Holt County, MO Biography
Joseph R. DODDS, businessman of Corning, was born near Burlington,
Iowa on Jan. 1, 1841. Raised on a farm, he obtained his education
in the common schools. For a short time he was engaged in trading,
but principally farmed in Iowa. He relieved the monotony of farm
life by corresponding with newspapers. He married Sarah E. MAINS
of Burlington on Feb. 7, 1861. In 1872, he came to Mo. and became
the express and station agent at Corning, in Holt Co., a position
he has since held. In politics, he has always been a Republican.
He came into prominence in 1874 in a series of letters published
in the Oregon Sentinel in a discussion carried on with the editor
of the Mound City Spy, referring particularly to local politics.
The articles were widely read and gave their author a reputation
as a logical and vigorous writer. In 1876, he failed to obtain
the Republican nomination for State Senator by one vote.
During the Civil War, he served 3 years in the Union Army.
He enlisted in Aug., 1862 in the 14th Iowa regiment and was deployed
to the northwest against the Indians, his company being one of
three detailed from the 14th Iowa to relieve the regular troops
stationed in Indian country. While in the service, he became familiar
with the Black Hills area and in 1863 wrote for the Yankton Dakotian
the first account ever published of that since famous region.
Mr. DODD'S ancestors were originally from Kentucky. His father,
William R. DODDS, was one of the first pioneers to Iowa, immigrating
to that state, then known as the Wisconsin Terr., in 1833. Mr.
DODD'S brother, William D. DODDS, was the first citizen of Iowa
born in that state.
Edward DODGE, father of Levi DODGE, came to Holt Co., MO in
1842 and fed cattle on the rushes which covered the Mo. River
bottomland. Levi Dodge was born July 5, 1814 in Walde Co., Maine.
That fall, the family moved to Athens Co., OH and in 1837 to Clinton
Co., MO. Levi was married Jan. 12, 1834 (still in OH) to Sarah
HURSEY (born Feb. 8, 1813, daughter of Ariel HURSEY, Baptist preacher).
Mr. DODGE farmed in Clinton, Co. until 1850, then moved to Fillmore
in Andrew Co. and in fall of 1852 settled in Holt Co., on Squaw
Creek, on the farm occupied by John SCHRANTZ. In 1853 he sold
goods at Graham (Nodaway Co., MO) and kept the first post office
ever established there. He moved to Nebraska in 1854 and sold
goods at the Falls of Nemaha. In 1856 he kept a trading post on
the old California trace. In 1857-58 he engaged in unsuccessful
speculative enterprises at Winnebago, Nebraska. Mrs. DODGE practiced
medicine while they lived in Nebraska. She had a strong, natural
inclination and her success was up to the average of learned practitioners.
They moved back to Holt Co. in fall, 1859. He moved 17 times in
18 years, has always been busy at something, and is now one of
the enterprising businessmen of the county.