Matilda Caruthers Dodge - Obituary

As a leaf clings tenaciously to the living tree when the summer is past and deep in the winter yiels to some more boisterous blast, land brown and sere with maturity, flutters and sinks softly to the ground, so Matilda Caruthers Dodge having passed the summer time of life withstood the storms of many days, and well along in the winter of a mature old age sank softly and gently to rest in the bosom of her Mother-earth.

Born in Plainfield, Cumberland County, PA, Nov. 18, 1828, she spent her childhood days in that state and was married Spet. 20, 1849 to Ireneous Bruce Dodge at Carlisle, PA. The spring floowing the marriage they faced the broad, broad prariers of the grea west and settled at LaMoille, IL, where they began housekeeping. After two years of residence there, during which time she was converted by the Grace of God, and in the year 1852, themonth of January, she united with the Baptist church of that plave, and for forty and six years she could say, as did the first christian martyr Polycarp "I have served the Lord Jesus!" From LaMoille she removed to Peru, IL and after three years residence at that place, she came with her family and settled in Bureau County, where for more than forty years she had lived in the same community, filling her place as wife, mother, neighbor, and Christian.

During this long course of life full of its shadows and sun gleams, eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, were born and raised; a rich rare gift, to the bestowed at a cost of toil and pain fully known and appreciated by the just God alone. Of the eleven children, not one has died and all survive her and rise up to call her blessed. The quiet sunshine of her life was the light and warmth of the home circle and a great influence upon all her friends. A faithful wife, loving and true, a wise self-sacrificing gentle mother; a generous sympathetic neighbor; a true warm hearted friend; a quiet, a modest yet sincere and trustful Christian. So she lived among us, and as she lived so she fell asleep, quietly and peacefully at 3:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon, Jan. 2, 1896.

He does well who does his best, Is he weary? Let him rest.
Brothers. I have done my best, I am weary let me rest.
After toiling oft in vain, baffled, yet to struggle fain.
After toiling long to gain. Little good with micle pain.
Let me rest, but lay me low where the little daisies grow.
Where the old oak woods worship God, there beneath the breezy west.
Tired, thankful, let me rest, like a child that sleepeth best.
On it's mother's gentle breast.


The following members of the family survive and morn and cherish the memory of her whom they loved as wife and mother: W. C. Dodge, St. Joe, MO; W. E. Dodge, Denver, CO; E. W. Dodge, Galesburg, IL;, A. B. Dodge, Milner, N. C.; Carrie E. Palmer, Walton, IL; J. H. Dodge, Tiskilwa, IL., Anna K. McMurray; Alice E. Morian, Walnut, IL; father, I. B. Dodge, Mary and Frank at home.

The above is a write up that was sent to descendants of Ireneus, from the Walnut, IL Librarian in 1994.

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

Sent to the Dodge Family Association by John Dodge