Lydia Agnes (Hughes) Dodds 1847 - 1937

HUGHES, DODDS, CLARK, MORRIS

Posted By: Linda H Meyers (email)
Date: 5/31/2008 at 16:52:57

MRS. AGNES DODDS OF AMES IS DEAD
Lived in Community for 81 Years

Mrs. Agnes Dodds, 90, who came to Ames in a covered wagon in 1856 and lived here for 81 years, died at her home at 621 Clark avenue at 6 a.m., Friday. She had been in ill health for the past few weeks, from a stroke suffered shortly after her ninetieth birthday Feb. 25.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m., Sunday from the Adams chapel, with the Rev. Walter Morgan, pastor of the First Methodist church, in charge. Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove cemetery about eight miles northeast of Ames.

Page of History
Like a page from the early history of Iowa is the interesting life story of Mrs. Dodds. Born Lydia Agnes Hughes, daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Hughes, in Green county, Pa., she was one of a family of 11 children.
In February, 1856, the family, then consisting of the parents and five children, left their home in Pennsylvania for the prairie lands of Iowa.
After traveling for five weeks in a covered wagon the family arrived on the banks of the Skunk river April 5, and established a homestead. There was no town of Ames at that time.

First Sawmill
Mr. Hughes erected the first sawmill on the banks of the river and later made a grist mill. The children attended the Bloomington school, remains of which town may now be seen northeast of Ames.
Prior to her marriage Mrs. Dodds taught at the Pleasant Grove school, which had an enrollment of 56 at that time. All during her life, even after the couple retired in 1905 and moved to Ames, Mrs. Dodds was active, reading being her special hobby.

Eight Children
Surviving Mrs. Dodds are eight children, Mrs. Frank Morris and Mrs. Robert Clark of Ames, Ross of southwest of Gilbert, Harry of ---ario, Bert of Ortonville, Minn., Clarence of Britton, S. D., George of Ocean Park, Cal., Ira of north of Gilbert. Also surviving are 22 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

--from a local paper