NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

The name of DODGE is a corruption of DODD, and Anglo-Saxon personal name, which appears in the Hundred Rolls as DODDE and DODD, and in Domesday Book as DODE, DODO and DODA.

Henry Nehemiah DODGE, M. D., D. D. S., A. M., Litt D., esteemed as a leading dentist and a highly educated, cultured and erudite citizen of Morristown, New Jersey, has reached an honorable and enviable position in his profession, while he is recognized as a valuable contributor to both dental and religious periodicals. His wide fame as an author extends throughout the Untied States and abroad, based on three separate works – "Christus Victor," "The Mystery of the West," and "John Murray’s Landfill," – poetical works which have found a most favorable comment everywhere, receiving the commendation of scholars in every department of theological and scientific thought. Like all men of national prominence, Dr. DODGE has fine mental equipment, and justly so, as he descends from a family that has wide recognition because of mental attainments. He comes from a long line of ancient English and American ancestry, with Tristram DODGE at it progenitor in this country.

The DOIDGESs or DODGEs of England, from which the DODGEs of this country are descended, are an ancient family, going back between six and seven centuries to Peter DODGE, Gentleman, of Stopworth, Chester county, who "was presented by Edward I. With the gift of a Seignory or Lordship and a coat-of-arms in the year 1306 (one record say 1273) ‘ for loyal and valiant service done the king in divers battles and sieges’ " The patent reads: "He beareth barry of six pieces, Or and Sable, over all a Pale, Gules charged with a woman’s dugg, distilling drops of milk, proper, by the name of DODGE." The motto: Leni Perfruar otio, meaning "Let me enjoy gentle ease," would indicate a longing for well earned peace after a strenuous career.

In 1660, escaping from the furnace of revived fires of religious persecution in England, Tristram DODGE and four sons left it for the New World. There home was probably in Devonshire, and Tristram was a contemporary and co-religionist of John BUNYAN. Crossing the ocean he landed at Plymouth. On looking about and beholding the various religious sects that were being persecuted almost to extinction, with the same vigor as had obtained in England, he refused to cast his inheritance with the intolerant Massachusetts Bay settlement, but joined his fortunes with those of the gentler Roger WILLIAMS, in Rhode Island. His son, Israel, from whom Dr. Henry N. DODGE is a direct descendent, removed thence to Connecticut. That Tristram prospered in his new home, and throve in his new surroundings, is proven by the records of that day, in which he is variously called Tristram, Tristrum and Thrustarorum. His four sons also greatly prospered and grew to be men of substance, with a high standing in the community in which they had cast their lot. Tristram was one of the original sixteen owners of Block Island, and assisted in building the first Baptist Meeting House in that part of the world. The only Baptist church on Block Island today was partly built by his descendents, who sustain and officer it. His sons took unto themselves wives, and their descendents are widely scattered over the United States.

Israel, son of Tristram DODGE, had a number of celebrated descendents, and six of his sons were preachers of the Gospel in the Baptist denomination, in addition to their other avocations. His eldest son, Jordan, married Lucy ADAMS, a cousin of President John ADAMS, and their son, John Adams DODGE, was the inventor of the first sewing machine in 1818, long before HOWE, whose machine was patented in 1846, and had DODGE’s feed device. Israel, the sixth child of John DODGE, 2^nd, and grandson of the elder Israel, fought and received a bayonet wound in the Revolution, and later went west as a pioneer and fighter in the Indian wars. He was the father of Henry DODGE, after whom Dr. DODGE is named, and the grandfather of Augustus Caesar DODGE, who were respectively the first governors of Wisconsin and Iowa, and were afterwards together in the United States Senate. In 1840 Henry DODGE was asked by the Whig party to accept the nomination for the presidency, but declined for the reason that he had already promised his vote and influence to his friend, General HARRISON. In 1855 Augustus DODGE was appointed ambassador to Spain.

