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.

What happened to Sherman E. Dodge after 1903? - Part VI

            These newspaper articles are taken from The Evening Telegram. They chronicle Sherman (French) E. Dodge’s charges of ‘Assuming to be a U.S. Officer’ between his arrest in July 1909 and imprisonment in December 1909.

July 15, 1909

STEALS WIFE, THEN BANKRUPTS HUSBAND

Mail Carrier Is Victim of Two Kinds of Unkind Robbery

            Not content with stealing away a mail carrier’s wife and grafting from the victim $600 in one swoop, it is alleged F.E. Dodge mourns in the County Jail that he went to the well too often. Mrs. O.B. Connor, formerly of Shedds, Or., is also extended opportunity to lament her departure from proper paths, and will have to answer charges.

            Dodge is a wizard in the acquisitive art, or O.B. Connor is one of the disciples of E.Z. Mark, according to the statement of Federal officers. Connor is a mail carrier of the Shedd district, Lane County, where he toiled hard and long to secure his little home, and was peacefully rearing therein his family. Dodge appeared on the scene, doubtless while the honest mail carrier was on his long daily journeys. In due time the affections of the woman were evidently won, for she is charged with entering into a plot whereby she and her accomplice might secure from the husband a goodly sum of money. Connor says that he was first apprised of trouble by the announcement that his wife was getting into trouble over the taking of a timber claim in eastern Oregon. Next came to his home Dodge, representing himself as a Government Inspector. The trouble was ominous, and the alleged Government official said that the only escape would be payment to him $600, which he would use to square the matter with the powers. Connor said that he placed a mortgage on his home to secure the sum, and promptly paid it to Dodge. Soon thereafter his wife said she had to go to Canada, and that part of the household disappeared, leaving the little children.

            Connor says further that time passed, and with it came more requests for more money from Dodge, and then more. These became so frequent and persistent that Connor concluded he could not stand the strain, and sustain his little family of children, so he imparted his trouble to a friend, and the friend advised that he place the matter before the United States District Attorney, which was done. Assistant United States District Attorney Wyatt stated this morning that the inquiry inaugurated resulted in the discovery that Dodge was living near Gresham, with Mrs. Connor. Connor swore to the complaint which charged Dodge with personating a Government official, and Deputy Marshal Griffith found the accused with the wife of the victim.

            Dodge has been placed under $2,000 bonds, and will be given a hearing tomorrow before Commissioner Marsh. Mrs. Connor’s case goes before the state officials.

July 16, 1909

DODGE THINKS HE CAN EXPLAIN EVERYTHING

            F.E. Dodge, charged with stealing O.B. Connor’s wife and relieving him of several hundred dollars in the same transaction, went before Commissioner Marsh at 2 o’clock this afternoon for his preliminary hearing. He has maintained a defiant air since his arrest, and says that all will be explained away when the final hearing is had. It is asserted that Connor’s first intimation of the whereabouts of his wife, whom he supposed to be in Canada, was when he went to Gresham to see Dodge, and either pay him more money or dissuade him from repeated demands. When Connor arrived in the scene, he was amazed to find his wife with Dodge. It was then that the patient camel’s back was broken, and the case hastened into the courts. Dodge has a detective badge, such as are issued by some of the fraudulent Eastern agencies in company with a certificate. This, it is claimed, he used to deceive Connor when representing himself to be a Government inspector.

September 21, 1909

Form the article: GRAND JURY HANDS IN 8 INDICTMENTS

            F.E. Dodge and Cora R. Conner, indicted jointly for a statutory offense, complaining witness being O.B. Conner, husband of Mrs. Conner.

November 23, 1909

WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY, GIVEN TWO-YEAR TERM

            Cora E. Conner, who was charged with having run away to Gresham with F.E. Dodge, after the latter had obtained more than $500 from her husband by representing that he was a Government agent, was arraigned before Presiding Judge Bronaugh, of the Circuit Court, yesterday afternoon and pleaded guilty to the charge against her. She was given two years in the penitentiary and paroled on good behavior. The circumstances leading up to Mrs. Connor’s arrest began with her filing on Government land. Later Dodge called on Mr. Conner and claimed Mrs. Conner had perjured herself in filing for the land and by this means he induced Conner to pay his about $500. Dodge subsequently became very friendly with Mrs. Conner and the two left for Gresham, where it is said that Conner found them living together. He thereupon had his wife arrested. Dodge was also arrested on the charge of having falsely represented a Government officer for the purpose of obtaining money under false pretenses. He is now awaiting trial in the Federal Court. 

December 13, 1909

DODGE PASSED HIMSELF OFF AS AN OFFICER

            F.E. Dodge is being tried before Judge Wolverton, of the Federal District Court, today on the charge of personating a Federal officer, and in that guise of getting $700 in money from a rural mail carrier of the4 Shedds district, named Orville B. Conner. Dodge’s conduct, according to the evidence gathered by the officers, evinces great quantities of that element in human affairs known as nerve. He is accused of getting the money from a poor man, in cold-blooded deception, and then taking the man’s wife away, as a climax of the raid, the woman going willingly, however.

