Newspaper Articles for N.T. Dodge & Family: 1880's

Buena Vista Democrat: April 3, 1884: Judge Dodge of Free Gold is receiving congratulations on the arrival of a daughter. [His daughter, Clara Bell Dodge, was born on March 28, 1884.]

Buena Vista Democrat: April 17, 1884: Mind Culture at Free Gold. Quite a number of Buena Vista people visited Free Gold last Friday to witness the closing exercises of Prof. O.O. Morrison’s school; among whom were Reverends Kagey and Milligan, Mr. and Mrs. V.C. Gunnell, Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Kroenke, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Logan, J.G. Hollenbeck, our county superintendant and a goodly number of citizens of Free Gold and vicinity. To say that it was an enjoyable affair but feebly express the merit of the intertainment. To all interested in the education and mental evaluation of the youth of our country it must have been both interesting and exceedingly gratifying to note the evidence of progress manifested by the pupils on this occasion, which denoted not only good natural ability on the part of the scholar, but great care and vigilance on part of the teacher. It is seldom one sees such advancement by all the members of a school as was shown here, and a teacher who can thus adapt himself to the different temperaments and capacities of his pupils is certainly deserving of great praise to say the least. Mr. Morrison may well feel proud of the success he has achieved as an educator. The progress made in writing as well as in all other studies was truly wonderful, but we mention writing especially as this important branch of education is so apt to be neglected in our public schools. We were shown fair specimens of penmanship by little ones six and seven years of age, who could not write a word at the commencement of the term. The teacher appeared to have a natural faculty at advancing his pupils, and this without resorting to harsh or severe measures, for we discovered no rod and no law but that of kindness. The patrons of the school deserve much credit for the fine and convenient brick building they have erected for their children thus showing their appreciation of the value of a good education. All in all we consider this a model school. Below we give the standing of the different classes:

Spelling class A – Pearl Lewis, 98; Orie Main, 95. Class B – first prize, Shirley Main, 100; John Frame, 100. 2^nd prize, Sarah Frame, 98. 

Reading 4^th reader – 1^st price, Orie Main; 2^nd prize, Pearl Lewis. 

Class A 3^rd Reader – 1^st Prize, Thos. Frame; Class B – 1^st prize, Sarah Frame, 2^nd Prize, Alfred Dodge. 

2^nd Reader – Shirley Main, 100; Lousi Frame, 100. 

1^st Reader – 1^st prize, Percy Main. 

Writing – best writer, Roy Main; most improvement, Pearl Lewis and Sherman Dodge. 

Arithmetic – Roy Main 1^st prize. 

Intellectual Arithmetic, Class A – 2st prize, Pearil Lewis; 2^nd prize, Orie Main; Class B – Shirley Main, 100; John Frame, 98. 

Geography – Pearl Lewis, 98; Orie Main, 96.

Chaffee County Times: August 20, 1885: The Common Sense Placer Machine. We have heretofore referred to a new gold saver that has been in operation more or less in this county for the past few months. Messrs. Dodge, Keys and Martin have one of these machines working on a claim of theirs just south of the stream mill near Free Gold. During a visit there last Monday the editor of this paper witnessed a clean up of two of the riflles after an hour’s shoveling, and the net result was about thirty cents in fine gold. At this rate, thise is believed to be a fair average, $3 a day to the man could be saved. As the gold is what is known as flour gold and could not be saved in ordinary sluiers, the value of the machine can be readily estimated. Perhaps no adequate idea of its workings could be furnished by a mere description, but it is so simple in construction that it can be used in connection with the ordinary sluiers, and requries no great amount of skill to set or poerate it. That good wages can be made all along the river by the use of this machine seems more than probable. We hope some of those who are standing around complaining of hard times will take the bait and go to work to develop the placer resources in this locality. Mr. Dodge has decided to place the machine on a placer owned by him and Vanarsdale in Taylor Park. 

Buena Vista Democrat: September 16, 1885: O.O. Morrison and Judge Dodge of Free Cold commence this week vigorously working their placers on the Arkansas. 

Buena Vista Democrat: December 9, 1885: Judge Dodge’s Court at Free Gold was running all day last Saturday trying the case of the People vs. Ben Bray, charged with malicious mischief and disturbing the peace, etc. The Antagonists, Judge V.C. Gunnell for the People and Col. Logan for the defendant fought the case without stopping for nine hours. The court room was crowded by the elite of Free Gold, a good deal of interest being taken in the trial. The case was sharply contested on both sides. The decisions of the court was given in favor of the defendant in a very candid and able manner. 

Buena Vista Democrat:September 29, 1886: Republican Hippodrome. The republican convention convened at the Opera House on Saturday and from first to last was a disgrace to the County of Chaffee. B.F. Garrison started the proceedings in a prepared self-laudatory speech, which caused him to be elected chairman and laid the foundation for his future nomination. G.M. Bowen of Alpine was elected secretary. Committees on credentials, organization and resolutions were appointed and a recess taken. After recess it was found that two sets of delegates claimed seats from Free Gold precinct, Capt. Day and Mr. White on one side, and J.H. Lewis and Mr. Dodge on the other. In presenting their claims to the convention the most opprobious epithets were used, one even charging the other with being a liar, stuffing the ballot box and having a partner a murdurer. At last on it being known that Lewis and Dodge had been New Era men, they were unceremoniously kicked out of the convention. 

Buena Vista Democrat: January 12, 1887: County Commissioners. Met in regular session on the 5^th and transacted the following business:

The following official bonds approved: N.T. Dodge cons. Bond $2,000. 

Buena Vista Democrat: January 12, 1888: The following persons constitute the grand jury for this term of the District Court: Lyuman Venable, G.M. Hollenbeck, Peter Wilde, Fred Bertschy, Wm. McKenzie, John Abbots, Jos. H. Rives, John F. Rougeot, Geo. A. Goodwin, Thos. T. Speer, Alex. McNary, N.T. Dodge.

Buena Vista Democrat: May 24, 1888: A rich strike is reported in Empire gulch in a claim belonging to Messrs. Spaulding, Boetteher, Dodge and others. There is said to be an eight foot body of ore, running about seventy per cent in lead, twenty-five per cent silver and $8 in gold. – Leadville Dispatch.

Buena Vista Democrat: September 12, 1889: District Court. Grand Jury: G.S. Wood, H.D. Dickinson, G.M. Pyle, T.H. Price, W.H. Ball, J.H. Lewis, J. Drach, A.W. Root, B.F. Johnson, J.H. Wyman, Howard Kemble, N.T. Dodge.