DODGE, Mary (Smith) 1839-1931

SMITH, DODGE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/25/2010 at 20:27:23

Mary Smith-Dodge

Mary Smith was born in Oswego County, New York, January 15, 1839, and died May 1, 1931, at the advanced age of 92 years, 3 months and 16 days. She was one of a family of ten children, five boys and five girls, all having preceded her except one brother, George Smith, of Jefferson, Iowa.

When she was six years of age, the family moved to Illinois and six years later to Allamakee County, Iowa. At the age of 17, she married Martin Dodge, and in 1864 they moved to Osage, where they spent one year.

From there they moved to the farm east of Orchard which has since been the family home. Mr. Dodge died in 1913.

To this union five children were born: Charles H., now deceased; Edgar, with whom she made her home; Mrs. Florence Clark, deceased; and Emery M., and Eddie, Jr., both of Orchard.

Besides rearing their own family, she and Mr. Dodge welcomed into their home their son, Edgar, and his two little boys, Earnest and Bert, 2 and 4 years of age, whose home was broken up by the death of the wife and mother. Both of these boys, whom she reared and loved as her own, have preceded her.

In girlhood she was converted into the Baptist faith and became a member of the Baptist church being a charter member of the Lincoln Baptist Church.

She leaves to mourn her passing three sons, one brother, nine grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren, besides numerous relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services were conducted at the home Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock in charge of the Reverend J. D. Kern, assisted by the Reverend P. J. Smith, of Orchard.

The body was laid to rest beside her husband in the Orchard Cemetery.

[Mitchell County Press News, Osage, Iowa, May 6, 1931]