            Mrs. Conner had a timber location. Some difficulty had been experienced in perfecting the title. About this time Dodge, a man of smooth manners, appeared on the scene, and is said to have developed a strong influence over the woman. They are charged with concocting a scheme to have Dodge meet the husband as an Interior Department official, and getting a large sum of money to have the trouble over title to the timber claim squelched by the higher officials. Conner fell to the plot, dug up $600 or $700, in all, after several importunities, and then agreed to let his wife go on a visit to Canada. As more demands kept coming for money to get the case adjusted, he became suspicious and went to Gresham, whence Dodge was sending in his requests for more hush funds. To Conner’s surprise, he is said to have found his wife there, living with Dodge, instead of being on a visit to Canada. Then trouble broke loose. Dodge’s hearing today before a jury is the logical development.

December 14, 1909

FEDERAL JURY FINDS DODGE GUILTY QUICKLY

            F.E. Dodge was convicted promptly this morning before the Federal Court on three of the indictments returned against him for personating a Federal officer and obtaining money by fraudulent pretenses. Judge Wolverton will sentence him Thursday morning. Dodge is being prosecuted by O.B. Connor, of Shedds, Or., for obtaining about $600 of money, and also breaking up his home. The jurymen did not require much time to deliberate then the case was turned over to then by Deputy United States District Attorney Wyatt, for the Government, and Attorney Seneca Fouts, for the defense. They found that the accused had personated an officer in illegal manner and had obtained the money.

December 16, 1909

Dodge Goes to Prison

            F.E. Dodge was sentenced to 18 months in the penitentiary this morning for personating a Federal officer, and getting by fraud from O.B. Connor, of Shedds, Or., the sum of $600. Dodge had been living with Mrs. Connor, and to break the back of patience entirely, concocted the scheme of getting Connor to pay him and his errant wife a good sum of money. Reconciliation on the part of the family has been effected, while the traducer will go to McNeil Island, to labor under soldier guards, and to ponder the sin of trying to wreck a family.

What happened to Sherman E. Dodge after 1903? - Part V

            These newspaper articles are taken from The Daily News. They chronicle Sherman (French) E. Dodge’s charges of ‘Assuming to be a U.S. Officer’ between his arrest in July 1909 and imprisonment in December 1909.

July 15, 1909

Front page headline: SAY SHE LOVED MAN WHO ROBBED HUSBAND

HUSBAND FOILED; MAN GETS WIFE AND $600.

            French E. Dodge, who is alleged to have blackmailed Orville Conner, a merchant doing business at Shedds, Linn County, out of $600, and also took away Conner’s wife and two daughters, was locked up in the county jail at 11 o’clock last night to await trial on serious charges. Mrs. Conner was placed in the women’s quarters of the jail, and will also have to face the court.

            According to the facts related by United States officials, Dodge is one of the worst scoundrels the government has had to deal with in many a day. Several days ago Mr. Conner appeared at the office of the United States district attorney and told Mr. Wyatt, the deputy, that he had a complaint to make. Mr. Wyatt, after hearing the details, on Wednesday called in Andy Nichols, the old government sleuth, and said, “Andy, I’ll turn this case over to you.”

            The story told by Mr. Conner to Mr. Wyatt and also to Andy Nichols was that on October 14, 1908, French E. Dodge appeared at his store at Shedds and informed him that he was a secret service agent of the United States government, which is untrue. Dodge said Mrs. Conner had taken up a timber claim in eastern Oregon, having been located by one Moise, a timberman, and that Moise perpetrated fraud and had been indicted by the United States grand jury, arrested and placed under $2,500 bonds.

Impersonates Officer

            Conner said Dodge told him that as he was a United States secret service officer he would shield Mrs. Conner if Conner would give him $600, and would get transportation for Mrs. Conner from the government and send her to Canada. She wouldn’t appear against Moise, who would go clear.

            As Mrs. Conner had located on the timber claim, and believing the lying story told by Dodge to be true, Mr. Conner paid the $600, and Mrs. Conner left home ostensibly to go to Canada, taking her two daughters with her.

            Conner let things run along, but finally became suspicious that something was wrong. He received no letters from his wife from Canada, and saw nothing in the newspapers about the case of Moise, so he decided to consult the authorities.

            Detective Nichols immediately began an investigation and at 5 o’clock Wednesday evening had located Dodge at Gresham. On Wednesday morning Mr. Conner signed a warrant for the arrest of Dodge and armed with this instrument Nichols went to Gresham at 6:30 o’clock, discovered Dodge standing in front of the store of Lewis Shattuck, and placed him under arrest.

Living Together

            Deputy United States Marshal William Griffith accompanied Detective Nichols to the scene. It was ascertained that Dodge and Mrs. Conner were living together as man and wife, and the two daughters, aged 17 and 6 years, respectively, were also in the house. On this state of facts warrants were sworn out in the office of the justice of the peace at Gresham against Dodge and Mrs. Conner, charging them with lewd cohabitation and adultery, and were served by Constable Gullixson of that place.

            They were unable to give bail. Dodge will have to appear in the United States on a charge of falsely impersonating an officer.

