Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-15
CITY AND SUBURBAN.
COLONEL TH0MASD0DANEAD.
Death OF THIS Well. known Cluzen end Rail
road Superintendent.


Death OF This weIi.known Cluzen end Raii.
road superlntendenr.
Colonel Thomas Dodamead died
yesterday morning at his residence, at
the northwest corner Of Clay and
Fourth streets. This well-known and
useful gentleman was born in Phila-
delphia sixty-eight years ago, aud in
that city learned the trade Of locomo-
tiye-builder, and there married. About
the year lS40 the firm by whom he
was employed sold a locomotive to the
Petersburg and Weldon road-the first
eight-wheeler in the State-and he
went to Petersburg to put it on the
track and see that it worked satisfac-
torily. While there the officers Of the
company were struck with his skill and
capacity, and they urged him to re-
main and accept the position Of en-
gineer. He yielded, and for consid-
cradle time ran the engine that he
had brought to Virginia. In abouttwo
OF three years he was offered AID ac-
cepted the position Of master mechanic
on the Danyille road, and removed
from Petersburg to Richmond.
Mr.. Dodameal was industrious, ca
pable, and practical, and promotion
came to him before very long, being made
superintendent Of the Richmond and
Petersburg railroad. Later he was SUI
perintendent Of the Danville road. OF
this road he was twice superintendent,
and at one time he discharged the SUI
perintendent's duties of both the Pc
tersburg and Danville roads. Suisse
quently he superintended the Virginia
Central road. At one period he was
the superintendent Of the York River
road. He was a colonel in the Viz
ginia army, under a commission from
Governor Letcher, and had charge Of
the movement Of military forces and
supplies on the Virginia and Tennessee
road. After the war he was elected
superintendent Of the Greenyille and
Columbia road, and for nine years was
a resident of Columbia, s. c. Then for
several years he was out of business.
His latest undertaking was the manage
ment of the Danville and New-Riyer
narrow-gauge road. In this service, last
spring, he fell sick, and, though after
wards able for a short time TO walk
about the streets here, his disease
still had hold Of him, and
finally confined him to his bed.
He was supposed to have a stomach
trouble, a cancer possibly, and he was
an i'll man for several months. liC
realized that he could not recover. anC
bore his suiGerings without murmur
lie sought consolation in religion, anC
died in hopes Of blessed future. Hi
wife and three sons survive him. One
of the sons keeps hotel at Asheyille
n. c.; anoAer is a railroad officer a
Burkeyille, and the third is an employ,
Of the Southern Express Company
Colonel Dodamead was one Of the old
est Odd-Fellows in Richmond, was
Mason, and during his residence at Co
lumbia was Eminent Commander Of tn
Knights Templars there.
Colonel Dodomead was known al
over Virginia. Few men had wide
range Of acquaintanceship. and he wa
everywhere esteemed highly for his fin
sense and fine character. His work OF
the railroads Of Virginia was Of inesti
ma Die value. Under his practiced ey
and with his superior Management
order was brought out of chaos. |
was often said Of him that he was tn
best man in the United States to reyiy
broken-down road. Dozens Of tn
best railrOad.men now doing duty i
Virginia received their training unde
him, and in this way particularly h
rendered signal service to the State O
his adoption, which had become th
State of his devoted affection. He wa
considerate officer, a true-hearte
friend, a pure and upright citizen.
His funeral will take place to-morroV
evening at O'Clock from the Secon
Baptist church, and his remains will b
buried in his section at Hollywood
where three of his children rest.