Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

His prominence in his profession led to his appointment, in October, 189 1, to his late posi- tion, one which requires ripe experience and thorough knowledge. His practical and scien- tific management of his department of the Sol- diers' Home was an important factor in the suc- cess of that institution, as so many of our brave heroes are now suffering the ills attending ad- vanced age. No man who passed through the hardships of the battle-field, the camp or a Southern prison is the stronger for the experi- ence, and the tenderest care is but the just due of those who happily still remain among us. In the New York Ez'cning Leader of June 26, i8Q7, we find an account of a visit to the Home in which well-deserved praise is bestowed upon the Doctor. The writer says: "Doctor Brownson shows in his face that a kind heart beats beneath his coat, and that familiarity has never hardened his sympathies. Under his conduct we made a tour of the offices, dispensary and barber's room, as well as the wards and private rooms where the sick were cared for. In the wards the sick men were lying on their beds or sitting in their easy chairs, while in a shady nook on the lawn we could see the paralytics and convalescents seated in rolling chairs. Wan, pathetic faces some of them had, for, comfortably as they were situ- ated, they were away from friends and home, with none endeared to them by ties of blood to cheer them." The Doctor was devoted to his charges, neglecting nothing that might contribute to their welfare, and, as he had a tine voice, he led them in the singing during the Sunday serv- ices at the Home. In 1854 Doctor Brownson married Miss Caro- line Louise Barstow, a daughter of Samuel Barstow, of Oswego county, N. Y., and four children have blessed the union. The eldest, William Clarence, is a successful physician at Asheville, N. C. Frances Mabel is the wife of Stephen G. Beers, a jeweler at Taunton, Mass. Carleton Lewis is a professor at the (^ity College, New York. Wendell Greene, a graduate of \ale College and law school, is engaged in the practice of law at Springfield, Mass. Politically, the Doctor affiliated with the Republican party, but in local affairs he voted independently when oc- casion required. Although he never entered the ranks of office seekers, preferring to give his time to his profession, he took much interest in all educational work, and for a number of years served as a school visitor in connection with the boards of education of New Canaan and Noroton. He was a member of the Congregational Church at New Canaan, and belonged to the Fairfield County Medical Society, of which he was presi- dent for three years, and to the Connecticut Medical Society, in which he also held the same office. In 1864 he was given the honorary de- gree of A. M. by Hamilton College, at Clinton, N. Y. In addition to his contributions to the medical journals, he showed much literary ability in other lines, and while serving as president of the State Medical Society he wrote and delivered before that body a poem entitled "The Country Doctor," which was widely copied. J SMITH DODGE, M. D., D. D. S. Few citizens of Stamford have worked as assidu- ously for the best interestsof the community as has the gentleman whose history is briefly out- lined in this sketch. While pursuing an arduous profession, he has found time to assist effectively in many worthy movements — religious, philan- thropic and educational — and that valued insti- tution, the Ferguson Library, owes much to his patient, unremitting care. Dr. Dodge was born Decemder 3, 1834, in New York City, and is descended from an old Connecticut family. His father. Dr. J. Smith Dodge, Sr. , was born in Connecticut, and for many years practiced dentistry in New York City, but later he removed his residence to Morris- town, N. J., where his last days were spent. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Julia Ann Burger, was a native of New York City. During his boyhood our subject attended a boarding school at Rye, N. Y., and afterward he took a course in the literary department of Columbia College, graduating in 1853. He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, where he was graduated in 1856, and the following year he spent in Bellevue Hospital as house physician. On leaving that institution he pursued a course of study in the Baltimore College of Dentistry, graduating with the class of 1858, and soon afterward he engaged in practice with his father in New York. He is a man of broad intelligence and original thought, 128 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. his studies taking a wide range, and at one time he prepared for the ministry of the UniversaHst Church. In 18G2 he was ordained, and for twelve years he served acceptably as pastor of the congregation in Stamford. He was quick to appreciate the vast power for good promised by the Ferguson Library, of which he was an incor- porator, and from the first he