Henry W. Doidge
Henry W. Doidge was born near Napanee, Canada, July 25, 1872, a son of William and Anne (Ramsey) Doidge. His genealogy possesses more than ordinary interest, as members of his family have been conspicuous in the annals of three countries.
John Doidge, one of his ancestors, was a soldier in the English army and served through the French wars, one of the decisive battles in which he participated being that of Toulon. He married Miss Mary Ford, whose brother, Daniel Ford, was a member of the East India Company. After the death of his first wife he married Miss Susanna Churchill, who was a member of the Devonshire aristocracy. Mr. Doidge met his death by drowning in the English Channel during one of the battles in which he participated.
His son, John Doidge, better known among his friends as Captain Doidge, was overseer of a mine in England and moved to Canada in 1842. There he purchased and improved a farm near Napanee, built a home and reared his family. His wife was a Mary Hall. Of their children, William, the father of our subject, was born in Devonshire, England, June 24, 1840, and when still quite young returned to Wales, where he attended school. He developed unusual intellectuality and at the early age of nine years received a prize for passing the best examination in mathematics out of a class of seventy-two contestants. Today he is conceded to be one of the most competent mathematicians in Crawford county.
At the age of seventeen he returned to Canada and, following his father's example, cleared a farm in the forest, demonstrating, even this early in life, the indefatigable energy that permeates the family blood. Coming to Crawford county, Iowa, in 1873, he located in Goodrich township and there improved a farm, which he owned and operated until 1895, when he removed to Denison and is now enjoying the fruits of his early labors. He was first married in 1864 to Miss Mary Farley and of this union one child, William, was born, now deputy sheriff of the county in which Leavenworth, Kansas, is located.
His second marriage was to Miss Anne Ramsey, in 1870, and to them were born eight children, as follows: Henry W.; Maggie M., the widow of N. J. Anderson, of Arion, Iowa; Jane E., who married Thomas Carson, of Armstrong, South Dakota; Bertha A., deceased; John R.. who resides in Sioux City, Iowa; Milton R., of Arion, Iowa; Percival M., also of Arion; and Robert A., Glenellen, Iowa.
Henry W. Doidge was educated in the public schools of Goodrich township and remained at home until 1905, when he bought the place upon which he now resides and which consists of two hundred and four acres in Denison township. Here he successfully follows general farming. In September, 1910, his house was destroyed by fire but has since been replaced by a more commodious and modem residence.
On January 6, 1905, Mr. Doidge was united in marriage to Miss Ida May Mitchell, a native of Boone, Iowa, and a daughter of Henry and Jennie Van Hausen, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and are now residents of British Columbia.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Doidge, namely: Genevieve Ellen, Worth Edward and Ruby Ernestine.
Mr. Doidge takes an active interest in politics and the welfare of the township in which he lives, is a democrat and a member of the school board. Both he and his wife attend the Congregational church and he is a member of the Modem Woodmen of America.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.