W. C. DODDS, M.D.

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Dr. W. C. Dodds and Mrs. W. C. Dodds

Dr. W. C. Dodds, honored and respected by all, was numbered among the pioneer physicians of this section of the state, beginning practice in Cedar Bluff in 1854. The weight of years finally caused him to put aside professional cares, but as the loved family physician the memory of his work is yet cherished in many a household.

Dr. Dodds was born in Maryland, April 25, 1822, a son of Andrew and Sarah Dodds. His education was acquired in Amesville, Ohio, his parents having removed with the family to that state. It required pluck and perseverance for a poor boy in that early day to fit himself for the medical profession, but Dr. Dodds determined to engage in the practice of medicine as his life work and for four years studied with Dr. Fulton, one of the best physicians and surgeons of that day, as his preceptor. He began practice in Rome, now Fostoria, Ohio, in 1850, and there remained for two years, returning in 1852 to Amesville, where for one year he engaged in practice in partnership with Dr. Fulton.

In 1854 Dr. Dodds was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Phillips, a daughter of Captain Ezra Phillips, of Athens county, Ohio, and shortly afterward came to Iowa in search of a business location and home. He then settled in Cedar Bluff, where he met the usual experiences of a doctor in a new country, with all the drawbacks attendant upon professional service in pioneer days. Such a practice meant long rides over a sparsely settled district, through the hot summer sun and the winter’s cold, but he never refused to respond to a call where his services were needed, even at the sacrifice of his own personal comfort and interest, and thus in a comparatively short time was enjoying a paying practice. He continued as an active and capable follower of his profession for nearly forty years, when his health failed, obliging him to abandon professional duties. In the meantime he had wisely made investment in land and owned at one time nearly four hundred acres in Cedar county, while at the time of his death he was the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres adjoining Cedar Bluff, together with some town property.

Unto Dr. and Mrs. Dodds there were born seven children, of whom one son died in infancy. The others are: Charles A., who married Susan Pfaff; William O., who wedded Margaret Fisher; Harry, who married Alice Moyer; Clara A., the wife of Charles Pfaff; Forrestine, the wife of Charles Laubscher; and Mary E., the wife of Lewis Benda.

These children are all living within a radius of eight miles, of which the old homestead is the center, and within its walls until a short time ago many happy reunions were held, when the children all came home, adding cheerfulness to the latter part of the life journey which Dr. and Mrs. Dodds began together in 1852, but as a lightning bolt and thunder clap from a clear sky in the twinkling of an eye all was changed, for the dear wife and mother was stricken by the relentless hand of death and earth knew her no more. Although seemingly in good health, on the 1st of August, 1904, she was that day called from life, at the age of seventy-three years, three months and twenty-three days. Her demise was mourned by the whole community. To each and all she had been a friend in every sense. Hers was a lovely character and all who knew her revere her memory. One of the local papers said of her: “Mrs. Dodds was an ideal home queen. Her life was wrapped up in her husband, children and grandchildren. Their sorrows were her sorrows, their joys were her joys. All her children and grandchildren are settled in or near Cedar Bluff, Iowa. They are all highly respected and prosperous which more clearly than anything else demonstrates the true life of Mrs. Dodds. Sixteen grandchildren, three brothers, three sisters and a host of friends mourned the loss of an ideal companion, a loving mother, a noble grandmother, an affectionate sister, a true friend and an obliging neighbor. Mrs. Dodds was a friend to all. Her delight was to plant flowers of love along the pathway of her fellow travelers. To know her was to love her.”

After the death of his wife Dr. Dodds made his home with his children, and died at the residence of his son Harry, north of Cedar Bluff, September 15, 1910, at the age of eighty-eight years, four months and ten days. For fifty-six years he was a resident of Cedar county and was closely associated with the life and best interests of the community, while his genuine personal worth ever commended him to the confidence and good will of his neighbors, his patrons and his friends. It has been given to but few to awaken as little enmity and to win as high regard as was uniformly tendered Dr. Dodds.