Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-06-26
Capt. Leroy Dodge.

OdPI' AeIoy UOuSe.
The following Biographical Sketch
of the life Of the we'll known and pop
ular steamboatman, Capt. Leroy Dodge,
we take from the book entitled "Da.
venport Past and Present." just pub
lished, by Luse, Lane & Co., of Da-
venport:
Capt. Leroy Dodge was born in De-
cember, 1911, in Hermiker county, N.
Y. His father was farmer, and his
sons received such educational oppor--
tunities as are usually given to farmers
children-hard work in the summer >.
and the advantages Of district schools
in the winter. Mr.. Dodge made his
debut in active life, outside of the farm, ..
as school teacher-which pursuit he
followed some three winters. OF his
success in this department we cannot,
speak positively-but as he possesses
the popularity Of doing everything
nell, it can be inferred with tolerable
degree Of certainty, that his endeavors
to "teach the young idea to Shoot"
were rewarded with due and proper re-
suits.
In 1888, he started West-spent one
year in Ohio, then footed it to Lake
Michigan, crossing in a small schooner
to Detroit, and in due time reached
Chicago. He finished his pedestrian
tour by footing it to Joliet, and from
thence to Dubuque, at which place he
obtained situation as clerk, with G..
Y. Atchison.
He remained in this situation one
and a-half years, and then commenced
life upon the Father of Waters-the
Mis- sissippi. He started as clerk, and
fought his way by dint Of industry and
perseverance from the Clerks Desk to
the Wheel House, and from thence to
the Captains Office "--evincing
throughout these transformations the
indisputa bic fact, that labor is the price
Of success.
In the fall of the same year-1836
that he conn enced on the river, he
located in Rockingham, and has car
ried on farming in connection with
steamboating ever since. In 1852, he
represented Scott county in the State
Legislature as Democratic charac-
ter by the way, which he has ever since
uncompromisingly sustained.
He was married in 1916, but subse-
quently his wife died. He married
again, and the same unfortunate case
has again resultcd-he is once more
widower.
Capt. Dodge is still engaged in
steamboating, although he does not, as
formerly, navigate the whole upper
river-his trips being confined to run
ming a packet between Keokuk and
Davenport. His boat-the !" Ben
Campbell"-is well-known and ia
vorite institution among those who have
had occasion for river transportation
along that portion Of the Mississippi.
Like many Of our pioneers, Capt.
Dodge has accumulated an ample COM
petence, but unlike that of many 9TH
ers, it is nowise the result Of accident.
No Genius Of the Lamp erected it in a
single night-no sudden and unexpect-
ed fluctuations Of fortunes tide carried
him where he now is. Every stone in
the superstructure of his fortune was
hewn and piled by his own armand
commenced under circumstances which
would have discoura yed any one with
less perseverance than he possesses
The most marked trait in his character
is determination-it is seen in all his
actions, and its firm, unainching char
acter is traced in every feature and ex-
preston of his face, as thou gh wrought
in iron. #. .