Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 24 June 2005

Page
976

COL. WILLIAM S. DODDS, retired; P. O. Mason; was born in Turtle Creek Township in 1808, and is a son of Benjamin and Martha (Drake) Dodds. He was born in Franklin Co., Penn., in 1775; she was born in Middlesex Co., N. J., in 1786, and came to Ohio with her mother, Mary (Sutton) Drake; she was married to a Mr. Van Pelt, and a son of this union married Thomas Corwin's sister. Benjamin Dodds came to Ohio in 1799, and permanently located in this county. He was married in 1802 and resided near Lebanon till 1808, when he came to Deerfield Township. Eleven children were born to them, three sons living, viz., Josephus, William S. and Joseph A [sic - probably should be John A.]. Mr. D. died Jan. 10, 1849; Mrs. D. died Feb. 13, 1866. His son, John A., was a member of the State Legislature for three terms. Josephus was Drum Major of an Ohio regiment and an aged man at the time. Benjamin, father of our subject, was a man of sound judgment and was often appealed to by those in trouble to arbitrate the difficulty. Our subject was reared on the farm till he was 17 years old, at which time from his circumstances he concluded to become a tailor, the decisive point being reached one cold morning, when his cold fingers and the bright glow of fire in a tailor shop helped him to come to the conclusion to apprenticed himself to a tailor, for whom he worked four years and nine months as

bound boy. At this point in his career, he began business "on his own hook," so to speak, and, by pushing matters, his business as a merchant tailor netted him cash, and, nine months after starting, had furnished a house, and, Sept. 6, 1832, was married to Sarah L., daughter of Abraham Lowe, and niece of Judge Lowe; she being the daughter of wealthy parents, had, as a matter of course, offers from wealthier suitors, and certain parties naturally objected to our subject, because he was a poor working young man, and whose only recommendation was health, strength, honesty and industry. These objections were removed by his marriage with the lady, and the time came when he had more wealth than those who opposed him. In his tailoring business he was prosperous and his trade was so extensive he could scarcely attend to it. He kept a store in connection and employed hands to do his work. After sixteen years in this kind of trade, he abandoned it and engaged in merchandising; handling real estate was his next venture, and he bought and sold a great deal of property and was very successful, making considerable money, and is now among the wealthy men of the county and a highly respected citizen. He is now retired from active business pursuits and is enjoying his declining years amid peace and plenty, and he feels that his life has not been altogether uneventful He belongs to no sect, denomination or creed; this world, his home; his brethren, all mankind. His wife died July 16, 1879, aged 70 years, 5 months and 20 days; was born Jan. 21, 1809. To Mr. and Mrs. D. were born three children, two living, viz., Courtland and Adolphus. Oscar died Aug. 16, 1864, aged 26 years, 11 months and 23 days. He served some time in the army as an Orderly; was taken sick, was brought home, returned again, was taken sick, returned again to his home, where he died.