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1907 Past and Present Biographies
Charles and Matilda Dodd
Charles Dodd, who was born in Tennessee, August 20, 1823, spent his last days in Jefferson, Iowa, where he died on the 28th of December, 1903, at the venerable age of eighty years. He was a man whom to know was to respect and honor, and during a life of business activity and when living retired he commanded the esteem and good will of all with whom he came in contact. When quite young he accompanied his parents on their removal from the Old Dominion to Ohio, where he passed his boyhood and youth, and in early manhood he went to Putnam, Illinois. His environments in his minority were largely those of frontier life, but he always made the most of his opportunities, both for broadening his knowledge and for attaining success in a business way. Following his removal to Illinois he engaged in farming for a few years, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation, and then turned his attention to merchandising. He owned and conducted a store in Putnam and was not long in securing a good trade, which he easily retained by reason of his straightforward business methods and his earnest desire to please his customers. While living in Bureau Junction, Illinois, Mr. Dodd was united in marriage to Miss Emily Perkins, the wedding being celebrated in 1854. They had six daughters, all of whom preceded him in death save Mrs. G. M. Hunter, who is now living in Mangum, Oklahoma. After the death of his wife, Mr. Dodd came to Jefferson, arriving in 1885. The same year he married Mrs. Matilda Perkins Wherry, of Greenbriertownship, a sister of his first wife, and they took up their abode on East State street in Jefferson, where Mr. Dodd continued to make his home until his demise and where his widow is still living. He was a consistent and earnest member of the Christian church, aided in organizing the congregation in Jefferson and gave liberally to the support of the church and the advancement of the cause. His life was ever honorable and upright, in harmony with his professions, and none doubted the sincerity of his motives. After removing to Greene county he engaged in loaning money and sold farm property, continuing more or less actively in business up to the time of his demise. He had attained the age of four score years when called to his final rest, and back of him lay a record which is highly commendable and worthy of emulation. Mrs. Dodd, who still survives her husband, bore the maiden name of Matilda Perkins and was a native of Kentucky, but was reared and educated in Illinois, to which state she accompanied her parents in 1833 upon their removal when she was but six years of age. Her father, Jesse Perkins, was a farmer by occupation and spent his remaining days in Illinois.  William Wherry Click image to enlarge Having reached adult age, Matilda Perkins gave her hand in marriage to William Wherry, who was a native of Ohio, born in 1819. When a young man he went to Illinois, and in 1844 he made Matilda Perkins his wife. They remained residents of that state until 1877, or for a period of thirty-three years, and then came to Iowa, settling on a tract of raw prairie land in Greenbrier township, Greene county. This Mr. Wherry broke and improved, transforming the wild district into fields of rich fertility, from which he annually gathered large crops as the reward of his care and attention in plowing, planting and cultivating his farm. Adding to his original purchase, he became the owner of one thousand acres of land, whereon he continued to reside until his life’s labors were ended in death, in 1884, when he was about sixty-five years of age. He was energetic and capable in his business management and his well directed labor brought him prosperity. Mrs. Dodd continued to reside upon the extensive farm left her by her first husband until she married again, since which time she has made her home in Jefferson. She is widely known in the county seat and in Greenbrier township and has many warm friends, whose high regard she has won during the thirty years of her residence in Iowa. |
| Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.  Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer |