The Dodge Family Association

Ossian Euclid Dodge, vocalist, born in Cayuga, New York, 22 October 1820; died in London, England, 4 November 1876. Having early given evidence of decided musical ability, he determined, much against the wishes of his friends, to become a professional singer of moral comic songs, which he composed and wrote himself. About 1845, in company with Bernard Covert, composer of the song "The Sword of Bunker Hill," he organized a concert troupe, and gave entertainments in most of the cities of the United States.

He was the first to take a company overland from New York to San Francisco, and was the first manager that ever gave an entertainment in the Mormon tabernacle at Salt Lake City.

Mr. Dodge was a strict teetotaler, and being brought frequently in contact, during the political canvass of 1844, with Henry Clay, Millard Fillmore, William H. Seward, and others of the Whig leaders, was entertained at dinner by Mr. Clay at Ashland, Kentucky, in October of that year, where wine was on the table. On being challenged to drink his host's health, Mr. Dodge excused himself on the ground of his total abstinence principles, and proposed substituting water for wine as " more emblematic of the purity of true friendship." Mr. Clay, replacing his untasted glass on the table, and scanning the features of his guest, but finding there no expression but that of the greatest respect, grasped him by the hand, and replied: "I honor your courage, and respect your principles, but," he added, laughingly, "I can't say that I admire your taste."

Mr. Dodge purchased the choice of a seat for the first concert given by Jenny Lind in Boston, Massachusetts, paying a premium of $625, which outlay, he asserted, was many times repaid, as, during the nine months following, he netted $11,000 in a tour of the New England states, being frequently compelled to give two concerts in one evening, in 1851 he was sent as a delegate to the "World's Peace Congress," held in Exeter Hall, London. He also acted as foreign correspondent for the Boston "Weekly Museum," a journal he had established in 1849. This was afterward transferred to Cleveland, where he removed about 1858, abandoning public singing and devoting himself to the sale of musical publications. Having invested largely in real estate in St. Paul, Minnesota, he settled in that City in 1862, where he amassed a fortune.

From 1869 till 1873 he was secretary of the St. Paul chamber of commerce. Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright (c) 2001 VirtualologyTM