"History of Southern Oregon, Comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and
Coos Counties.  Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources."  A. G. Walling,
Publisher.  Portland, OR.  1884.  pg. 526.

JAMES RUFUS DODGE

     Was born in Lanesboro, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, August 29, 1817,
and is a descendant of poor but honest parents that were unable to give him the
advantages of a good education, but a the tender age of nine years James was
placed as an apprentice with a Mr. Butler in his native town to learn the
clothiers trade.  After three years of faithful work at this business he
concluded to try and better his condition and young as he was he was impressed
with the belief that he could do better so he conveyed his ideas to his employer
but was met with a rebuff and a contemptuous "what can you do?"  But on
consultation of his parents and employer it was agreed to let our subject try
something else.  His first venture was into the hay fields where he hired with a
man for one month for which he received as compensation seven dollars; with this
as capital he started for Troy, N. Y., from whence he went to Canandagua county
and worked on a farm for one year and the following summer hired for $12 per
month as a driver on the Erie Canal.  And in the fall went in the employ of a
Dr. Wells for one year at a salary of four dollars per month.  His next move was
to enter the employ of a manufacturing firm to learn the carriage and coach
trimming trade but on account of a weak wrist was compelled to give this up at
the end of one year.  He then served a term of four years at the blacksmiths
trade in Leroy, N.Y., receiving as salary thirty dollars per year, and furnish
his own clothes but while others slept Mr. Dodge could be found at his forge and
by night work he made an average salary of sixty dollars per year.  On the
expiration of his time he returned to Massachusetts and was employed in a rail
road blacksmith shop, he now being a first class workman received full pay and
the world began to look brighter and he continued at his trust in different
places among which were Rochester, Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, finally
locating the Montezuma, Indiana, here he engaged in business for himself and
here it was that he formed the acquaintance of the lady who afterwards became
his devoted companion through life's journey.  He was married on March 7, 1840,
to Helen Mary Allen, a daughter of Dr. John Allen.  He resided in Indiana for
twelve years, when failing health made it necessary for him to seek a milder
climate, so consequently on March 17, 1852, he started, with his family, towards
the setting sun and crossed the great plains with out any serious accident and
arrived in Linn county, Oregon, about the first of November, of that year. 
Remaining in that county but a short time he moved to the forks of the Santiam
river and there started a blacksmith shop.  After a short stay here he was
advised by his friend Morgan Keys to come to the Umpqua country and he there
settled at the mouth of Green valley creek on the Calapooia in what was then
Umpqua county.  And now for over thirty years Mr. Dodge has been a resident of
the Umpqua valley, and since his arrival has been engaged in blacksmithing,
merchandizing, farming and stock raising, being extensively engaged in the
latter at the present time, and is now a gentleman of large means owning some
6,000 acres of rich farming land near Oakland, Oregon, where he now resides.  A
view of his town and country residences will be found among the illustrations of
this work.




     

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.