Isabel Jane Dodds 1863-1901

DODDS, HARRIS

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 8/16/2021 at 06:21:21

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, March 14, 1901
Page 1

After years of struggling with the dread disease that was bound in the outcome, to claim her life, Miss Belle Dodds went quietly to sleep, a peaceful, restful sleep, at about 5 o'clock last Saturday evening, and with moving scarcely a muscle at 8:10 passed to eternal rest. Short funeral services were held at her late home on Tuesday afternoon; Rev. Fouse offered a short prayer, Mrs. W. F. Hall sang the 23rd psalm and Rev. Drew offered another short prayer. The remains were then laid away in the Columbus city cemetery.

She was a strong, healthy woman until four years ago last November, when she was operated on for what the physicians called a tumor. For two years after this it seemed that the operation had been a success, and then the trouble broke out a new. Since then she has undergone ten more operations for the same disease. Four weeks ago last Monday, while she was about her work in her store, she was taken with a bad spell and it was necessary to have her sent home in a carriage. She took her bed and never was up much after that. She sank rapidly until her death on March 9, 1901. Her father died just seven years before, to the exact hour. During all of her struggle she showed a fortitude and a cheerfulness that seemed wonderful. Even after she gave up all hope of getting well, and during the last three weeks of her life, when her suffering was intensely keen, she kept up this same cheerful spirit.

Isabel Jane Dodds was born in Washington county, Ohio, in 1863. She received her schooling in Ohio and in Wheeling, West Virginia. She came to Iowa, to Corning, in 1882, making her home with her sister, Mrs. J. M. Harris, and removed with them to Columbus City on 1887 and to Columbus Junction in 1891, immediately after the big fire. before moving to this place Miss Dodds had had dressmaking rooms in the old Murdock house for three years. After the fire she began clerking for P. H. Collins and afterward clerked for H. D. Rifenberg a little while, when she went to Washington and was employed in the store of Wm. Blair & Son for nearly a year. About five years ago she opened a ladies furnishing store in the room with the Jewett Sisters' millinery store in the Odd Fellows building, and the next year moved into apart of the room with Mrs. Julia Williams, where she continued in business as long as she was able.

She leaves, besides many friends, six brothers and two sisters to mourn her death. Four of the brothers, James of Lamar, Col., Wm. of Boone, Robt. of Ames, and George of Lakin, Kas., were present at the funeral and they, with with two cousins, T. J. Martin of Crawfordsville and James Dodds of Wyman, were the pall bearers. Mr. Wilbur Miller, funeral director of Washington, had charge of the funeral.