - Stillborn - Child of

I made the presumption that this could possibly be Sherman's child because of the initials, and the presumption was confirmed with the divorce complaint and the newspaper articles I had found that chronicled the divorce trial. Yet, I still didn't have a birth record or an exact date of birth. Last week, I found a birth record for Sherman's child. Their child was stillborn on 30 May 1902. Below are the birth and records I received from the Colorado State Archives, in addition to the interment record.

Now, on to Sherman's wife; Mary May Brown. When I started, I knew that she and Sherman had married and divorced. I didn't know anything about her background, where she was born, where she grew up, her parents or what happened to her after the divorce. This last week has changed a lot of that.

I first found out that after the divorce, Mary stayed in Denver. She remarried; on March 17, 1907 she married a man named Judson C. Bayless. Below is the marriage record. On it, she lists her divorce date as October 1, 1903 as well as the reason for the divorce: desertion.

This last week, I came across the book The Wine Family in America, First Section © 1952. This book lists Mary May Brown as a daughter of Joseph White Brown and Elizabeth Wine. This book lists her date of birth as December 5, 1868 and her date of death as June 10, 1918. It also lists her marriage to Judson Bayless. However, this book doesn't list any places to accompany the dates, nor does it list the date and place of her marriage to Judson Bayless (not to mention it omits her marriage to Sherman Elwood Dodge). 

I searched for Mary and her family just last night, and I have found much of the information I was hoping to find. The book does list the marriage date for her parents (July 9, 1861). After searching on familysearch.org, I found that her parents had married at Lancaster, Keokuk, Iowa. I then decided to search the Census records in Iowa for Joseph White Brown. I found him in the 1850 & 1860 US Census and the 1856 Iowa Census. Joseph White Brown had previously been married to a Martha H. (last name unknown) and that they had several children together. I had also found Joseph W. Brown (spelled Browne) in the 1880 Census in Texas with Mary and her two sisters, Margaret Brown (b. 1865) & Louisa Brown (b. 1872). According to the 1880 Census, Mary was born in Missouri. 

The information for Joseph Brown in the 1880 Census matched what I had found in the other Census Records, but I still hadn't found the 1870 Census. I have found over the years that if you can't find the person you are looking for in the Census, try looking for their children and very likely you will find who you are looking for. This is what I did for the 1870 Census; I looked for some of his children in the 1870 Census, and I was able to find Joseph White Brown, his wife Elizabeth, and their children. However, most of their children are not listed with the correct last name. 

In the 1870 Census, in between Joseph and most of his children is a man by the name of Joseph W.B. Cook and two other individuals who are apparently part of this Cook family. After these three people are listed, the census record returns to enumerating Joseph Brown's children, but does not return to the correct last name. Upon a casual glance, these children appear to have the last name of Cook as well. However, when you compare the children with the children of Joseph White Brown in the 1860 Census, it is immediately clear that these children are those of Joseph White Brown, including Mary May Brown, who is a little girl of one year old. Below are the 1850, 1860, 1870 & 1880 US Census and the 1856 Iowa Census for Joseph White Brown and his family.

1850 US Census - Monroe, Johnson, Iowa

1856 Iowa Census - Jefferson, Johnson, Iowa

1860 Census - English Township, Keokuk, Iowa

1870 Census - Preston, Jasper, Missouri. Joseph White Brown's family begins at the bottom of the first page and continues onto the next page; his family is interrupted by a family with the last name of Cook; the 1860 Census verifies that these are indeed the children of Joseph White Brown. 

1880 Census - Tarrant County, Texas - Mary is listed with her father and two sisters

Sometime before 1900, Mary May Brown moved to Denver, Colorado. She is found in the 1900 Census working as a servant in Denver. In the 1900 Census, she is listed as May Brown and was born in Missouri in December of 1868.

1900 Census - Denver, Colorado

During their divorce, Sherman made the claim that Mary was a Spiritualist. There appears to be some truth to that claim. On November 5, 1899, Mary M. Brown took out an advertisement in The Daily News: Denver, Colorado that reads: 'Clairvoyant, gives advise on all affairs, can lead you into the light so you will understand; she gives with each reading the secret how to win others' esteem and control those around you; puts you on the road to health and happiness; why walk in darkness when assistance is so near you; reading by mail $1 and stamp; 1338 California St., Denver, Co. In August of 1906, Mary M. Dodge gave a series of spiritual lectures entitled: 'Passport to Heaven", "Spirit World", "Why Jesus was Crucified," and "Immaculate Conception of Jesus." 

