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.