            Detective Nichols performed good work. He started out on the case yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock, and had the parties in the county jail at 11 o’clock at night, besides gathering much important evidence.

July 16, 1909

EXAMINE DODGE

            French E. Dodge, who bunkoed Orville Connor of Shedds, Linn County, out of $600 and took away Connor’s wife and two daughters, will have an examination before United States Commissioner Marsh late this afternoon.

July 17, 1909

Front page headline: DODGE AND MRS CONNOR; HER FIVE GIRLS

FATHERS!! HOW’D YOU LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN TO YOU?

*     *     *     *     *     *

            Bigamist Johnson, who is now serving a sentence in a California prison, admitted that he married many women and had dallied with an almost endless number of others.

            Yet it is not on record that Johnson also purloined a whole family, or at least some of the children.

            In the Portland county jail is French E. Dodge, who not only ran away with Mrs. Orville Connor and secured $600 from her husband, but also took two of the children along.

            Orville Connor and wife have five girls. The youngest is six years, and oldest about 17. Dodge managed it so two of the children left their father.

            He threatened to send the oldest girl to a reform school if she did not accompany her mother and himself.

            As for the 6-year-old tot—well, that was easy. Six-year-olds generally follow mother if they can.

            A strange sight was witnessed in court yesterday when the little 6-year-old girl ran over to Dodge, threw her arms about him and called him “papa.”

            Connor was looking on at the time, but the little girl had forgotten him. His head dropped—no wonder.

            What did the father think? What were his feelings when he witnessed HIS little girl throw her arms about ANOTHER man and called him “PAPA”?

            What about the WOMAN in the case?

            *     *     *     *     *     *           

            It is not an infrequent occurrence for a man to run off with another man’s wife, but it is an uncommon thing for him to take some of the children along in the bargain.

            This, however, is what French E. Dodge, who is alleged to have blackmailed Orville Connor, a farmer at Shedds, did.

            Dodge told the eldest daughter, 17 years old, that he was going to place her in a home for bad girls at Salem if she did not accompany him and her mother.

            The youngest child, 6 years of age, was taken along by her mother. Dodge all of this time represented himself as a United States secret service officer of the United States government. This fact evidently influenced the elder girl to be led by his threats.

            At the hearing yesterday afternoon before United States Commissioner Marsh, the youngest child rushed across the room, and throwing her arms about the neck of the imposter, addressed him as “papa.” She has been thrown so much in the company of Dodge that she came to regard him as her father.

            Connor testified that his wife previously left him, remaining away for three years. He believed she was with Dodge all of this time. Mr. Connor said he went to Pendleton and brought her home, and soon afterwards Dodge appeared on the scene, and after stating that he was a United States secret service officer, told him Mrs. Connor had filed on a timber claim, taking an oath that she was a widow, and would be prosecuted for perjury.

            Connor borrowed $600 from Mr. Forks, giving a mortgage as security, to square things with Dodge. Mrs. Connor was to be taken to Canada until matters were fixed up, but she never went there.

            Mr. Connor stated that he received two letters from his wife, one mailed at a railroad station and the other at Portland. The grown daughter also testified.

            Dodge had nothing to say, and Mrs. Connor did not appear as a witness. Dodge was held to answer before the United States grand jury and was remanded to the custody of the sheriff, in default of bonds in the sum of $2,500.

            Mrs. Connor was interviewed at the county jail by a News reporter this morning.

            She is a medium-sized woman, dark hair and eyes, and has a pleasant but somewhat sad countenance. She spoke in a soft tone of voice, and evidently is a person of mild manners. A woman one would not think would leave her husband and children. Mrs. Connor stated that she is the mother of five children. They are all girls, ranging from 6 to 17 years.

            She declined to discuss her case, and after several questions walked away. Her only response was, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

            She was asked if she had been in Gresham all the time since leaving her home this last time, why she took the children along, and other things, but would not say. Mrs. Connor appears to realize her position keenly.

            Mr. Connor has returned to Shedds, taking the two children with him to rejoin the other three. Dodge must also face a state charge for cohabitating with Mrs. Connor.

November 24, 1909

WIFE MUST BE GOOD 2 YEARS

            Cora Conners, charged with unlawful cohabitation, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in the Oregon state penitentiary by Judge Bronaugh yesterday, but was paroled on good behavior, this parole coming at the request of her husband, O.E. Conners, a rural mail carrier, who appeared in court and offered to take her back and forgive her misdeeds.

            F.E. Dodge, arrested with Mrs. Conners, and charged also with representing himself as an officer of the United States, is on trial before Judge Bean in the federal court.

            Dodge went to a timber claim on which the Conners had filed, represented himself as a United States inspector of the interior department, declared that the Conners’ claim was invalid and then agreed to square the matter for $600, provided Mrs. Conners would disappear for a time.

            Mrs. Conners disappeared, and wrote frequently for money, the letters passing through Dodge’s hands. Finally Conners became suspicious and came to Portland, where he found his wife and Dodge living together.

December 14, 1909

DID HE REALLY SHOW HIS LOVE?