has served as a trustee and has performed continuously the duties of secretary of the institution. In 1S58 Dr. Dodge married Miss M. R. Hall, of Stamford, and since that time he has resided at his pleasant home in West Broad street. Of his four children only one is now at home. B .AVID PECK RHOADES. Few men in this section are more widely known in metro- politan business circles than this venerable and respected resident of Stratford, who was for many years actively identified with newspaper work in New York city. He held a responsible position on the force of the New York Tribune in the early days, and while he is now living in retirement he is a stockholder in the American News Company, and keeps in touch with the de- velopment of journalistic enterprise. Mr. Rhoades belongs to a good Colonial fam- ily. His paternal ancestors, who were descend- ants of Roger Williams, settled at Wethersfield at an early date, and a member of the branch later removed to Stratford. For many years the family has been connected with shipbuilding in- terests, and John Rhoades, our subject's father, who was born in Wethersfield, was engaged in that business in New York City from 1826 until his death, which occurred in 1834. He married Miss Esther Peck, a native of Milford, where the first years of his married life were spent, his twelve children being born there. Of these, three died in infancy, and, of the others, the first seven — Sarah, Susan, Esther, Mary, John, William and Henry — are now deceased. The youngest child, Edward, is now a resident of Providence, R. I. He was formerly a printer by trade. The Peck family, which was also of English origin, became identified with Milford at an early period, Mr. Rhoades' first ancestor on that side of whom we have definite record, having come from l£ngland about 1638 and settled at Milford, and some of his descendants also lived in that town. Capt. Samuel Peck, Mr. Rhoades' ma- ternal great-grandfather, served as an officer throughout the Revolutionary war. Michael Peck, his grandfather, who was born at the old home- stead in Milford, and lived to the age of 103 years, was an e.xtensive landowner at Milford, and probably followed farming as an occupation. He was a sort of commissary and home guard at Milford, supplying recruits for the army, arrest- ing deserters, etc., during the Revolutionary war. David P. Rhoades, the ninth among the chil- dren who lived to maturity, was born August 5, 1824, and \vas about two years old when his parents removed to New York City, where he grew to manhood. The early death of his father compelled him to forego his plans for an educa- tion, and seek such emplo\-ment as a boy of his age could secure. He worked at various "odd jobs" until he was fifteen, when he had the good fortune to attract the notice of Horace Greely, at that time managing editor of the AVti' Yorker, a literary paper. Mr. Greeley, recognizing the young lad's ability, gave him a place in the prmting office, and a year later, in 1S41, when he started the New York Tribune, Mr. Rhoades became clerk, having charge of much of the circulation business of the paper. He remained with Mr. Greeley twenty-si.x years, a firm friend- ship being established between the two, and as time passed he actjuired a share in the paper. In a published account, "The organization and By-laws of the New York Tribune," the names of the owners of the paper in i860 appear as below: "The following gentlemen signed the By-laws which were adopted by a special meet- ing of the Proprietors of the Tribune held on Thursday, April 4, i860 — Horace Greeley, George M. Snow, Samuel St. Clair, Robert M. Stre- beigh, Charles A. Dana, James Cuthell, Thomas N. Rooker, C. E. Wilbur, Solan Robinson, Oliver Johnson, George J. Ripley, Theodore Til- ton, D. P. Rhoades, and Bayard Taylor." About 1862 Mr. Rhoades purchased his present residence in Stratford, a beautiful estate, and while making his home there with his family he continued his business in New York City. Some years later he became connected with the New York News Company (now the American News Company), but since 1S95 he has lived in retire- ment at Stratford. Mr. Rhoades has taken an active part in political work since early manhood, first as a Whig and later as a Republican, his first Presi- dential vote having been cast for Zachary Taylor. He has often been urged to allow his name to be presented as a candidate for different offices, but has invariably declined. His public spirit has been shown in various ways, and he was one of the chief promoters of the Stratford Library, be- coming a life member at its organization, and at present he is serving as a life trustee, bor thirty-six years he has held a pew in the Episco- pal Church at Stratford, and socially he is COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 129 identified with numerous orders, including the Masonic Fraternity. He is now acting as presi- dent of the Stratford Social Club, of which he was also vice-president for some years.