Biographical Sketch of Judge Aaron S. Dodge - Andrew County, Missouri

>From "History of Missouri, Andrew & DeKalb County" Published 1888

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm
************************************************

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

**********************************************************************

Judge Aaron S. Dodge, a citizen of Fillmore, was born in Waldo County,
ME., March 22, 1839.  He is one of a large family of children born to
Nathan P. and Charlotte (Simons) Dodge, who were influential citizens
of Maine, of which State they were both natives.  They were both 
members of the Free-Will Baptist Church.  The father was a successful
farmer, and in politics was a Republican.  He died when about eighty-
four years of age, and his wife when about sixty-five years old.  Aaron
S. received a liberal education in his youth, which has been improved
by much desultory reading and study.  He began business life in the
spring of 1859 by going to Illinois, where he engaged as a farm laborer
nearly two years, at the close of which he made a visit home.  In the
spring of 1861 he took the gold fever, and spent five years in the West
digging that "precious metal".  He visited Washington Territory, Idaho
and California, but spent most of his time (about four years) in Idaho.
Returning to Maine he remained there two months, then came to Fillmore,
Andrew County, MO., and in partnership with his brother, Allen L., who
had accompanied him through the West, established a mercantile business,
which they pursued eight years.  About 1874 he bought his brother's
interest, and conducted the business alone until February, 1887, when
he closed out.  Since then he has been managing some farms, which he
owns.  In June, 1873, he wedded Miss Melissa Berry, a native of Andrew
County, and a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Judge Dodge is a decided Republican, and was elected to his present
office in November, 1886.