Newspaper Clippings for
April, 1869
loose obituary, source unknown 01 April 1869William Bradford Dodge
"Father Dodge" the
founder of the Millburn Insurance Co. and one of the best known of Lake
County's pioneers passes on. His memory is venerated by all and the impress
of his sterling character is yet felt in the community where he made his home.
______quent tribute to the good old man, and Father Dodge _____________
the incident with pleasurable and grateful recollection.
Deceased came to Illinois with his family on the 15th day of
May, 1844, and settled in Millburn on the Clarkson Place where he continued
to reside until his death. A few months after his arrival, the Congregational
Church in that town gave him a call to the pastorate which he accepted,
continuing to be minister to the parish for twenty years, when believing
that Millburn required a younger clergyman, he resigned, and was succeeded
by Rev. Mr. Bross who after a few years was called to a church in
Iowa, the present incumbent Rev T. Lightbody of St. Charles taking the
vacated office.
When Mr. Dodge settled in Millburn the Cong'l Society worshipped
in a log school house, and it was through his personal efforts and by the assistance
of friends from abroad, that a frame church was erected. In the course
of years this building became too small for the want of his increasing
congregation, and Mr. Dodge, by his influence aided in having the second church
sold to the town for a school house, and the present more sightly and commodious
structure built in its place.
Mr. Dodge leaves a widow, three sons and two daughters, as well
as a wide and extended circle of friends. His death awakens numerous kindly
recollections, and elicits the many who know him, anecdotes of his
genial disposition.
It is well known that during the time he held the pastorate
of Millburn litigation was rare between the members of his congregation,
in cases of dispute, parties preferring rather to refer their differences to
Father Dodge, than to have to resort to the courts. His decisions almost
invariably gave satisfaction to parties making him arbitrator, and
this fact is sufficient evidence of the practival good sense and moderation
of the man.
Despite the impassable state of the roads, the funeral was very
respectably attended, and had the roads permitted, the County generally
would have been glad to have paid him the last sad tribute of respect.
His life was fruitful of good works, and with him, to exchange mortality
for a better and brighter existence was only to go to his own place -- to his
well spent life's well earned reward.
10 April 1869OBITUARY
Rev. William B. Dodge.
We had barely space in our last issue to mention the demise of
this venerable gentleman, who departed this life, at his residence
in Millburn, on Thursday, April 1st, aged 85 years and 6 months.
He had been confined to his room, with a cold for a few weeks
past, but no immediate apprehensions were entertained of a fatal
termination to his malady, (other than those naturally arising
from his advanced years,) until within a short time before his
death. He died very calmly, and left the world as he had lived in
it, with the respect and love of all who knew him.
The life of a man and Christian, like Father Dodge, as he was
familiarly called, is instructive and pleasant to consider,
exciting no jealousies, walking in quiet and useful paths, his
career was marked by industry and exemplary and uniform practice
of the teachings of his Divine Master. He was so thoroughly under
the tongue of good repute, that the breath of scandal never
sullied his name.
Father Dodge was born in Rowley, Mass, in 1788. He had taught
School in Salem for nearly 40 years, and during about half that
period been Chaplain to the Alms House in that city.
As "Master Dodge," of Salem, he had under his charge, at various
times many of the most eminent men of Massachusetts, and, if we
are not mistaken, Hon Charles Sumner was, at one period, one of
his pupils. Some seven or eight years ago, a number of his old
pupils, now eminent at the bar and in various walks of public
life, sent out here for "Master Dodge," as they affectionately
called him, and he accepted the invitation. They welcomed him
warmly, on his arrival in Salem, and invited him to hear the class
as in the good old days of yore.
Among his hosts, was one, Robert Morris, the eminent and talented
colored lawyer, who stated that all that he was he owed to "Master
Dodge" who, at a time when the prejudice against color was so
strong, in Massachusetts, that he a poor boy, doing chores in a
lawyer's office could not obtain entrance to a school in the city
of Boston although his employers offered to pay the tuition
(schools were not free, at that time) it was Master Dodge who had
succeeded in getting his pupils, to not only let him enter the
Salem School; but to cause him to be treated justly, and even
kindly. He paid an eloquent tribute to the good old man, and
Father Dodge frequently dwelt upon the incident with pleasurable
and grateful recollection.
Deceased came to Illinois with his family on the 15th day of May
1844, and settled in Millburn on the "Clarkson Place," where he
continued to reside until his death. A few months after his
arrival, the Congregational church in that town gave him a call to
the pastorate, which he accepted, continuing to minister to the
parish for twenty years, when believing that Millburn required a
younger clergyman, he resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr.
Bross, who, after a few years was called to a church in Iowa, the
present incumbent, Rev. T. Lightbody, of St. Charles, taking the
vacated office.
When Mr. Dodge settled in Millburn, the Congregational society
worshipped in a log school house, and it was through his personal
efforts and by the assistance of friends from abroad, that a frame
church was erected. In the course of years, this building became
two small for the want of his increasing Congregation, and Mr.
Dodge by his influence, aided in having this second church sold to
the town for a school house, and the present, more sightly and
commodious structure built in its place.
Mr. Dodge leaves a widow, three sons and two daughters as well as
a wide and extended circle of friends. His death awakens numerous
kindly recollections, and elicits from many who know him,
anecdotes characteristic of his genial disposition.
It is well known that during the time he held the pastorate of
Millburn, litigation was rare between the members of his
congregation, in cases of dispute, parties preferring rather to
refer their differences to Father Dodge than to have to resort to
the Courts. His decisions almost invariably gave satisfaction to
parties making him arbitrator, and this fact is sufficient
evidence of the practical good sense and moderation of the
man.
Despite the impassable state of the roads, the funeral was very
respectably attended, and had the roads permitted, the county
generally would have been glad to have paid him the last sad
tribute of respect. His life was fruitful in good works, and,
with him, to exchange mortality for a better and brighter
existence, was only to go to his own place-to his well spent
life's well earned reward.