           

            F.O. Dodge, who fraudulently obtained $500 from Orville B. Conner, a mail carrier at Shedds, and also took away Conner’s wife and four daughters from their home, was tried in the federal court today. The case was submitted to the jury at noon.

            Mrs. Conner filed on a piece of government land in eastern Oregon. Dodge later approached Conner and represented himself to be a secret service agent of the United States. He told Conner that Mrs. Conner had been indicted for fraud for her actions in relation to the land. Dodge promised to get Mrs. Conner away to Canada, and later to have the case dropped by the government for $500, which Conner paid.

            Dodge on leaving with Mrs. Conner, influenced her to take the children along, which she did. The oldest daughter is 17 years of age.

            Dodge did not go to Canada, but instead with Mrs. Conner and her daughters, took up his residence at Gresham. Conner, becoming suspicious as time rolled along that he had been made a fool of and buncoed, laid the case before United States Attorney McCourt. Dodge was arrested for falsely impersonating an officer, and he and Mrs. Conner were also charged with unlawful cohabitation.

            The children were sent home to their father. Mrs. Conner was recently released from the county jail upon her promise to return to her husband and children and behave in the future.

            Dodge is a man of good appearance and is about 35 years old. His defense was that he did not impersonate an officer and used the money obtained from Conner to provide for Mrs. Conner and the children. He said he loved the woman. The opinion expressed is that a verdict of guilty will be returned.

December 15, 1909

Stole Man’s Wife and Money; Is Convicted

            F.O. Dodge, who stole $500 from Orville B. Conner, and also took away Conner’s wife and four children, was found guilty yesterday afternoon in the United States district court. Dodge was convicted on three counts of falsely impersonating a secret service officer. The penalty is imprisonment of not more than three years and a fine of $1,000.

            Mrs. Conner testified how she met Dodge at Pendleton, and was induced to take up land fraudulently, for which she expected to receive $500. Her husband, she said, came to Pendleton and induced her and the children to return to their home in Shedds, Linn County. Dodge, she said, later came to Shedds and told her husband she had been guilty of land fraud. Dodge said he was an officer, and induced Conner to give him $500. Mrs. Conner and the children then left the home at Shedds, accompanied by Dodge, and they went to Gresham.

            The evidence of Conner and his wife was corroborated by their 14-year-old daughter. One of the bad features of the case is that Conner had to mortgage his farm to procure the $500 he gave to Dodge.

December 16, 1909

18 MONTHS FOR DODGE

            A sentence of 18 months in the federal prison at McNeill’s island was imposed this morning by Judge Wolverton on F.O. Dodge.

            Dodge defrauded Orville B. Conner out of $500 and also persuaded Mrs. Conner to leave her husband and live with him as his wife. Dodge, Mrs. Conner and four daughters of the Conner family were found by the officers together at Gresham at the time the arrest was made.

            Dodge and Mrs. Conner previously associated at Pendleton. Mrs. Conner testified against Dodge at the trial and her evidence had much to do with his conviction.         

            

What happened to Sherman E. Dodge after 1903? - Part IV

It has been a year since I first came across information detailing Sherman Dodge's life after 1903, details that had been lost to our family but preserved in history through newspaper articles and court and prison records. I recently came across a series of newspaper articles from the Oregon Daily Journal that add another source to the chronicles of Sherman's life after 1903. One surprise from this set of newspaper articles is that he is identified by his real name.

July 15, 1909

Dupes Man Out of Wife and Money

            Government officials have run to ground what appears to be one of the most flagrant cases of duplicity ever played by a woman upon her husband, and one that for cunning and daring stands quite alone in its class.

            The principal characters in this drama of life were lodged in the county jail last night and the authorities are now busy gathering additional evidence by which it is believed the principals will be convicted without much difficulty.

            French E. Dodge, a middle aged man of the desperado type, is the man in the case, and Mrs. Orovil Connor, wife of a farmer and rural mail carrier of Shedds Station, is the woman. They were brought into jail late last night from Gresham after their arrest there by Deputy Marshal William Griffith, the old government sleuth. Andy Nichols, special agent engaged as Francis J. Henry’s bodyguard during the land fraud trials here some time ago, and Constable Henry Gullackson of the Gresham District. Griffith and Nichols arrested Dodge and Constable Gullackson, accompanied by Nichols, arrested the woman.

            Orovil Connor, the farmer who has been mulcted out of a sum running close to $1,000 and lost the affections of his wife and two daughters, according to the statement made to the government officials, it has been ascertained, it a highly respected resident of his district and has the sympathy of the entire neighborhood. He admits that but for their friendly advice, he would probably still be playing the short end of a game in which he had been subjected as an easy victim from the start.

Land Fraud Dodge

            The facts as laid before the authorities by Farmer Connor are that October 14, last year, French E. Dodge came to Connor’s farm near Shedd’s Station, and presented himself as a special agent of the government working on the Oregon land frauds and that he was also in the government secret service. He told Connor that it had come to the notice of the government that Mrs. Connor had been located on a homestead at Ukiah, in eastern Oregon, by a man named Marsen, and who was now under indictment and under $2,500 bonds, and that Mrs. Connor had perjured herself by stating when she took up the homestead that she was a widow, and furthermore had never lived on it.

