James Robert Dodge in World War I

Here is a record I stumbled upon recently - the Army Transport Passenger Lists from World War I. My great-grandfather, James Robert Dodge, was drafted in to the U.S. Army in early August of 1918. He returned home in August of 1919. I've wondered what the time frame was for basic training and travel and arrival to and from the front. These records help shed light on this chapter of my great-grandfather's life. 

His story in World War I however, begins in 1917. Grandpa Jim registered for the World War I Draft in June of 1917. Each registrant filled out a draft card, answering questions about their birth, citizenship, occupation and family, physical description, as well as grounds for draft exemption. While Grandpa Jim stated that his parents were dependent on him for their support, he did not claim them as an exemption from the draft.

WWI Draft Card

Following registration for the draft, each registrant received a questionnaire that were to be completed and returned by each draftee (the completed questionnaires no longer exist). These questionnaires helped the local draft board determine classification for each registrant. The local draft board then informed each draftee of their classification. Those that were classified 1A were to report for physical examination. Those that passed the physical examination were then ordered to report to the local draft board to be inducted in to the Army. 

Grandpa Jim received and returned the questionnaire in January of 1918. He also received his classification in January (1A) and completed his physical examination in February. He was ordered to report for induction in early August of 1918.

Classification List

When Grandpa Jim reported for induction in to the Army, he was first sent to a mobilization camp, where he was accepted for military service. Because of the urgent need for American soldiers at the front, he began his basic training at Camp MacArthur in Texas. He was then sent to Hoboken, New Jersey, to sail to France and there he would complete his basic training. He sailed on the President Grant on September 23, 1918 and arrived at Saint Nazaine, France on October 7, 1918, a voyage of nearly two weeks.

Army Transport Passenger List - September 1918

Following his arrival in France and completion of basic training, Grandpa Jim was assigned to Company F, 9th Infantry Regiment within the Second Infantry Division. According to his enlistment record, Grandpa Jim was involved with the March to the Rhine and the Army of Occupation in Germany. The March to the Rhine began on November 17, 1918 and crossed from France, through Belgium and Luxembourg, to Germany, a distance of some sixty miles. The distance was covered in six days. On December 1, 1918, the Army entered into Germany, and crossed the Rhine River on the 13th of December. This is where Grandpa Jim remained until July of 1919, when demobilization and return home began. He sailed from Brest, France on July 23, 1919 aboard the Princess Matoika and arrived back at Hoboken, New Jersey on August 1, 1919. 

Army Transport Passenger List - July 1919

After returning to the States, Grandpa Jim marched with the Second Division up the streets of New York City in a celebratory parade on August 8, 1919. Many of the New York newspapers give detailed accounts of the day's celebrations. Following the celebratory parade, Grandpa Jim was sent to Fort D.A. Russell in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he was honorably discharged on August 16, 1919. Along with his arrival and discharge, he received his final payment for his service in the Army: $88.55. The Final Payment Voucher lists a breakdown of his final pay: $76.30 (including a $60.00 bonus) and $12.25 travel pay back home to Buena Vista from Cheyenne. 

Final Payment Voucher - August 16, 1919

The Chaffee County Democrat from August 23, 1919 reported the return of Grandpa Jim to Buena Vista: 'We are glad to welcome in our midst Mr. James R. Dodge, who returned Sunday [August 17] from overseas.'

Enlistment Record & Honorable Discharge

Foreclosure of William J. Morgan Homestead

It is always interesting to see how pieces of the family history puzzle fall together, or even how pieces of the puzzle show up that you don't even realize are missing. This is one of those pieces.

In July of 1910, William John Morgan returned to Canada from the United States and applied for a 160-acre homestead in the area of Wilkie, Saskatchewan. His wife, Clara, and their two children joined them in June of 1911. After three years of cultivating and improving the land, the homestead was granted in October of 1913.

In December of 1917, William took out an $800.00 mortgage on the homestead. The mortgage was payable as follows: '$50.00 on the Second day of January in each and every one of the years A.D. 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922, and the balance on the Second day of January, A.D. 1923.' The loan was at 8% annual interest. Below is a copy of the mortgage. The Mortgage is signed by both William & Clara. We finally have the correct spelling of Clara's middle name, as found in her signature. Her middle name is Belle instead of Bell, which is how it has always appeared in the family records that I have.

 

 

Homestead Mortgage

In addition to the $800.00 mortgage, there were two other liens on the property. The first is a lien holder's caveat. This indicates that a particular party has an interest in the property. The caveat was filed by the Rural Municipality of Prairie No. 408. It is not clear what type interest this entity would have had in the homestead or the mortgage. The second lien was lien against the property securing a piece of personal property. The second lien was a mechanical lien for $79.85 filed by Galvin Lumber Yards, Ltd. Below is a copy of the title abstract.

Title Abstract

In July of 1922, foreclosure proceedings began against William Morgan for failure to make any payments on the mortgage. The Statement of Claim lays out the terms of the mortgage, the other lien holders, and asserts that William was in default for failure to make any payments on the principal or the interest due. In addition, the mortgage company had also paid taxes and insurance on the property, as well as property inspection and attorneys fees. Below is a copy of the Statement of Claim.

 

 

 

Statement of Claim

The Statement of Claim was filed in Court and served on William Morgan, as well as the other lien holders. In addition to the Statement of Claim, a Notice of Summons was also filed and served, indicating that he had 20 days from receipt of service to file an answer with the court. Service was given on August 8th, 1922. By this time, William was living in the area of Cando, SK. However, no answer was filed with the court and he did not file an appearance. Below is a copy of the Notice of Summons, Affidavit of Service and Affidavit of Non-Appearance.

Summons and Certificate of Service

Affidavit of Non-Appearance

Prior to beginning the foreclosure case, an inspection of the property was completed. The property inspection, which was completed in June of 1922, found 'that there was no crop whatever growing on this land, and that the land had been entirely abandoned.' Below is a copy of the affidavit of property inspection that was filed with the Court.

Affidavit of Property Inspector

In September of 1922, a representative of the Mortgage Company filed an affidavit with the court stating that no payments had been made on the property and that they had not taken possession of the property. They also stated that they had entered on to the property for the purpose of property preservation. The affidavit also included a complete breakdown of the fees and costs due, as well as the principal and interest that had been defaulted on. Below is a copy of the affidavit.

 

Affidavit of Creditor

On the 11th of September, 1922, based on the affidavit of the Mortgage Company and the affidavit of non-appearance by the defendants, an Order Nisi was entered by the Court. An Order Nisi is an order that does not have any effect unless one of the particular conditions is met. Once that particular condition is met, the Order Nisi becomes a binding Order. The Order Nisi stated the full amount that was due and owing to the mortgage company was $1,001.08. The Order also stated that the arrears due was $367.94. The arrears were to be paid by December 11, 1922, otherwise the property would be foreclosed. Below is a copy of the Order Nisi.

 

Order Nisi

The three month period came and went without any payment received by the Mortgage Company or by the Court. Following the three month period, affidavits were filed with the Court stating that the delinquent amount due had not been paid to the Mortgage Company or to the Court. Below are copies of these affidavits.

 

Affidavits of Non-Payment on Order Nisi

Following the filing of these affidavits on non-payment, the Final Order was issued on December 19, 1922. The Final Order foreclosed the property against William Morgan and the other lien holders and gave the property to the mortgage company. Below is a copy of the Final Order.

 

Final Order of Foreclosure

At the time of the foreclosure, William lived in the area of Cando, SK. Following the foreclosure, it is not known where William & Clara lived. Clara eventually lived in Neilburg, SK, with her children before returning to Wilkie in 1940. It is unknown if William & Clara stayed together or if they separated. The next Canadian Census, taken in 1926 and set to be released sometime next year, will answer some of these questions.

Newspaper articles for Nathaniel T. Dodge from 'The Gardiner Home Journal': 1874-1880

I was looking online this morning to see if any historical newspapers from Maine had been posted anywhere. I came across The Gardiner Home Journal from Gardiner, Maine. The newspapers I found are from the 1870's and 1880's and give a few small glimpses into the life of my great-great grandfather, Nathaniel T. Dodge. He married Fannie Harris Stevens in January of 1874. They lived in Gardiner, Maine until 1880, when they left for Buena Vista, Colorado. There are only a few small articles, but it is still another interesting find.

The Gardiner Home Journal Wednesday Afternoon, January 7, 1874: MARRIED: In Hallowell, 4th inst., by Rev. C Fuller, Nathaniel T. Dodge of Skowhegan, to Miss Fannie H. Stevens of Pittston.

The Gardiner Home Journal Wednesday Afternoon, November 24, 1875: ACCIDENTS. N.S. Dodge, a Laborer in Lawrence Bros.' Mill, So. Gardiner, had a log roll on him Saturday. He will be laid up for a week or two.

The Gardiner Home Journal Wednesday Afternoon, February 28, 1877: ACCIDENTS. Nath'l Dodge, a Workman in Lawrence Bros.' Mill, So. Gardiner, jammed his hand so as to disable him from work, last Friday, while at work on the bolter.

The Gardiner Home Journal Wednesday Afternoon, February 20, 1878: THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY: The Following Claims Have Been Paid at the Gardiner Agency - Dec. 8, 1875 - N.T. Dodge - Log Rolled on Him - $20.00. (This was part of an advertisement campaign run by The Travelers Insurance Company throughout the late 1870's in The Gardiner Home Journal. Nathaniel's claim was included as part of this advertisement beginning December 29, 1875.)

The Gardiner Home Journal Wednesday Afternoon, February 18, 1880: PERSONAL. N.T. Dodge and family left So. Gardiner, yesterday for Buena Vista, Colo. Mr. Jacob Host accompanies them.

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