New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-10
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
DEATH OF WILLIAM +. DODGE.
SUDDEN END OF A LONG, ACTIVE AND USE
Full LIFE.

THE CAREER OF BENEVOLENT AND PUBLIC
SPIRITED CITIZEN PEACEFULLY CLOSED
William f. Dodge, the well-known merchant,
phllanthrOpist and temperance advocate. died
suddenly yesterday morning, after brief ILL
ness at his home, No. 225 Madison-ave.,
in his seventy eighth year. He leaves widow
and seven sons He was born in Connecticut,
but came to this city when boy. Prospering
in business, he early began to give sys-
tematically, increasing his contributions until
scores of societies, churches, schools and other
benevolent institutions were the recipients Of
his charity. His private contributions were
also large. 1t is estimated that his estate is
valued at $4,000, ,OOO
HIS ILLNESS AND HIS LAST HOURS.
William E. Dodge's death was unexpected.
He had been i'll, though not alarmngly 80,
since last Saturday. when he transacted his last
business out of doors. On the afternoon of Thurs
day of last week. Mrs. Dodge gave a tea and recep-
tIon and Mr.. Dodge stood for about two hours and
assisted his wife in receiving her guests.
He became very tired. In The evening
he presided with Peter Cooper at the meeting 10
favor of protective tariff in the hall of the Cooper
Union His step then seemed light and sprngy, his
voice was firm and ringing and he seemed in excel
lent health. But the ventilation of the hall was
bad, and he contracted a cold He was at his Office
usual Friday, and on Saturday forenoon he
attended a meeting of the directors OF the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Wes,ern Railroad
for the purpose of helping to promotion
young man in whom he took an interest. In the
afternoon be drove out with his wife to inspect the
new Christian Home for Incorporate Women, in
Fifty-seventh-st a charity in which Mrs. Dodge is
specially interested. While there hewas seized with
excruciatng pain in the stomach. For this pepsn
was given ana Mr.. Dodge was relieved. He returned
home, somewhat pale and vent to sleep His
family physician, Dr. Edward L. Keyes.
found him sleeping quietly when he called
in the evening. About midnight Mr.. Dodge was
again seized with spasms of the stomach, more
violently than before, and DR.. Keyes was again
summoned. The spasms accompanied with
nausea and vomiting and with pains at the extrem-
les and these attacks continued at intervals until
Thursday. The spasms did not last long, but they
were severe and anOdynes were necessary to con-
troll the pain. This rendered anything beyond
slight nOurIshment impossible. Mr.. Dodge insisted
seeing all callers upon him, when he was
yet suffering from the paroxysms Of pain. This
tended to wear him out, so that on Thursday ne
depressed and desirous Of sleeping Dr. keyes
then ordered that visitors be allowed to see him.
Yesterday morning. Mr.. Dodge, after passing a
dressed, with the exception Of putting on his dress
ing gown, then shaved himself and told Mrs.
Dodge that he thought he could eat sOme
broied chicken. This ordered The
material of the dressinggown was OF
several colOrs combined and Mr. Dodge had termed
it his Joseph's coat" He was in good spirits and
asked his wife to bring him the "Josephs coat"
which lay the library adjoining. 1t was then
o'clock. Mrs. Dodge started to comply with the
request, but she had hardly reached the library
when she heard q sound like fall and her bus-
bands voice calling her. She ran back
and found Mr.. Dodge gasping the floor. She
raised his head to her lap, and after
gasp or two Mr.. Dodge expired. Mrs.
Dodge's outcres brought her two Sons,
Norman w. and the Rev. ID. Stuart Dodge,
to the room. They placed Mr.. Dodge on couch
and at once sent for Drs. Keyes, William H. Draper
and William +. Lusk all of whom live in
the neighbOrhOoi. Dr. Keyes was not at
home and did not return until
O'Clock. His assistant DR.. Willis A. Simpson,
and the other two physicians, on their arrival at
Mr. DOdges house, found life extinct and SAID that
death must have been instantaneous. WoId was at
sent TO Mr. DOGges other sons, and all OF them,
except William h. Dodge, Jr., soon arrived at the
house. The oldest son was out OF town, and 9id
nor learn OF his fathers death until he reach d his
office in Clift.st., in the forenoon.
OF Mr.. Dodge's illness DIR. keyes who has been his
physician for twenty years, said last evening:
lyon might say that SIR. Dodge died from failure
of nerve fore The immediate cause was sync0pe,
or tai uTc of the heart to act Mr. Dodge had no
heart disease, and there were no ialntlng nts ils
pulse during his illness was uniformly regular. lie
had no dltticulty in breathing and there were no
symptoms OF angina pectOrs. lie "as
walking about his room this morning, and
was not very sick apparently He had enjoyed aD-
soluteiy good health during bis llie and ms habits
were abstemiOus and his life was very regular. He
had a tendency 70 rheumatic gout, which ne inher-
tied from his lather The term gout is used 50 reek
iA.g fllf Al I r..
Dodge an intensely active man, and It may
well be said that h. wore himself out TOR others lie
was anxious TO attend Peter CoopeTs dinner on
Monday, and a ,k d me If it would not be possible
for lin 10 be there"
Inc funeral will be held on Monday, at 10 a. IN,
in ihe Church of the Covenant, at PaTk-aye. and
Thrty-iftl-st. The pastor, the Rev. DR.; Marvin
X. Vincent, will conduct the services. The Inter
ment will Oc III Noodiawn Cemetery.
SKETCH OF MR. DODGE'S CAREER.
William Earle Dodge was born on September 4,
1905 near Hartford, Conn. His father was David
Low Dodge; his mother was q member OF the Cleve-
land family from whom are descended Arthur
Cleveland Coke, Bishop of Western New-YOIk, aud
Governor Cleveland. David Low Dodge was "A cot
ton manufacturer IN Bozrahyile, near Norwich.
Conn., and there William E. was employed for
time after he had completed the brief schooling
which he was permitted to enjoy. Some time pre-
vious 20 the year 1918 the cotton mill was gwen
up and the IA her removed 10 Nc"-iorA, "hero no
embarked in the dry. goods business. the name OF
the firm being Ludlow 81 Dodge. The son began
his business career in the same line, becoming tho
boy-of-all-w work in a wholesale dry-goods store at
NJ 3o4 Pearl-st., near Peck slip. In a lecture
''O,d New-York" which Mr. Dodge delivered sev-
eral times before various societies and clubs he gave
very entertaining picture of the appearance of tho
city in 1918. His father lived at No. SO
William-st, where 1t interSects Platt-st 1t
was part of his work errandboy to carry bundles
up Broadway to Greenwich Village, which embraced
what is now bounded by Seventh and Eighth aves.
and Fourth and Tenth SITS. The dry-goods district
was confined almost entirely Pcarlst from Coen-
IL. l.. .bo III nha ahnna