WI BIO - Dane Co - DODGE, John W.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 508-509

John W. DODGE is a farmer living on section 23, in York Township, Dane 
County, WI. His father, Willis DODGE, was born in Oneida County, NY, and 
grew up there until he was 20 years of age. At that time Willis DODGE made a 
trip to WI on foot and passed through Janesville, Rock County, when there was 
but one house there. He traveled all the way from NY to Fond du Lac, WI, and 
studied the country. He was so pleased with the appearance around where 
Janesville now stands that he bought land there and paid some upon his 
purchase, and then returned to NY. Nathaniel DODGE, his father, had not seen 
the land and naturally distrusting the judgment of youth, dissuaded him from 
either returning to WI or paying more upon the land, and to induce him to 
remain he bought him a farm in his home vicinity, paying for it $4,000, and 
there Willis DODGE remained until the death of his father. Willis DODGE 
received a fair education in the common schools, and when his father had died 
he immediately made his way to the State which had so taken his boyish fancy. 
He bought farm on section 23 in Dane County, WI, improved it and added to it 
until he had 320 acres. When he came to this place there were very few 
improvements here, and he began at once to improve it. He found the land 
fine for wheat and could raise great crops of that cereal, but he had to haul 
it a long distance to Milwaukee and then sell it for from 25 to 50 cents per 
bushel. After a few years he built a better house, hauling the lumber from 
Nickeljohn's mills, a distance of 112 miles, by team, and this same house is 
still standing.

The first two marriages of Willis DODGE, father of our subject, took place in 
NY, but in WI he found his third wife, Miss Harriet CLOSS, a native of NY. 
From this marriage came a family of four children: Ella, married S. D. 
SMITH, and lives in New York township [NY]; John W.; Ida May, married George 
E. GRAHAM; and Hattie, lives at home. Willis DODGE died in 1882. The 
children of his first marriage were: Eunice, deceased; Amarilla, married O. 
CARSKADEN and lives in NY; Emily, married John JOHNSON and lives in York 
Township, Dane County, WI; and Adelia, died in IA and left three children. 
The children of the second marriage were: Roxy, deceased, died in KS and 
left one child; Eliza, married Malford H. CARSKADEN and lives in Prescott 
[Linn County], KS; Jane, is the mother of two children, married Philander 
PERKINS (deceased); Maria, married Fren HORAEHE (deceased); George W., who 
died in York Township [Dane County], WI; and Luraney, deceased, who married 
Eben PERKINS in NY.

The grandfather of our subject was Nathaniel DODGE, a VT farmer, who went to 
Oneida County, NY, and there taught school and singing school, and married 
Miss Eunice PERRY, of CT, and reared a family of four children: Orpha, 
deceased; Mary, married her cousin Andrew PERRY and both are deceased; Willis 
D., the father of our subject; and George W., deceased.

The farm which Willis DODGE owned was rented at the time of his death, and as 
soon as the time was out, John W. DODGE, who was born the only son on 05 Jul 
1864, took charge of the place and now rents 320 acres for a cash rent. His 
aged mother finds a pleasant home with him. He is interested in creameries, 
conducting one in York Township, Dane County, WI, and a [p 509] partner, 
owning a half interest, conducts one in [the town of] Bristol [Dane County, 
WI].

John W. DODGE was married on 20 Nov 1889 to Miss Lettie BRADLEY, born in 
Cottage Grove Township, Dane County, WI, and one child, little Robert, has 
been born into the family. Mr. DODGE is a very intelligent man and he cannot 
help showing some regret that his father did not retain his land in WI. It 
would have proven very valuable. He often tells how his father in that long 
trip on foot would overtake teams and outstrip them to some place.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly