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Bernard Ogilvie Dodge
An 8th generation descendant of Rebecca Towne Nurse who was hung in the Salem witch trials Bernard's father was Elbridge Gerry Dodge Sent by Judy Ragan |
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BERNARD OGILVIE DODGE, an eighth generation descendant of Rebecca Towne Nurse, was a mycologist associated with The New York Botanical Garden for many years. In 1956, the Botanical Society of America while presenting him with their Merit Award said about him, "He is an American botanist and pioneer researcher whose perceptive researches into the taxonomy, evolution, and pathological relations of the fungi have not been surpassed, but only overshadowed by his discovery and exploitation of Neurospora as a principal source of the genetical truth" (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2004). Mr. Dodge, as an avid researcher, also became quite interested in his ancestry and exchanged correspondence about his Nourse ancestors, in the early 1940s, with Captain Charles A. Towne. A copy of one of his letters, regarding his family history, is included in this article. Nourse lineage: William Towne, Rebecca Towne m. Francis Nurse, Benjamin Nurse, John Nourse, Nathaniel Nourse, William Nourse, Mary Ann Nourse m. Elbridge Gerry Dodge, Bernard Ogilvie Dodge. Bernard Ogilvie Dodge was born on 18 Apr 1872 in Mauston, Wisconsin, to Elbridge Gerry Dodge and Mary Ann Nourse. He married on 14 June 1906 to Jennie Salome Perry who was born 23 December 1878 in Algoma, Wisconsin, to Abisha and Bertha Perry (1880 Algoma Census, CAT Collection). The Dodges had no children. He graduated from Mauston High School and Milwaukee State Teachers College, received his B.A. at University of Wisconsin, 1909, and his Ph.D. in botany and physics at Columbia University in 1912, where he was a research fellow in field botany. He continued at Columbia as instructor in Botany until 1920, when he joined the Bureau of Plant Industry of the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC as a plant pathologist.< The website of the New York Botanical Garden has the following (www.nybg.org/basci/libr/Dodge5.htm): "Bernard Ogilvie Dodge (1872-1960) was a mycologist whose study of the common bread mold Neurospora significantly advanced the science of genetics and biochemical genetics in the twentieth century. His early studies of reporduction in microscopic fungi of the family Ascobolaccae, fungal parasites of fruit and rusts of trees led to important findings in the development of plant disease control." "In 1928 the New York Botanical Garden appointed Dodge plant pathologist, a position which he retained until his retirement in 1947. During this time he was also a consultant in Mycology for the Presbyterian Hospital and a lecturer in dermatology for the College of Physicians and Surgeions, both in New York City. Mr. Dodge continued as plant pathologist emeritus and consultant in mycology until 1957. While his official duties involved the control of plant diseases and insect pests, he assiduously pursed reserach on Neurospora, often on his hown time and with limited resources." The 1930 Bronx, Bronx Co., New York census on page 229 has: Bernard O. Dodge, age 56, pathologist-plants WS, VT, VT and Jennie S. Dodge, age 48, WS, NY, Germany. He served as associate editor of Mycologia, 1923-21, and was editor, 1932-1940, of the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. His participation in scientific and botanical organizations included the National Academy of Sciences, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, and an honorary membership in the British Mycological Society, Who's Who of American Men of Science has further information on his life. The New York Botanical Garden presented Dodge its Distinguished Service Award in 1951, and they presently serve as a depository for his papers, correspondence, artwork, essays, and personal correspondence with Captain Charles Towne (1940-42) and Frances Robotti (1949) pertaining to the Nourse family and his ancestress, Rebecca Nurse, who was hanged in the Salem, Massachusetts witchcraft delusions of 1692. Bernard died in New York City on 9 August 1960. Bernard Dodge's genealogy: William Towne married Joanna BlessingMary Ann Rogers Nourse was born at Vershire, Orange Co., Vermont, on 27 April 1840 to William Nourse and wife, Mary Ann Rogers. She was married on 4 July 1861 at Mauston, Juneau Co., Wisconsin, to Elbridge Gerry Dodge |