William Earl Dodge Sr. (September 4, 1805 – February 9, 1883) was an American businessman, politician, and activist. He was referred to as one of the "Merchant Princes" of Wall Street in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Dodge saw slavery as an evil to be peaceably removed, but not to be interfered with where it existed.[1][2] He was a Native American rights activist and served as the president of the National Temperance Society from 1865 to 1883. Dodge represented New York's 8th congressional district in the United States Congress for a portion of the 39th United States Congress in 1866–1867 and was a founding member of the YMCA of the US.
William Earl Dodge was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the second son of David Low Dodge, founder of the New York Peace Society, and his wife Sarah Cleveland, the daughter of minister Aaron Cleveland.[3][4] He married Melissa Phelps (1809–1903), a daughter of Anson Green Phelps and Olivia Egleston. The couple had seven sons. In 1833, Dodge and his father-in-law founded the trading firm Phelps, Dodge and Company. In 1908 they became one of Americas largest mining companies Phelps Dodge Corporation.
Dodge is the namesake of Dodge County, Georgia.[5] A consortium of businessmen led by Dodge purchased large tracts of timberland in this area following the Civil War. The Dodge Land Company laid claim to over 300,000 acres (1,200 km2) of land through questionable land deeds.[6] The consortium's ownership of these lands led to land wars which resulted in nearly fifty years of court cases.
Dodge and his associates built the Macon and Brunswick Railroad, connecting Macon to what was then a remote area of the state. Dodge County was formed in 1870 and Eastman, the county seat, was established at the railroad's Station Number 13. Dodge visited the area only once, to dedicate a two-story courthouse that he donated to the county. Dodge's sons later administered the timber businesses in this area.
Dodge was active in the post-Civil War Native American policy reform movement.[7] He joined Peter Cooper in organizing the privately funded United States Indian Commission in 1868 and helped institute Ulysses S. Grant's Peace Policy toward Native Americans. In 1869, Dodge toured the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) and Kansas as a member of the government-sponsored Board of Indian Commissioners. He met and discussed U.S. Indian policy with representatives of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Kiowa nations. Dodge lobbied for the prosecution of the U.S. cavalry commanders responsible for the 1870 Marias Massacre in Montana, which left 173 Blackfeet dead. Dodge unsuccessfully campaigned to establish a cabinet-level Department for Indian Affairs. He also used his influence in Washington on behalf of Native educational programs and the General Allotment Act of 1887. Dodge's core belief regarding Native Americans during the 1880s was that the only way to save Native Americans from perceived destructed from Euro-American immigration and railway development was the forced education of Native American children that would ultimately lead to American citizenship.[8]
A monument to William E. Dodge stands on the North side of Bryant Park in New York City.
Dodge was a founding member of the Board of Trustees for the Syrian Protestant College, later renamed the American University of Beirut. As Treasurer, he laid the cornerstone of College Hall, the first building on the present campus in Ras Beirut, on December 7, 1871.[9]
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William Earl Dodge Sr September 4 1805 February 9 1883 was an American businessman politician and activist He was referred to as one of the Merchant Princes of Wall Street in the years leading up to the American Civil War Dodge saw slavery as an evil to be peaceably removed but not to be interfered with where it existed 1 2 He was a Native American rights activist and served as the president of the National Temperance Society from 1865 to 1883 Dodge represented New York s 8th congressional district in the United States Congress for a portion of the 39th United States Congress in 1866 1867 and was a founding member of the YMCA of the US William E DodgeMember of the U S House of Representatives from New York s 8th districtIn office April 7 1866 March 3 1867Preceded byJames BrooksSucceeded byJames BrooksPersonal detailsBorn 1805 09 04 September 4 1805Hartford ConnecticutDiedFebruary 9 1883 1883 02 09 aged 77 New York City New YorkResting placeWoodlawn CemeteryPolitical partyRepublicanSpouseMelissa PhelpsChildren7OccupationBusinessman politician activist Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography editWilliam Earl Dodge was born in Hartford Connecticut the second son of David Low Dodge founder of the New York Peace Society and his wife Sarah Cleveland the daughter of minister Aaron Cleveland 3 4 He married Melissa Phelps 1809 1903 a daughter of Anson Green Phelps and Olivia Egleston The couple had seven sons In 1833 Dodge and his father in law founded the trading firm Phelps Dodge and Company In 1908 they became one of Americas largest mining companies Phelps Dodge Corporation Dodge is the namesake of Dodge County Georgia 5 A consortium of businessmen led by Dodge purchased large tracts of timberland in this area following the Civil War The Dodge Land Company laid claim to over 300 000 acres 1 200 km2 of land through questionable land deeds 6 The consortium s ownership of these lands led to land wars which resulted in nearly fifty years of court cases Dodge and his associates built the Macon and Brunswick Railroad connecting Macon to what was then a remote area of the state Dodge County was formed in 1870 and Eastman the county seat was established at the railroad s Station Number 13 Dodge visited the area only once to dedicate a two story courthouse that he donated to the county Dodge s sons later administered the timber businesses in this area Dodge was active in the post Civil War Native American policy reform movement 7 He joined Peter Cooper in organizing the privately funded United States Indian Commission in 1868 and helped institute Ulysses S Grant s Peace Policy toward Native Americans In 1869 Dodge toured the Indian Territory present day Oklahoma and Kansas as a member of the government sponsored Board of Indian Commissioners He met and discussed U S Indian policy with representatives of the Cheyenne Arapaho and Kiowa nations Dodge lobbied for the prosecution of the U S cavalry commanders responsible for the 1870 Marias Massacre in Montana which left 173 Blackfeet dead Dodge unsuccessfully campaigned to establish a cabinet level Department for Indian Affairs He also used his influence in Washington on behalf of Native educational programs and the General Allotment Act of 1887 Dodge s core belief regarding Native Americans during the 1880s was that the only way to save Native Americans from perceived destructed from Euro American immigration and railway development was the forced education of Native American children that would ultimately lead to American citizenship 8 A monument to William E Dodge stands on the North side of Bryant Park in New York City Dodge was a founding member of the Board of Trustees for the Syrian Protestant College later renamed the American University of Beirut As Treasurer he laid the cornerstone of College Hall the first building on the present campus in Ras Beirut on December 7 1871 9 His eldest son William Earl Dodge Jr assumed control of the Phelps Dodge company after his death Family Tree of William Earl Dodge 10 David Low Dodge 1774 1852 Married1798Sarah Cleveland 1780 1862 Anson Green Phelps 1781 1853 Married1806Olivia Egleston 1784 1859 William Earl Dodge 1805 1883 Married1828Melissa Phelps 1809 1903 William E Dodge Jr 1832 1903 m 1854 Sarah Hoadley 1832 1909 Anson Greene Phelps Dodge 1834 1918 m 1 1859Rebecca Grew 1836 1927 m 2 1886Rachel Rose Voorhees 1852 1910 David Stuart Dodge 1836 1921 m 1 1860Ellen Ada Phelps 1838 1880 m 2 1885Elizabeth Scott Boyd 1846 1888 Charles Cleveland Dodge 1841 1910 m 1863Maria TheresaBradhurst Schieffelin 1840 1910 Norman White Dodge 1846 1907 m 1 1869Grace Gillette 1848 1870 m 2 1880Emma Hartley 1849 1881 m 3 1897Grace Vernon 1870 1953 George EglestoneDodge 1849 1904 m 1874May Cossitt 1853 1911 Arthur Murray Dodge 1852 1896 m 1875Josephine Jewell 1855 1928 See also editWilliam E Dodge Jr Cleveland Hoadley Dodge Bayard Dodge David S DodgeReferences edit Dodge D Stuart 1887 Memorials of William E Dodge New York Randolph p 73 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Martyn Carlos 1890 William E Dodge The Christian Merchant New York Funk amp Wagnall p 183 The Descendants of John Porter of Windsor Conn 1635 9 Volume 1 retrieved January 19 2013 The Dodge Family Association David Low Dodge Jr retrieved January 19 2013 Gannett Henry 1905 The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States Govt Print Off pp 107 pg 444 The New Georgia Guide Dodge D Stuart 1887 Memorials of William E Dodge New York Anson D F Randolf p 166 Retrieved 30 November 2014 Mardock Robert 1971 The Reformers and the American Indian Missouri University of Missouri Press p 203 ISBN 0 8262 0090 7 History of the American University of Beirut AUB Lebanon January 9 2009 Archived from the original on 2008 12 31 Retrieved 2009 01 28 Dodge Phyllis 1987 Tales of the Phelps Dodge Family New York Historical Society p Inside front cover Further reading editNew York Times obituary United States Congress William E Dodge id D000397 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress External links editWilliam E Dodge at Find a Grave U S House of Representatives Preceded byJames Brooks Member of the U S House of Representatives from New York s 8th congressional districtApril 7 1866 March 3 1867 Succeeded byJames Brooks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William E Dodge amp oldid 1191204636, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