The book that I mentioned earlier states that Mary died on June 10, 1918. However, this book doesn't list any places to accompany the dates. I haven't been able to verify the death date listed in the book (yet), nor have I found Mary in the 1910 Census. But what I have found so far has answered a number of questions regarding Mary May Brown.

Alfred Hampton Dodge (1877-??) - Some Thoughts

I was reviewing some of my research on Alfred Hampton Dodge over the past few days and I have been wondering why I haven't found any new information on him. I have been searching for 10 years on my family and Alfred is the only one I haven't found any solid information on, especially after 1900. Going in to this, I knew that he was born November 25, 1877 in Maine. Alfred and his family moved to Buena Vista, Colorado in early 1880. He was listed in the 1880 & 1900 US Census as well as the 1885 Colorado Census.

Ten years later, here's what I know (or don't know, depending on how you look at it).

Based on land records, local directories, and Sherman's prison record, Alfred was born in Gardiner, Maine, and not Pittston, Maine, as originally thought.

Alfred is listed in the 1900 US Census with his family in Buena Vista, Colorado. He is 22 years old and is working as a miner.

In August 1901, Alfred is referred to in Nathaniel’s final homestead application when Nathaniel is asked: “Of whom does your family consist?” Nathaniel responded: “Family consists of self, wife and ten children.”

In the book 'Genealogy of the Carney Family: Descendants of Mark Carney & Suzanne Gough 1751-1903' (published 1904), Nathaniel and Fannie are listed as having nine children. Even though their children are not listed, this is another indication that Alfred was still alive.

And now for what I don't know:

In the 1910 Census, Nathaniel and Fannie are asked how many living children they have. They respond with eight living children. Listed below are their eight children that are accounted for in the 1910 Census (the information below is how it appears in the 1910 Census).

French D. Dodge – 35 years old – McNeil Island, Washington
John Dodge – 26 years old – Buena Vista, Colorado
Carrie B. Morgan – 25 years old – Buena Vista, Colorado
Rachel Newitt – 33 years old – Buena Vista, Colorado
Francis Dodge – 21 years old – Longmont, Colorado
Dwight Dodge – 19 years old – Buena Vista, Colorado
James Dodge – 15 years old – Buena Vista, Colorado
Anna Dodge – 13 years old – Buena Vista, Colorado

In January 1910, shortly after Sherman (French) was incarcerated, he was asked to provide some general health information on his siblings. He stated that he did not know the state of health of one of his brothers, who was 32 years old. This was, or would have been, Alfred's age in 1910. Also, Sherman wrote home to his parents, sister Rachel & brother Dwight (also known as Pat), who were all in Buena Vista, while in prison. Since Sherman and Alfred were the two oldest children and grew up together, it is peculiar that Sherman and Alfred didn't stay in touch.

1910 is a key year: the Census was taken, recording vital family information on Alfred's parents and siblings. In addition, important information was provided by Sherman in his prison records. This information begs the question: had Alfred passed away by this time or had he simply lost contact with his family?

Based on the above information, it appears that Alfred may have passed away sometime before 1910, without his family being informed of his death...

...or not. There is one piece of evidence that suggests that Alfred may still have been alive after 1910. His mother, Fannie Harris Stevens, passed away on May 11, 1919 in Buena Vista. Her obituary was published on May 17, 1919. In her obituary, she is survived by nine of her children, including Alfred. According to her obituary, Alfred was living in California; however, a city is not identified.

Without any Census record to show where in California he may have been living, it is possible to think that his family may have lost touch with him and simply assumed he was in California.

I have not found any evidence of Alfred in the 1910 Census (or anyone that could resemble Alfred in the 1910 Census). I have not found Alfred in any subsequent Census (U.S. or Canada), military draft registration (WWI & WWII - he would have been older in both registrations but within the age range), immigration record, land record, social security application, directory, death or burial record.

Without a complete family record having been passed down, it seems that Alfred has become lost to history.