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Newland (or Newell?) Dodge and Mahalla Jane Smith family
Newland Dodge is a mystery. No one can find any information on his parentage. There is a record of a Mahalla Jane Smith marrying a Newland Dodge 01 Jan 1834, but so far the proof has not been found. We post these photos here in the hopes that someone might recognize one or both of them. Please contact us if you have copies of these photos, or a picture of any one of these people, OR if you have any information that can be added about them.

Read the research done on this family

submitted by JodyWils@aol.com

(written on back and I am not sure just which names go to but this is the way it shows) Minerva (Dodge) Berry: Vinia (Lavina Ann Dodge) Leonard; Amanda Jane (Dodge) Bradshaw
Back row: George Hammel II; William Lawson Bess; James Monroe Bess; Joseph Francis Bess
Front row: Amanda Jane Dodge Hammel; Elnora J. "Allie" Bess; Ollie Isobel Bess; Laura Bradshaw
Husband: ------ DODGE #1285
Born: in NJ, OH or MA 1
Father:
Mother:

Census differs:
Francis Marion's birthplace of father show PA, while Amanda's indicates OH, and Lavina says MA

Wife: MAHALA JANE ------ #1286
Married: 01 JAN 1834 in Wayne Co., IN 2
Born: 10 JAN 1813/18 in IN 3
Died: 04 NOV 1892 in Stoddard Co., MO 4
Buried: in Fagan Cemetery, Puxico, Stoddard Co., MO 4
Father:
Mother:

A Mehala Jane Smith married Newland Dodge in 01 Jan 1834, Wayne Co., IN. Is this our Mahala Jane? No other record of Newland Dodge. Newell Dodge bought 40 acres of land in Johnson Co., IL 13 Feb 1853.
From the Illinois State Archives :
Purchaser: Dodge Newell
Residence of Purchaser: unknown
Description: Aliquot Parts or Lot SWNW
Section: 20
Township: 12S
Range: 02E
Meridan: 3
County: Johnson
Acres 40.00
Price: 000.00
Total Price Warrant
Type of Sale FD
Date of Purchase 02/13/1853
Volume 105
Page 110
1860 census Johnson Co., IL, Pg 77, J 12 S, R 2 E, Vienna p. O.
Dodge, M J - age 41 wid PA
Amanda - age 8 F IL
F M - age 7 M IL
Elizabeth - age 5 F IL
Lucretia - age 2 F IL
Green, James C - age 24 M TN Labor
Mahala Jane Dodge married James C. Green 17 Jan, 1860, Johnson Co. IL.
In 1864 Mahala Jane Green married John West on 02 May, Johnson Co., IL.
The 1870 Stoddard Co. MO census says Mahala Jane born 1813 in IN, the 1880 says she was born 1830 in PA, however, her daughter, Lavina, was born in 1835

1870 census Stoddard Co., MO, New Lisbon Twp., June 1, 1870, #179
West, Mahala 57 keeps house Value real estate $400, value personal property $200, - b. IN - can't read or write
Minerva A - age 16 F. b. IL
Francis - age 18 M. b. IL
The 1880 says her father was born in NJ and mother in PA.

1880 Stoddard Co. census lists her as Mahala J. West, widow. In the marriage records she was listed as Matilda J. Green when she married John West.

Stoddard County MO Probate , Records Book M pg 500, Made January 26 187l, filed January 27, 187l
In the Probate Court of Stoddard County MO.
In the matter of the estate of Patsey Jane Bess a minor (*)
Now comes Peter Bess Guardian of said minor and presents his ________ and says that in obediance to the order of this Court made at the October term A.D. 1870 he sold the real estate described in said order as follows The East l/2 of Lot 6 of the N.W. l/4 of Sec 5 town 27 N. Range l0 East 40 acres on the first day of January 187l to Mahala Jane West for her natural life then to Francis Marion Dodge at the price and sum of two hundred dollars first having had the same duly appraised by W. C. Davis W. W. Perry and W. M. Jenkins three disinterested householders of said county they having been duly sworn as appears by their certificate of appraisement herewith filed

And the said Mahala Jane West and Francis Marion Dodge have fully paid me for the said real estate according to the terms of said order.
Peter Bess
County of Stoddard so Peter Bess being sworn says he did not directly or indirectly purchase such real or any part thereof or any interest therein and that he is not interested in the property sold except as stated in said report.
Peter Bess
(*Patsy Jane died before October 1870)

Record of Wills, County of Stoddard, Missouri, Book C pg 103
State of Missouri, County of Stoddard

To all persons to whom these presents shall come Greeting: Know ye, that whereas John West late of this county of Stoddard died intestate, as it is said, leaving at the time of his death, property in this State which may be lost destroyed or diminished in value if Speedy Care be not taken of the Same; to the End, therefore, that the Said property may be collected, preserved and disposed of according to law. We do hereby appoint Mahala Jane West administratrix of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits which were of the said John West at the time of his death, with full power and authority to secure and dispose of said property according to law, and collect all moneys due said deceased, and in general to do and perform all other acts and things which are or hereafter may be required of her by law.