            Dodge said that his position in the government service made it possible to shield the woman and save her from going to McNeil’s island providing Connor would pay his $600 cash to put up for the bonds. He said to further save the family from disgrace he would arrange to have the government provide her with transportation to Canada, where it would be impossible to molest her in the future.

Pays Him Money

            To save the family from disgrace as he stated to Special Agent Nichols, Connor mortgaged his farm for $600 and turned the money over to Dodge. A few days later the woman left, supposedly for Canada, and all seemed well for the time being. But soon Dodge appeared again for more money. He said that it was required to carry on the case and to keep things quiet, and thus, it is alleged, from time to time, he obtained sums ranging from $7 to $20. Quite recently he sent another letter demanding $25. This was a little too strong, and Connor, who had began to grow tired paying what he supposed was hush money to the government, laid the matter before his friends and neighbors. They advised him to place the case before the United States district attorney immediately, and so he did.

Finds Mrs. Connor

            Deputy District Attorney Wyatt turned it over to Special Agent Andy Nichols Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock and by 5 o’clock that evening he had Dodge located near Gresham. But what proved more astonishing to even the old sleuth, was that he found Mrs. Connor there also, and her two daughters, Rose, aged 6 years, and Grace, aged about 16. How they had been smuggled there is yet to be ascertained., but they were living in the tent with Dodge and the woman.

            “It was a quick piece of work,” said Special Agent Nichols, “and the catch was bigger than I expected, for the fact that Dodge was living with the woman was not known until the discovery of his whereabouts, Connor supposing all the while that his wife was in Canada waiting for the land case to be settled. Then it dawned on me at once that it was a case of the woman’s duplicity and that effort was being made to work Connor for all he had.

            “I found Dodge and the woman living in a small tent about a quarter of a mile east of Gresham in a fir grove when I started to locate then yesterday morning. Dodge had gone to the city for a load of feed for Lew Shattuck’s store and did not return till 6 o’clock in the evening. We arrested him as he pulled up with the team and caught him before he had time to offer resistance. He told us later he would have put up a hard fight had he had a gun and the chance. As it was, he surrendered willingly, reaching out his hands to be cuffed.”

            Connor accompanied the officers to Gresham to identify the children. The younger one was brought along to Portland and is now in the his care here, while the older girl was left at Gresham in care of a good family.

            Mrs. Connor was arrested upon a warrant sworn to before the justice of the peace charging her with a statutory crime, and she was brought to the county jail at the same time as Dodge.

            Dodge will have to face a number of charges, any one of which, if proven, will give him a long term in prison.

July 17, 1909

Bulldog Guards Gresham Camp

Place Where Dodge and Paramour Lived Needs no Federal Protection

            A faithful and fearless bulldog is guarding the tent occupied till three days ago by French E. Dodge and Mrs. John Connors and her two daughters, Grace and Rose, and the deputy marshal who will be sent out there today to take possession of it pending the outcome of the trial of Dodge or the woman, will have to be careful lest he gets the worst of the mixup that might follow when the dog discovers that he about to be ousted from his position of trust.

            Dodge, after a preliminary investigation yesterday afternoon before United States Commissioner Marsh, in the office of the United States district attorney, was bound over to the grand jury under bonds of $2,500 to stand investigation in the charge of impersonating a government official, and the woman is held in the county jail to answer to a statutory charge sworn to be her husband. The little girls have been placed with friends, and the only one remaining at the camp, about a quarter of a mile east of Gresham, is the bulldog.

            Dodge was arrested the other day by Deputy United States Marshal William Griffith and Andy Nichols, and Mrs. Connor was arrested by Constable John Gullickson of the Gresham district, but as there was no charge against the bulldog he was left in the tent.

            “I think it would be well for the government to appoint a keeper to look after the property in the tent,” said the deputy marshal, after the conclusion of the examination yesterday, “or people might help themselves to whatever might be there, As it is, there is no one to look after it.”

            “Excuse me,” broke in Dodge, who, after all does not appear to be such a dangerous person, “there is a bulldog out there, and I’m afraid he might not resign his trust even to a deputy marshal. I would therefore ask whoever goes out there to beware of the dog. I don’t want anybody to get hurt, and there is no telling what he might do. And he might be hungry, too, by this time.”

            Promise was given that the dog would be well treated, and the prisoner was returned to the county jail, while his attorney, Seneca Fouts, started out to hunt bondsmen, whom it is believed can be secured, it being apparent that Dodge has friends here.

            The hearing before Commissioner Marsh brought out some statements that indicated that Farmer Connor of Shedds station, who declares he was mulcted by Dodge to the tune of several hundred dollars, beside his wife and children, did not always treat his family as would an ideal husband and father, the oldest girl, Grace, admitting on cross-examination that she had been driven out in the rain by the father. The girl wept bitterly when asked to give testimony that reflected upon the character of either of her parents. She was neatly dressed, as was her 6-year-old sister, who referred to Dodge as “papa.”

            Connor told his story of how Dodge had come to his farm and “worked” him for $600 to shield his wife from publicity and prosecution on the alleged ground of having committed perjury in taking up a homestead claim.

            That Dodge and Mrs. Connor had contrived the scheme in the opinion of the officers, but Dodge says that he will be able to show that he did a kind act in relieving the woman and her children of a hard life on the farm at Shedds station.

            To make certain that Dodge will not escape punishment another warrant for his arrest was sworn out yesterday by the justice of the peace at Gresham charging him with a statutory crime and it was served in him yesterday. The federal case takes precedence, however, and it is possible that the second will be dropped if conviction is secured in the first.

September 22, 1909

Linger in Jail Waiting Trial

Frederick E. Dodge and Mrs. O.B. Connors

Worked Unsuspecting Husband

            Frederick (alias Lambert) E. Dodge and Mrs. O.B. Connors are in the county jail, their fond ambition to locate permanently in Canada with money unwittingly furnished by Connors, finally frustrated.

            "Lovey, dovey, darling little baby boy of mine,” began some of the letters now possessed by Postal Inspector Clement, which Mrs. Connors sent to her affinity. And saying “Sweetest tootsy wootsy,” with things following which the inspector calls “mush,” Dodge answered. His letters also are on file.

            Pseudo officialism was Dodge’s role; innocent and wearied wifehood that of the woman. How they thus pulled the wool over an easy going, affectionate husband’s eyes forms basis for a story which the postal authorities designate as one of the most unique they have even been called upon to tell.

            O.B. Connors was a rural mail carrier at Corvallis. He considered himself to be a happy man for he had an apparently loving wife and three fine children, the eldest, a girl, 14 years old. But he moved to Shed and his wife left him.

            Connors was lonesome, “considerably injured inwardly and the kids needing their mother,” he puts it. So, presently, when the wife returned, real tears of the crocodile brand, dimming her eyes, and her voice breaking with the sorrow she felt for her actions, Connors held the door open and affectionately bade her walk right in – and get supper.

            Then came Dodge. “I am a postal inspector, a special agent, an officer of the law,” he stated with emphasis. Then he drew back his coat, witnesses say, and displayed a large and impressive official star.

            “Your wife,” continued the emphatic inspector, “filed on a timber claim. But she did wrong, very wrong. The way she did it, she is apt to go to the penitentiary. Now,” with the sudden confidence and lowering of tone; “I’m your friend. It’ll take just $600 to square this ting. I’m the one that can do it for you. Here’s your little girl getting to be a woman – she won’t need to have her life shadowed by disgrace; here’s your own to be considered,”

            Connors says that he was thoroughly frightened and he got together the $500 especially as his wife, a pathetic spectator, was even more scared and immediately agreed with the official that she had done wrong.

            Dodge took away the $600, it is understood, with the promise of $30 a month to untangle forthcoming snarls of this case.

            Again came Dodge. “Your wife, she will have to get away. I wasn’t so good as I thought I’d be.”

            Mrs. Dodge with the same strange pathos she had shown before, agreed that she had better skip. But finally it was decided that she could come to Gresham, 14 miles east of here, where she would be safe from prosecution.

            Here, when the postal inspector, following clues and led by the suspicious confessions of the husband, arrived, he found Mrs. Dodge living with the supposed inspector. Another extract from another letter explaining even this. It says, “I love you, baby boy, more than my home and children, and will go anywhere with you.”

            But what makes Connors madder than anything else, he says, is that all the time his wife was in Gresham, Dodge, keeping up the appearance of friendship carried letters between them.

            The hearing of the couple will be held in United States court.

November 13, 1909

Federal Jury Indicts Dodge

Accused of Impersonating Postoffice Inspector in Love Affair

            Franklin Dodge, alias French E. Dodge, was indicted by the federal grand jury this morning for representing himself as a United States postoffice inspector. The evidence against Dodge is to the effect that he made love to Cora Connors, wife of a mail carrier at Shed station, near Corvallis. At the same time he represented himself as a warm friend of the husband.

            While Connors and his wife were separated, he was apparently the agent that brought them together again. When it was found that Mrs. Connors had been making some probably inaccurate filings on public land, he represented that he would be jailed if Connors did not pay various amounts to impede the execution of the law. Connors paid these amounts.

            When the woman and Dodge had money enough they started away together, apparently to Canada. Mrs. Connors representing that she must go or be arrested and imprisoned. Later Dodge and the woman were found living together near Gresham. The principal witness before the grand jury was A.J. Nichols, who acted as a special agent in procuring evidence against the couple.

November 23, 1909

From article: Three Years for M’Intosh

            Mrs. Cora E. Conner pleaded guilty to a statutory charge yesterday afternoon and was placed on parole, after being sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. She was jointly indicted with F.E. Dodge, who is also under indictment in the federal court in the charge of extorting $500 from Mrs. Conner’s husband by representing himself as a United States officer. Dodge’s trial on the statutory charge was set for this morning in the circuit court, but a continuance was granted by agreement to await the outcome of the prosecution in the United States court.

            Mrs. Conner had filed on government land and Dodge, claiming to be a government officer, told her husband she had committed perjury, but he would not have per prosecuted if paid $500. Finally Dodge took Mrs. Conner away with him and they were living together at Gresham when arrested.

