DODGE, MRS. EMILY (CARLON)

DODGE, CARLON, MALLARD, CALDWELL, DANIELS, MCKNIGHT, SLACK, KINSEY, RAMSEY, HEWLITT, CURTIS, WALSH

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 4/30/2004 at 12:09:27

Biography reproduced from page 364 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Well known among the teachers of Kossuth county is Mrs. Emily (Carlon) Dodge, who has during most of her life been identified with its educational and social life. She is the owner of a half-section of land in North Dakota, a quarter-section of which she homesteaded, and is now residing in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Emily Carlon was born at Irvington, Kossuth county, March 31, 1863, a daughter of Kinsey and Henrietta (Mallard) Carlon. Her father during his lifetime followed agricultural pursuits, settling in the vicinity of Irvington in March, 1858. He had, however, previously visited Irvington in search of a new location, coming to this county first in 1856. Emily Carlon on the paternal side is descended from Joseph Carlon, an Irish Catholic, who alienated himself from his family by marrying Elizabeth Caldwell, a Scotch Presbyterian. After the birth of their first child they emigrated to America, the little son dying on the ocean voyage. They settled first in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, later removing to Bedford county. After the death of Joseph Carlon, which occurred about 1808, the mother and her nine children moved to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where she passed away in 1846. William Carlon, the grandfather of the subject of this review and the fourth child in the family of Joseph and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Carlon, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, November 8, 1798, and died May 30, 1867. On November 15, 1821, he had married Hannah Daniels, who was born September 3, 1798, the wedding being celebrated at Harlansburg, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. There the young couple settled upon a farm that has since remained the property of representatives of the family, it now being occupied by Joseph M. McKnight and his wife Hannah (Carlon) McKnight. Hannah (Daniels) Carlon, the grandmother of our subject, passed away April 17, 1891. She was descended from Kinsey and Mary (Slack) Daniels, the former a son of Jonathan and Johannah (Kinsey) Daniels. Johannah Daniels was a native of New Jersey but removed to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, with her son Kinsey and family, her husband having died, and in 1805 settled in Mercer, now Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, where she passed away in 1830 at the venerable age of one hundred and one years. To William and Hannah Carlon ten children were born, two of whom died in early childhood. Kinsey Carlon, their eldest son, was born at Harlansburg, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1824. He was twice married, his first union being with Lavina Ramsey, whom he wedded at Plain Grove, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1850. She was born May 18, 1828, and died April 4, 1855. On July 23, 1857, Mr. Carlon married Henrietta Mallard, in Maquoketa, Iowa. She was born in Lower Squankum, Monmouth, New Jersey, March 7, 1837, and is descended from Fayette Mallard, a native of Vermont, and Mariam (Hewlitt) Mallard, who was born at Lower Squankum, New Jersey, October 11, 1811, and died at Waterford, Jackson county, Iowa, October 7, 1849. In the spring of 1863 Mr. Mallard with others of his family went overland to Stockton, California, where he resided until his death, some years ago.

Emily Carlon, the third in order of birth in a family of four children, was educated in the public schools of Kossuth county, which through her love for good literature has greatly supplemented. She became a teacher in the public schools, a profession which she followed for several years. During the greater part of her life she resided in the county of her birth but in 1901 took up a homestead at Norwich, North Dakota, which she still holds, being also the owner of another quarter-section in the neighborhood. In spite of the recent unfavorable seasons in North Dakota she has faith in the future of that state. She removed on August 15, 1911, to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where her daughter, Josephine, is taking a course at the State Teacher’s College. From August, 1909, until August, 1911, she was superintendent of Benedict Home at Fort Dodge, giving efficient service and entire satisfaction in that connection. She has for years been an active member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and was for many years president of the twentieth district. She is an ardent supporter of equal suffrage, a view which is shared by all of her relatives.

At Algona, Iowa, September 4, 1882, she was united in marriage to Henry Curtis Dodge, the son of Dana Danford and Lydia (Curtis) Dodge. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Custis Dodge four children were born. Helen Lydia, born at Irvington, Iowa, May 9, 1883, married William Walsh at St. Paul, Minnesota, November 1, 1900, and died at Algona, Iowa, November 20, 1904. Carlon Fayette was born at Irvington, July 7, 1884. Dana Craig was born in Portland township, Kossuth county, October 26, 1887. Josephine Henrietta, who completes the family, was born at Algona, March 17, 1893. The sons are now located at Red Rock, Lassen county, California, where they are developing a large ranch.

Mrs. Dodge is a member of the Women’s Relief Corps and belongs to the Ladies’ Library Aid Society as well as the missionary and church societies. She is a member of the Congregational church of Cedar Falls and for many years was connected with the church of that denomination at Algona. She is a broadminded, intelligent woman, thoroughly conscientious and possessing the strictest integrity, and in her various official and social connections as well as in her professional and private life she has formed a large number of acquaintances and close personal friends, all of whom hold her in the highest respect.