James Griffin Dodd

DODD, DUBOIS, KESSLER, KNIGHT, BEABER

Posted By: Sharon K Hesebeck (email)
Date: 3/6/2015 at 13:09:27

James G. Dodd

James Griffin Dodd age 88 years a Civil War Veteran and former resident of Clay County died last Thursday, June 25 at his home in Montevideo, Minnesota following a lingering illness.

The body was brought to Spencer Saturday morning and funeral services were that afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Jones Funeral Home.

Burial was made in the cemetery south of Spencer.

James Griffin Dodd was born at Huntington, Indiana near the "Old Swimming Hole" made famous in the "Hoosier School Master" and was the last surviving member of a family of eight children.

His parents moved to Clay County from that city when he was 9 years of age. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Co. I Second Iowa Cavalry and served during the entire conflict. His father, four brothers and a brother-in-law were serving in the Union Army at one time. His grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

Mr. Dodd received his discharge at Selma, Alabama, but was kept there several months on Patrol Duty. He fought in every battle in which his company was engaged. While his regiment did not participate in the battle of Shiloh, he was sent there as a carrier and was kept busy carrying messages during that encounter.

The year following the close of the war, Mr. Dodd was united in marriage with Elizabeth Dubois at Manchester, Iowa. After their marriage they moved to Clay County, where they took a homestead on Section 14 in Douglas Township.

Six children were born to this union namely, Nora, who died at 4 1/2 years of age. Mary Leona, who died at the age of 20; Edith Jane Beaber, who died in 1926. Children surviving are: Mrs. Maude Kessler of Washburn, Missouri: Alma Knight and Claude Dodd of Montevideo, Minnesota. His wife preceded him in death thirty nine years ago.

Beside his children mentioned above, Mr. Dodd is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

A few months previous to his death, Mr. Dodd personal requested the American Legion to accord him full military honors. His last conscious testimony to his pastor was, "I have an expectation that it would takes wonders to destroy.

Spencer Reporter
July 2, 1931 page 8