Joseph Smith DODGE, M. D., D. D. S., son of Rev. Nehemiah DODGE, was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, August 3, 1806, and died in Morristown, New Jersey, April 28, 1893. Joseph Smith DODGE’s mother was born Lucy SMITH, only daughter of Joseph SMITH, descended from Nehemiah SMITH, who came from England in 1636. He spent his early years in New London, Connecticut, whence he came to New York City while yet a young man and began the practice of dentistry in 1828, when there were only three other dentists in the city. He established a large practice, his clientele consisting principally of the aristocratic element. He was one of the founders of the New York College of Dentistry. He practiced his profession for sixty years in New York, or until he was almost eighty years of age, his sons, Joseph and Henry, being associated with him for many years under the firm name of J. Smith DODGE & Sons. In 1865 he moved to Morristown, New Jersey. Joseph Smith DODGE Sr. married (first) in New York City, October 14, 1828, Julia Ann, born October 10, 1805, died November 11, 1849, a daughter of John BURGER Jr., a merchant of Manhattan, of Dutch ancestry. He married (second) Almira, a cousin of his first wife, and a daughter of David BURGER, a devoted member of the Episcopal church, in whose good works she was active. The children of the first marriage were: 1. Julia Ann, who died in infancy. 2. Harriet Jane, deceased, wife of Dr. William C. HORNE. 3. Joseph Smith DODGE Jr., A. M., M. D., D. D. S., D. D., a practitioner of dentistry in New York City for fifty-five years, and simultaneously an ordained minister of the Universalist church of Stanford, Connecticut, receiving the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Tufts College, and being made pastor emeritus, after retiring from active work in his profession and the ministry. For some years he was also professor of pathology and therapeutics in the New York College of Dentistry. Like many of his ancestors he made the Gospel free by the labor of his hands. 4. Julia Elizabeth, deceased; was educated at the well known school of Miss GIBSON, on union Square, New York City, and afterward prepared privately with her brother Henry for Columbia College, and pursued the college course with him at home for a time when woman were not admitted to classes at Columbia. She was a woman of great executive ability, a rare personal charm, and a poet of much grace. A devoted member of the Episcopal church, she was for many years engaged in the activities of the church of the Redeemer in Morristown. She traveled in Europe several times, going as far as Greece, and on one occasion nursed her brother through a long and serious illness in England. Brother and sister were inseparable. 5. Henry Nehemiah, the subject of this sketch. 6. Lucy Emma, married (first) William Henderson BUCKMAN, (second) Albert M. BUGBY. Dr. Joseph Smith DODGE Sr. had by his second marriage: 7. Ella, died unmarried; was a graduate of Vassar College; a member of the Church of the Redeemer, in Morristown, and especially active in works of charity in behalf of needy children. 8. Amy Staples, who was an invalid for the greater part of her life, died unmarried. 9. Samuel Willets, died in infancy.

Dr. Henry Nehemiah DODGE, son of Dr. Joseph Smith and Julia Ann (BURGER) DODGE, was born in New York City, May 19, 1843. His preparatory education was most thorough, having been received partly in the grammar school of the New York University, upon leaving which he entered Columbia College, where he remained two years. He was at Hamilton College, New York, a part of one year, when poor health obliged him to leave before graduation. In 1868 he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, and in 1869 he was graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College. In 1902 Dr. DODGE had the somewhat unique experience of receiving three honorary degrees, as follows: From Tufts College, Massachusetts, that of Doctor of Literature, and the same degree from Bushtel College, Ohio; and the degree of Masters of Arts from St. Lawrence University, New York. In the following year he was made honorary member of the Delta Chapter, Phi Beta Kappa, of Massachusetts, in recognition of his literary work. Dr. DODGE has been in dental practice in New York and Morristown since 1869. He is a close student and a man of letters. He traveled and studied, 1859-1860, with Professor Henry DRISLER, at Columbia College, in Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Bohemia, Switzerland and Italy, and while in the latter country included the study of Roman antiquities. He is an exceptionally fine conversationalist, and an interesting one. He is the author of the volumes mentioned in the earlier part of this narrative. Until the BLAINE campaign he was a Republican, his first vote being for LINCOLN. Since that time he has been an Independent, and in 1912 cast his ballot for Woodrow WILSON. He is a member of the National Mouth Hygiene Association, is deeply interested in the establishment of free dental clinics throughout the country, and especially in Morristown. He is also deeply interested in social reform, and has been a lifelong prohibitionist; was an abolitionist in years past. He is an honored member of the Universalist church, having united with it more than fifty years ago. He is a trustee of the Murray Grove Association, and an incorporator of the Morristown Neighborhood House.

Dr. DODGE married, in South Street Presbyterian Church, Morristown, New Jersey, in 1872, Mary J., a daughter of Mosely I. DANFORTH, one of the founders of the National Academy of Design, in New York City, and of the American Bank Note Company. Mr. DANFORTH was an artist, early becoming an engraver of note, having spent twelve years in England, associated in the study of art with many eminent men in the Royal Academy. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, December 11, 1800, died January 19, 1862. He was of old New England stock, dating back over two hundred and fifty years, being descended from Nicholas DANFORTH, of Framlingham, Suffolk county, England, one of the founders of Harvard College, and one of the original Puritan colonists who came to this country with WINTHROP in 1629. Mr. DANFORTH married Mrs. Hannah KENNEDY, a widow, daughter of Abraham DURYEE, descended from Just DURYEE, a French Huguenot, who came to America by way of Holland, about 1660. The coat-of-arms of Nicholas DANFORTH in heraldic terms is as follows: On a field argent, illuminated by the rays of the sun proper, a human eye, proper, at the honor point; at the nombril point a lozenge, azure. Crest: "A pile of books, helmet, that of an esquire. Motto: Ubi plura nitent non ego paucis offendar maculis, which may be translated – "Where so many things shine, I do not take offence at a few spots."

Mrs. DODGE died in 1876, and in 1885, Dr. DODGE married (second) in the Presbyterian Memorial Church, New York City, Susan, also a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. DANFORTH. Mr. DANFORTH’s daughters were educated at Miss PORTER’s school in Farmington, Connecticut. By the first marriage there were children: Ruth Porter, Edith Draper, and Mary Danforth, the last named a graduate of Vassar College. By the second marriage there were: Evelyn, now deceased; Elizabeth, also a graduate of Vassar College. Sr. DODGE has a handsome and hospitable home on Washington avenue, Morristown, and a seaside cottage at Grove Beach, Connecticut. He is a member of the Authors Club of London, the Alumni Association of Tufts College, and the Alumni Association of the Philadelphia Dental College.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)

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