The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-25
R. R. DODGE IS DEAD,
Native of East Sutton Who
Had Become Famous in
the Vicinity.

Sutton, Aug. 4.-Reuben RaWson
Dodge, one of the most respected res
idents of this town and quite widely
known as an historian and antiquar-
ian, formerly of East Sutton, died at
his home in Saundersville this morn
ing. Mr.. Dodge had been periodical
contributor to The Spy columns for
the past half century, and his articles
were valuable and interesting. In his
death the community has suffered a
great loss.
Mr.. Dodge was the son of Jacob
and Elizabeth Rawson Dodge of East
Sutton, Mass. He was born April 8,
1919. After leaving his fathers farm,
he worked in various places, among
these being Boston, Cambridge, Grafton
and Shrewsbury, as carpenter for
twenty years, after which he pur
chased the old McClelland farm of the
father of Hon John E. Mcclellan. He
lived on this farm for over forty-three
years, where he brought up his family
Of six children, all of whom except one
are still living and are married and
settled.
They are H. w. Dodge of Saunders
vile, Mrs. Charles NJ. Holland of
Woonsocket, r. l., Mrs. Henry L. New
ton of Shrewsbury, Fred A. Dodge of
Saundersville and Lucius r. Dodge of
Milford. AS this farm was one of the
largest and best in town, he employed
considerable help, carrying on this and
parts of some of his neighbors' FARMS
which he purchased, besides doing a
large wood business.
In politics, Mr.. Dodge was always a
republican. He held the office of over
seer of poor of Sutton four years.
He married Lydia H. Wood of Nan
tucket, Mass, Sept. 19, 1853 and she
died Jan. 6, 1899.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Dodge had been
active members Of st. Johns Epis-
copal Church of Wilkinsonville for the
past forty years, to the time of their
death; during most of the time, he was
either warden or vestryman Of the
parish. He was a delegate to nearly
every convention of the diocese for the
last thirty years and helped to elect
Bishops Paddock, Brooks and Law
renee.
Among Mr.. Dodge's ancestors was
Richard Dodge, who came from Eng
land and settled in Salem, Mass, in
1888, and was one of the most liberal
contributors to the Harvard College of
his time, and a highly educated man.
On his mothers side he came, as a di-
rect descendant, from Edward Rawson,
who was third secretary of Massachu-
setts Bay Colony, from 1850 to 1886,
during which time he wrote all Of the
colony records.
On his mothers side he was a de-
scendant of the Chases; Bishop Chase,
founder of Kenyon College, being own
cousin of his mother
Mr.. Dodge belonged to three promin-
fraN1 1trafs
the last sixty years of his life collect
ing history and working on the geneal-
ogies of these families.
Few people have projected and COL
lected so much historical and genealog-
ical matter which has been put into
DOCK form. He was possessed of
strong physical powers of endurance.
During the year 1888 he collected and
published the first edition of the history
of the Rawson family, and in 1879 the
first edition of the history of the Dodge
family. Later editions were published
by E. B. Crane and Joseph T. Dodge
During the year 1873 Mr. Dodge
found at the Antiquarian Hall at Wor-
cester several manuscripts of the early
history of Sutton. He then called on
prominent citizens of the town to OBJ
tain their cooperation in having the
complete history Of the town collected
and published. After much effort, on
his part, the town chose a committee
of five to carry out Mr.. Dodge's project.
The town, with Mr. Dodge's consent,
employed Rev. w. A. Benedict to com
pile it. Only by Mr.. Dodge's co-opera-
ton there would have been no history
published.
In 1897 he collected and published a
historical sketch of the Leland hill and
Old Stone school districts in
Sutton, and in 1898 he pub
lished a pamphlet which was
favorably received containing the
names and inscriptions on gravestones
Of six Sutton cemeteries, there being
over hoo names recorded.
The funeral will be held at st, Johns
Episcopal Church, Wilkinsonvil4e, Sat-
urday afternoon, at 2 o'clock