Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-09
IN Congratu|atins Mr..
and Mrs. VIM. Dodge
IN the fifty-fitth Anniversary Of
Their Marriage.
d.. Dodge Has Been q Charming
ELIMINATE for the Maine Centra's
Faithful Employee Of an Even Half
q ~
Century.

Al. and Mrs. William BODICE OF
,,-.s,nt street. Friday, were receiving
'ur,,ulatinns and calls from scores
s.iands On the occasion of the 55th
a,,.,rsary Of their wedding. In many
ways this is a remarkable old couple,
o., though both have passed the mile
INC which marks the average human
VI nav are still hale and hearty and
=. ,,ir n ike to receive the congratu-
,n.,ons If their friends for many years
INC Mrs. Dodge is 70 years of age
-. has never worn glasses in her life.
A. podre is a retired emplOye Of the
Vino Central Railroad Co, having
iro, with the company almost from it's
,,f,pc,, until 1899 when he was retired.
william Dodge was born in Fayette.
No lime 30. 1925. the son Of John and
sarah Ford Dodge. When he was nine
,.c,rc old his parents died and he
"bound himself OUT to n man in
Wayne. where he remained for two
years. The man with whom he bound
himself out" during his minority, as
was the custom for boys in those days.
r,oycd to Kcnts Hill, Readfield, and
rave the boy his release. Young Dodge
then hound himself out" to n man
IN Poland. Me-, and remained with him
until he reached his majority.
All Of his young life was passed
among horses and when he had his
own time he secured work with the
Dunn Edge Tool CO., then of North
Wayne. driving the heavy team Of the
company to Augusta and HallowelI,
taking out the product of the shops
and bringing back iron, steel and coal
for the shops. After a few years he
went to Boston and drove team for
the Eastern Railroad. hauling freight
from the terminus of the road in East
BOSTON to the city proper.
He next went to Portland where he
entered the employ of his brother.
John Rodge, who owned one Of the
stage lines between Portland and Au-
grstr The route was handled by four
relays Of horses. drawing the old Con-
cord coaches. the relays being station
cd at Walnut Hill in Yarmouth. South
West BEND in Durham, Wales and
Winthrop. The stage left Portland at
o'clock in the morning and reached
Augusta IT three in the afternoon. if
an time Returning. the stage left Au-
-l:sta at 3 in the morning and reached
Portland about noon.
Mr. I,odgc has Il wonderful memory
aud talks interestingly of the old days
Of the stage coach. In those days there
we're no express companies in Maine
J'h III" stages were frequently re-
Qnircd to carry large packages OF
money consigned to the banks in Au-
rlsta or Bangor. The packages. no
natter how small or large and valu-
able, were thrown under the seat with
The mail and none were eve" lost. The
stages carried Judges. Legislators, sher-
IFS, prisoners. lawyers, and anybody
who wanted to travel. and often the
coach was crowded inside and out, the
feet of the passengers on the roof
d.nglng in the faces of those on the
end seats.
With the construction of the And
r"Sruggin & Kenncbec Railroad be-
tween Portland and Augusta the re-
laws Of horses and coaches were gradu-
ally forced out OF business, until but
one line, that between Winthrop and
Augusta. remained.
When the railroad reached Ieeadfield.
Nr. H"dgc Went to work for the road
IS brakeman under William G. Pit
man. lie WAS soon afterward made
hargage-master and finally promoted
:" conductor. He vas in charge Of the
fullman train between Portland and
fangcr. and for many years on the
regular run between Portland and
SF""hegan. and when retired was in
'harS" Of the short train between Wa
UrNlIIe and Oakland and Skpwhegan.
II" retired in 1899 after 30 years Of
continuous service. during all Of which
u" never had an accident which cost
W" company i dollar. He has always
"'h = good citizen and has made hosts
=" friends during his long service.
Mr.. E"dGc married Miss Martha
Freeman Davis of Portland. and three
'hi'dr"n We're horn to them, Albert
i'"S'nH. who dicI at the age of II
"'"hthS. William Freeman, at present
Sl''l"h agent in this city. and Emmie
H''Habeth, who died at the age of %