In witness whereof I Calib B. Crumb Judge of the Probate Court of Said Conty have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of said court, at office in Bloomfield, Mo. the 11th day of August 1869.
C. B. Crumb Judge of Probate

I Alfred Eltzroth Clerk of the Probate Court of Stoddard County certify that the preceeding Letters of Admistration are truly recorded in my office this 11th day of August A. D. 1869.
A. Eltzroth Clerk

1880 census Stoddard Co. MO., New Lisbon Twp, Pg. 6 B, family 55, 5th of June
Dodge, Francis M. age 27 IL NJ PA farming
Mary J. wife 26 TN TN TN
Sarah A. dau 5 MO IL TN
Ida Jane dau 3 MO IL TN
West, Mahala mother 60 PA NY PA (*note - may be NJ instead of NY, unable to read)
Ives, Thomas N. B/L 14 IL TN TN
F Child 1: LAVINA ANN DODGE #1287
Born: -- JAN 1835 in IN
Died:
Family called her Aunt Viney; 1900 Stoddard Co. census states 9 children born 3 living;

F Child 2: SABRAH DODGE #604
Born: ca --- 1842 in IL
Died:
widow of James Stephens; family called her Aunt Sabe;

F Child 3: AMANDA JANE DODGE #121
Born: 06 DEC 1848 in IL
Died: 05 APR 1904 in Rock Point Community, Swinton, Stoddard Co., MO
Marriage record states: "Lawson M. Bess - Mandah Hammel" page 107, #71
Declaration for Widow's Army Pension - State of MO. County of Stoddard

On the 19th day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty seven personally appeared before me, M. S. Phelan Clerk of the County Court within and for the County and State aforesaid AMANDA BESS a resident of Leora in the County of Stoddard and State of Mo. aged 38 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, in her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress, approved July 14, 1862. That she is the widow of Lawson Bess who enlisted in the service of the United States at Cape Girardeau in the State of MO on the 12th day of Feb 1862 as a Private in Company F commanded by Henry H. Brown in the 5th Regiment of MO S.M. Cav in the war of 1861, who while int he service aforesaid, in the line of his duty contracted disease which resulted in his death at Stoddard County in the State of Mo on the 12th day of January A.D., 1886. She further declares that she was married to the said Lawson Bess in the County of Stoddard and State of Mo on the 14th day of Aug in the year of 1870 that her name before said marriage was Amanda Dodge that her husband the aforesaid Lawson Bess died on the day above mentioned, that she has remained a widow ever since that period----She further swears that she has the following named children of her deceased husband and herself, under sixteen years of age, who are now living, the dates of whose births are given below, to wit:
Allie Bess born on the 10th day of Feb 1872
Wm Bess born on the 4th day of Aug 1875
Monroe Bess born on the 14th day of June 1879 (later affidavit changed to 1878)
Joseph Bess born on the 13th day of Dec 1881 (later affidavit changed to 1880)
Ollie Bess born on the lst day of July 1885
Amanda Bess
Affidavit of Ollie's birth signed by Nancy West as midwife
Affidavit of acquaintance with first wife & her death signed by Sarah Proffer
Affidavit of attending physician at birth of Wm. & Joseph
Affidavit of Peter Bess that he was present when Lawson died
Affidavit of Children under 16 years of age, guardian & remarriage of widow
Pension dropped -paid $10. to 30 Jun 1901 for Ollie. dated Mch 21st 1904
Guardian Records , Stoddard County, MO
BESS, J.M., J.F. and Ollie Under Age: Real Estate: Goods: To Pension Money $132.33 Date: 24 Oct 1892 Guardian: Geo. S. White Page: 58 - On marriage record for Amanda and Josiah Bradshaw it states that they were married at New Lakeville. Amanda's tombstone inscription: "Age 55Y 3M 29D". Tombstone bears name of Amanda J. Bess.
F Child 4: SARAH G. ELIZABETH DODGE #1288 Born: 1855 in IL Died: M Child 5: FRANCIS MARION DODGE #1289 Born: ca --- 1853 in IL Died:
1880 Census New Lisbon Twp,Stoddard Co., MO, pg 556B
Dodge, Francis M. 27 IL farmer father b. NY Mother b. PA
Mary Jane 26 TN TN TN
Sarah A 5 MO IL TN
Ida Jane 3 MO IL TN
West, Mahala J. mtr 50 PA NY PA
Ives, Thom N. b/l 14 IL TN TN
F Child 6: MINERVA DODGE #7856 Born: ca --- 1854 in IL Died: young in Stoddard Co., MO
Aunt Mayme remembers her father, William Lawson, saying Minerva had terrible stomach pains, but didn't know what was causing the pain. He felt it was appendicitis. Apparently this was cause of her death.

The 1860 census of Johnson Co., IL lists "Lucretia, age 2". Is this Minerva?

On a picture of Mahala Jane and her daughters, each is listed by name and it shows Minerva "Berry".
(1) 1870 Stoddard Co. MO census says Francis' father born NJ, Amanda's father born OH?
(2) Indiana State Library Genealogy Div, IN Marriages through 1850
(3) 1880 census Stoddard Co. MO, New Lisbon twp. "Mahala West" in home of F.M. Dodge as "Mother"
(4) 1870 census Stoddard Co., New Lisbon twp. listed as head with Minerva and Francis in home. Date: tombstone, inscription "w/o John West"
(5) Stoddard County Historical Society, Cemeteries of Stoddard County Misouri 1839-1992 (1996), Cemeteries of Stoddard County Missouri 1839-1992, Stoddard Co. Hist.Soc.

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