Dodd, Malinda Baker – 1849 – 1916

BAKER, BORTSFORD, DODD, GRAEF, JEFFRIES, NEEDS, TIFFANY

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:34

Called Very Suddenly By Death
Mrs. Malinda Dodd, After an Active Day’s Work, Expires Without Warning.
This community was shocked Sunday morning to learn that Mrs. Malinda Dodd had passed away suddenly about eleven-thirty the night before. Mrs. Dodd has of late been in most excellent health and had that day done a washing and ironing and had been down town in the evening. She retired at the usual time but when her son, Orrin, came to get his team about eleven-thirty and had some trouble about getting a colt hitched up, Mrs. Dodd got up again and brought a lamp out so that he could see better. After standing there a moment or two she called to Orrin that she was dying. He hastened to her side and seated her on the step of an auto and went into the house for some camphor. When he returned she put some on her forehead but almost instantly slid from her seat on the auto step and expired without a struggle. The following is a brief story of her life.
Malinda Baker Dodd was born December 31st, 1849, in Franklin county, Indiana, coming to Iowa in early life with her parents, Shelby and Elizabeth Baker. The pioneer home was established in Jasper county, a few miles south of Newton. A few years after, she, with her parents moved to Story county, Iowa, settling near Nevada, in the Mullen neighborhood, where she grew to womanhood, and spent her school day life. Then in 1865 the family left Story county returning to Jasper county, where their home was established near Clyde. At this home she was united in marriage to William Dodd, son of Joseph and Amelia Dodd. This union was severed by the death of her husband in 1891. To this union were born twelve children, nine of whom still survive their mother, being Mrs. Amelia Tiffany, Joseph Dodd, Mrs. Elizabeth Graef, Mrs. Emma Needs, Mrs. Pearl Jeffries, Mrs. Sully Bortsford, William Dodd, Roy Dodd and Orrin Dodd. In early life Mrs. Malinda Dodd united with the Evangelical church and later with the Methodist church. Industry and faithfulness to her family were crowning characteristics of her life. No sacrifice was too great nor time importune for her to provide their many necessities. She departed this life very suddenly and without preceding sickness or suffering, June 10th, 1916, being in her 67th year.
Funeral services were held from Bethel church near her old home. The services being conducted by the Rev. Wikoff who delivered a very able and sympathetic address. The music was furnished by a quartet composed of Mrs. Copeland, Miss Anthony, G. Gill and Tom Williams, with Mrs. Wall as accompanist.
God thought to give the sweetest thing in His Almighty power to earth, so pondering what it should be, one hour in love of life and joy of heart surpassing every other, He moved the gates of Heaven ajar and gave to earth a Mother.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Clipper; June 15, 1916