December 13, 1909

Tried to Get Wife and Cash

Frank Dodge Stands Trial in Federal Court on Serious Charges

            Charging mayor Orville Connor of Shedd, Or., with using the department of justice of the United States government as a means of getting revenge and again winning the love of his wife, Attorney Seneca Fouts today opened the trial of Frank Dodge, in United States district court, in a sensational manner.

            Dodge, arrested more than five months ago in Gresham, Or., where he and Mrs. Connor and her two children were living, is on trial for impersonating an officer and obtaining between $500 and $600 from Connor.

            Deputy United States District Attorney J.D. Wyatt, in making his opening declaration to the jury, explained the government’s case against the man in detail. He told of Dodge’s discovery that Mrs. Connor, representing herself as having been divorced from Connor, had taken up a homestead in Umatilla County in violation of the land laws. Later, according to the government attorney, Dodge visited Mr. and Mrs. Connor at Shedd, representing himself to be a special agent of the United States land office. He told Connor of his wife’s crime and offered, for the sum of $500, to either take her to Canada, where she could not be convicted, or to “fix up the matter.”

            Connor, according to the attorney’s statement, mortgaged his home and gave Dodge $500. Dodge, instead of taking the woman to Canada, took her to Gresham, Or., where they loved as man and wife. At Gresham, Dodge was arrested by United States Deputy Marshall Griffith and Special Agent Nichols, who was the first witness today, on a charge of impersonating an officer. Mrs. Connor was arrested on a charge of adultery, proffered against her by her husband, from whom she had never been divorced.

            Seneca Fouts in his opening address said the defense would prove that Dodge and Mrs. Connor first met in Umatilla county in 1905. She, according to the counsel, told Dodge she was divorced from Connor and they lived together for more than a year. Finally, however, she told him the truth and returned to live with her husband.

            Learning that Mrs. Connor had illegally gotten title to the homestead, Dodge went to Shedd., Or., and told Connor and his wife that she was liable to prosecution. Dodge will attempt to show that Connor suggested that he (Dodge) take Mrs. Connor to Canada.

            Deputy Marshal Nichols, who was the first witness for the government, testified that Dodge, after being arrested, informed him that for 15 years he had been a member of the United States secret service.

December 15, 1909

Dodge Sentenced Tomorrow

            Sherman F.E. Dodge, known as Frank Dodge, who was found guilty yesterday by a jury in United States District Court, on a charge of impersonating a special agent of the United States land office, will be sentenced by Federal Judge C.E. Wolverton tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock. The jury in the Dodge case brought in a verdict of guilty, after having deliberated only a little more than a half hour.

December 16, 1909

Sentenced for Taking Woman

            Eighteen months confinement on McNeil island was the sentence meted out to Sherman F.E. Dodge, convicted of impersonating a government officer, by Federal Judge C.E. Wolverton in the United States district court today. Dodge, making a personal plea, startled the court by asking that he be paroled so that he might earn money with which to satisfy his creditors. Instead, however, of acceding to his petition, Judge Wolverton imposed the sentence, at the same time scathingly arraigning Dodge for committing “not only a criminal but dishonorable and immoral act.”

December 26, 1909

Criminal Trio Set Out Today For The Island

Principals in Three Noteworthy Trials Will Apply Elbow Grease

To Work in McNeill Island Colony

            Convicted of a variety of crimes, all of then to be marked down as particularly notable in the history of criminals in Oregon, William H. Craig, Robert J. Blake and F.E. Dodge will be taken to McNeil Island for imprisonment by deputy United States marshals today.

            Craig, Blake and Dodge were the three men sentenced to serve terms in the Federal penitentiary on the island, by Federal Judge C.E. Wolverton during the recently closed session of the United States district court. Craig, a 19-year-old Grizzly, Oregon, youth, who was convicted of robbing the mails, must serve, unless paroled, one year and one day. Blake, postoffice robber, will be compelled to serve three years, and Dodge, who was found guilty of impersonating an officer, has 18 months to remain in prison.

            Craig, Dodge and Blake were tried and found guilty within the last two weeks. Each hearing developed entirely unexpected sensations, particularly those of Craig and Dodge.

Romance in Trial

            Just a tinge of romance added interest to the trial of young William H. Craig, who was driver of the Madras-Rainier stage when arrested for robbing the mails. In love with the daughter of L.H. Hamilton, of Grizzly, Oregon, the youth was driven to desperation by her indifference to his manifestations of regard.

            Failing in attempts to win the love of the girl, Craig conceived the idea that she would think more of him if he possessed money. So he decided to steal. On October, 20, 1909, the opportunity presented itself. The boy, as driver of the stage, was authorized as star mail route carrier and on that date a pouch of mail was given over to him for delivery. In the pouch were two registered letters, one containing $115 and addressed to the postmaster at Portland, Oregon, and the other, containing $1, addressed to the postmaster at Chicago, Ill. When the pouch reached its destination both letters were missing.

Youth Wastes Money

            Immediately after the robbery, Craig lavished presents, which were returned, upon the girl, who is the acknowledged beauty of the countryside, and himself appeared in garb which he considered sartorially correct. He spent much money with his cronies, and seemed possessed of an unusually large supply of cash.

