Mary A. Dodge - Obituary
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Passing of Mary Dodge - our great-aunt


Miss Mary A. Dodge - the fifth child of I. B. and Matilda Dodge - was born at the old homestead north of Walnut, Ill on February 9, 1859, and died at her home in Walnut, Ill. on July 15, 1911. The mother of Miss Dodge died sixteen years ago, and her father one year later. A sister, Mrs. Frank Palmer, died four years ago - a brother Warren Dodge six weeks ago. Miss Dodge leaves two sisters and six brothers - Mrs. J. F. MacMurray of Walnut, Mrs. W. D. Morlan of Minneapolis, Arthur Dodge of Canada, John H. Dodge, E. W. Dodge, and Charles Dodge of Galesburg. William Dodge of Colorado, F. H. Dodge of Chicago. Mrs. Cluyde Keesler "Adelaide Stevens" of Kewanee who lived as A dughter in the Dodge home for a number of years.

Miss Mary received her early schooling at the Dodge District School in Walnut, Illinois, and finished her education at Lombard for several years, then came home to teach for sometime. Some number of her students still live in the community. They are among our more substantial citizens.

Her father and mother needing her very much, she gave up her school work to care for them, and this she did till the time of their1 death. After this she spent some time in the Millinery business in Walnut, up to the time of her retirement from public service some years ago.

Miss Dodge was converted and united with the Walnut Baptist Church in 1876, and has proven herself a most useful member of the church and a most thorough-going Christian woman.

At the time of her death she was Worthy Matron of Charity Chapter No. 236, Order of Eastern Star; Walnut, Illinois. The work of the Order was altogether upon her heart. She held the confidence and affection of all her sisters and brothers of the Order as well as her wide circle of friends.

Miss Dodge was most strikingly individual in her tastes and conceptions of life, and yet she did serve most effectively for the community - combining courage and independency of spirit with rare womanly sympathy and kindliness of the heart.

She had been unwell for a number of months, but she bore her sufferings so uncomplainingly, that even her dearest friends hardly realized she was at the door of death, until a few hours before the end. Because of her good deeds and cheerful spirit she will be missed by all the people of Walnut, Ill. and by friends and loved ones elsewhere.

After the death of father and mother, the members of the family have felt that the old home life centered around the presence of this sister in Walnut, and they have the sympathy of all our people in this hour of their bereavement.

The floral tributes were many and very rare and beautiful. The funeral was held from the Walnut Baptist Church. The members of the Eastern Star Charity Chapter No. 236 being in attendance and in charge, conducted at the cemetery the impressive burial ritual of the Order. So may it ever be.

Miss Mary A. Dodge was never married.

Retyped by John p. Dodge, Great Grandson
Nov. 16, 1996

Sent to the Dodge Family Association by John Dodge

Footnotes:
1 The retyped text which we received says "her death", but that obviously can't mean Miss Mary. It is assumed that "her" refers to her mother, or possibly to both of her parents (this is my assumption: Calvin Dodge)
The above is a write up that was sent to descendants of Ireneus, from the Walnut, IL Librarian in 1994.