Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-22
AMZ| DODD DIES;
WAS EX-HEAD OF
MUTUAL BENEFIT
Distinguished Jurist
Is Victim Of Pneu-
monia.
KNOWN AS GRAND OLD
MAN" OF BLOOMFIELD
Taken Suddenly III Last Night
He Died This Morn
ing.

Amzi Dodd. "Bloomfield's Grand
Old Man." distinguished jurist. and
for many years president of the Mu-
tual Benefit Life Insurance Company
Of this city. died at his home, the old
Dodd homestead. 50 Broad street.
Bloomfield, early this morning.
Death was due to a sudden attack
of pneumonia, which came upon him
last night and from which he did not
rally. He had been in comparatively
good health up until that time and
on Monday had attended a meeting
Of the board of directors of the Mu-
tual Benefit Company in this city.
No arrangements have been made
for the funeral as yet. Mr.. Dodd' s
wife died about two years ago.
Three sons. William S. Dodd, OF
Hampton, Va; DIR. Joseph f. Dodd
and Edward w. Dodd, of New York
city, and two daughters, Mrs Hollis
B. Frissell of Hampton, Va, and
Miss Louise c. Dodd, of Bloomfield,
survive him.
Mr.. Dodd served as honorary chair
man of Bloomfield's centennial cele-
bration committee last June.
Born in 1898.
Born in Bloomfield on March 2,
1923, Amzi Dodd was a lineal de-
scendant of Daniel Dodd. an Eng
lish Puritan, who emigrated to
America about 1916. He was distin-
guished as jurist, and as one of
the most prominent representatives
of life insurance companies in the
nation.
He received his early education at
the Bloomfield Academy, entering
the College of New Jersey In the
spring of 1899 He was graduated
from that institution in September
1S41, with high honors.
Through the next four years he
taught school in Virginia, returning
In 1S45 to take up the study of law
in. this city. He was admitted te
the bar three years later and be-
came associated with the Hon. Fred
ericl T. Frelinghuysen. This asso-
citation continued until 1850, when
Mr. Dodd was elected clerk of the
Common Council of Newark, at
which time he opened an office for
himself, and began the practise of
law alone. In 1871 he was selected
as vice-chancellor, remaining at the
arduous labors of this position until
1875, when he resigned.
Six years later he was again ten
dered \the same office, but before the
close of a years service the presl
dency of the Mutual Benefit Life In
surance Company of Newark was
offered him and he accepted. Since
1858 he has served as its mathema-
tician. In his early days political
honors were constantly within his
grasp, but he never sought promi-
nence in that direction.
His reputation as an orator and
his zeal in the cause of the Repub-
lican party prompted his nomination
as the Republican candidate for
Congress in the district composed OF
Essex and Hudson counties, in 1856
but he was defeated In 1863 he was
elected to the State Legislature, de-
clining to stand for nomination a
second time.
Following his appointment to the
office, of vice-chancellor by Governor
Randolph in 1871 he was appointed
one of the special judges of the
Court of Errors and Appeals the
following year by Governor Parker.
He was reappointed to the same po-
sition in 1876 by Governor McClel-
Ian. serving in that capacity until
1882. when he resigned. He was later
appointed to the Riparian Commits
of n