            In the trial it developed that Craig, though forbidden in the Hamilton home, went to the father of the girl and asked for the hand of the daughter. He was refused, but before leaving asked if the parent could change a $10 bill for him. Adding a feature to the trial, the father on the stand identified the paper money, which was also identified by the postmaster as Madras, Oregon, as one of the bills stolen.

            Craig, during the weeks he was confined in the Multnomah county jail, and also during the time he was on trial, retained a stolid composure. But when he was taken to the office of the United States marshal, after having been sentenced to serve a year at McNeill island, he broke down and cried.

Bold Robber is Blake

            Blake’s trial was made unusual by the fact that the suit of clothing he wore in court was identified as that stolen from the railway station at Irving, Oregon. Blake was accused of having robbed the railway station and postoffice at Jefferson, Oregon. Both are on the live of the O. R. & N.

            At Jefferson, books of stamps and money orders were stolen, At Irving, the suit of clothing and a mail pouch were taken. When Blake was arrested, several books of stamps, resembling those stolen from the Jefferson postoffice, were found on his person. He endeavored to prove an alibi, testifying that he had purchased the stamps from a stranger in Seattle, Wash.

            Trial of the case against Frank E. Dodge, who represented himself to be a special agent for the government and a secret service operative, was sensational. Orville Connor, mayor of Shedd, Oregon, was the complaining witness against Dodge, while Mrs. Connor, wife of the mayor, was the principal witness for him.

Met in Pendleton

            Dodge and Mrs. Connor first met several years ago in Pendleton, Oregon. She, according to the story of the convicted man, told him she was divorced from Connor. With her were her two children. Dodge took them all in hand, and to furter repeat his tale, supported and cared for them. Mrs. Connor in the meantime had taken up a homestead near Pendleton, swearing under oath that she was divorced.

            After living in Pendleton for more than a year, Mrs. Connor suddenly left Dodge and, with her children, went back to Connor. Dodge, discovering the woman had sworn falsely in the matter of obtaining the homestead, visited the husband at Shedd, and told him of her criminal act.

            Following the line of testimony in the case, Dodge told the mayor he was a special agent for the general land office of the government, and could “fix things up” for $500. He informed the husband that is he could not arrange things satisfactorily with the government he would take the woman and her children to Canada, where she would be out of reach of the federal authorities.

Mayor is Foolish

            But, instead of taking Mrs. Connor to Canada, as he last told the husband he would do, he took her to Gresham, Oregon, where they lived together as man and wife for a period of several months. Connor, hearing of how he had bunkoed, secured a warrant for Dodge’s arrest on a charge of impersonating an officer, and had the woman jailed in a charge of adultery.

            Dodge was arrested by Deputy United States Marshal “Bill” Griffith and “Andy” Nichols. Taken into custody, he warned both the officers that he was a secret service agent, and that his arrest would go hard with them.

            When Dodge was sentenced by Federal Judge C.E. Wolverton he entered the novel plea that he desired to be paroled so that he might pay off several crying creditors.

Photos for family of George Earl Graham (1892-1966) & Ann Hazel Dodge (1896-1961)

My grandfather passed away recently. I was going through some of his effects and came across a number of pictures that I didn't know he had. They are pictures of his dad's sister, Ann (Dodge) Graham and her family. There are 25 pictures in all. They are pictures of Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham (1896-1961) and her husband George Earl Graham (1892-1966) and their daughter, Virginia Rose (Graham) DeMark (1917-1991) and her husband, Don D. DeMark (1906-1991). They lived most of their lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Most of these pictures are not dated. Here is the treasure trove below:

George Earl & Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

Virginia Rose (Graham) DeMark, 1930's

George Earl & Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

Don D. & Virginia Rose (Graham) DeMark

Ann & Virginia, ca. late 1930's. This looks list it may be at the El Patio Lodge in Colorado Springs.

Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

George Earl & Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

George Earl Graham with Virginia (right; the girl in the middle is unidentified)

Ann, Earl, Don & Virginia

Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

George Earl Graham

Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

Don & Virginia

Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

George Earl & Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham

Ann, Don & Virginia

George Earl Graham & Don DeMark

Ann Hazel (Dodge) Graham. This was taken in the late 1940's or early 1950's, as they lived in California for a time.

George Earl Graham

Earl, Ann, Don & Virginia

Virginia (Graham) DeMark, 1985

Don & Virginia, 1985

Virginia (Graham) DeMark, 1990

I also found another picture I didn't know my grandfather had. He had this photo tucked away among effects that belonged to his mother. This picture is of his dad's sister Frances Cleveland (Dodge) Nemetzky (1888-1955) and her husband David Nemetzky (1888-1947). I have a few other pictures of Frances, but none are this good. I also never expected to come across a picture of Frances' husband. Included in this picture are Frances (on the left), her husband David Nemetzky, my great-grandmother Alice (Lemoine) Dodge, my grandfather, Bob Dodge (on the right) and his brother, Alfred. This was taken in San Francisco, where Frances & David lived.