Dodd, Charles E.

DODD, MILLION, STOCK, KUHNS, BURNETT, KITCHEL, EVANS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/28/2009 at 21:59:18

Dodd, Charles E.

There are few who can more justly claim the proud American title of self-made man than Charles E. Dodd, farmer and stock raiser of Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, for early m life he started out for himself and when quite young learned to depend upon himself. His educational privileges were limited and no special advantages fitted him for the cares and responsibilities of life; but he was industrious, determined, ambitious and resolute and these qualities stood him instead of fortune, enabling him to overcome the difficulties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward to the plane where success places the laurel upon the victor's brow. He has not held back when the public needed his services, and although young in years when the Great War between the states began to threaten the foundations of the Republic, he unhesitatingly went forth to do what he could to preserve the nation's integrity.

Mr. Dodd was born near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, January 14, 1841, and there he spent his boyhood and received a common school education. He is the son of Joseph and Amelia (Million) Dodd, the father born in New York, September 27, 1817, and the mother was born in Kentucky, November 6, 1821. They came to Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, Iowa, in 1852, when their son, Charles E., was thirteen years of age. Here they began life in typical pioneer fashion, the country being a wild prairie, but they persevered and finally established a very comfortable home in which they lived until summoned away from earthly scenes, the father dying in the spring of 1897, and the mother's death occurred on August 17, 1889. There were ten children in their family, six of whom are living at this writing, namely: Charles E., of this review; Sarah J., born January 9, 1843, is deceased; William, born March 23, 1845, and Mrs. Amelia Stock are both deceased; G. W., born September 23, 1847, is living in Washington; J. H., born February 5, 1850, is deceased; S. P., born July 18, 1852, lives in Clear Creek Township; Frank J., of Clear Creek Township; Mark, born November 21, 1860, lives in Wisconsin; Fred lives in Marshall County, Iowa.

Charles E. Dodd was married in 1865 to Elizabeth Kuhns, who was born in Ohio, October 23, 1846, but most of her life has been spent in Jasper County, Iowa, whither she came with her parents in 1855. She is the daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth (Burnett) Kuhns, the father born in Pennsylvania and died in Newton, Iowa. There were ten children in the Burnett family.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dodd have been born thirteen children, nine of whom are living, namely: Ulysses, John, Dennis, Stella Kitchel, Milo (resides in northeastern Iowa), Edward, Ordema Evans, Horace and Cleve; the other children died in infancy. The above named, with the exception of Milo, reside in this locality. The older children were born in Clear Creek Township, the younger ones in Collins Township. Story County.
Charles E. Dodd enlisted at Clyde, Iowa, in Company. E, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faithfully over three years and received an honorable discharge. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Corinth, Iuka and was with Banks on the Red River expedition.
Politically, he is a Democrat; he has been a member of the school board in his district, and he belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic post at Mingo. Mr. Dodd has been very successful as a farmer and he is now the owner of a well-improved and productive place of one hundred and sixty acres in Collins Township. Story County, where he has resided since 1884. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1333.