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Luther C. Dodge (September 7, 1821 – February 3, 1901) was a businessman, politician, and government official who was active in Vermont and California. A Republican, he was most notable for serving as mayor of Burlington, Vermont from 1871 to 1874.
Luther C. Dodge | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Burlington, Vermont | |
| In office 1871–1874 | |
| Preceded by | Torrey E. Wales |
| Succeeded by | Calvin H. Blodgett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 7, 1821 Montpelier, Vermont |
| Died | February 3, 1901 (aged 79) San Rafael, California |
| Resting place | Mount Tamalpais Cemetery, San Rafael, California |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lucia Pomeroy Moore (m. 1849-1901, his death) |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession | Businessman |
Luther Collamer Dodge[1] was born in Montpelier, Vermont on September 7, 1821, a son of Nathan and Hannah (Phinney) Dodge.[2] He was educated in Montpelier and farmed until 1841, when he moved to Burlington, Vermont to become a clerk in the J. & J. H. Peck Company wholesale mercantile business.[2] In 1847 he joined the Troy and Canada Junction Telegraph Company as an operator.[2] In 1848, Dodge became the company's superintendent, a position he held until 1853.[2]
In September 1855, Dodge moved to San Francisco, California, where he was a partner with his brother Henry L. Dodge and others in a wholesale mercantile business.[2] He later operated a wholesale business in Petaluma, California in partnership with William Hill.[3] In 1868, Dodge returned to Burlington, where he resided until 1877.[2] Dodge's brother Omri was president of Burlington's First National Bank, and Luther Dodge served as the bank's cashier.[4] In addition to his banking career, Dodge was involved with several Burlington civic causes, including serving as an officer of the Young Men's Association, a captain in a volunteer fire company, and a member of the city's Board of Trade.[5][6][7] A Republican, he was elected mayor in 1871, and served until 1874.[2] Among the highlights of Dodge's term was presiding over the dedication of a statue of Ethan Allen, which was placed at Burlington's Greenmount Cemetery in July 1873.[8]
In April 1877, Dodge returned to San Francisco, where he was a partner with E. W. Forsaith in the Forsaith & Dodge wholesale mercantile business.[2] Dodge sold his share of the business in 1882 and moved to Idaho, where he was a partner with his brothers Omri and Nathan in a lumber business that manufactured sashes, doors, and other building materials.[2] In 1883 the lumber mill, factory, and a large stock of raw lumber, glass, and finished wood products were destroyed by fire.[2]
Dodge returned to San Francisco after losing his Idaho lumber business.[2] Between 1884 and 1890, he was employed by several businesses, including superintendent of the Coos Bay Stave and Lumber Company and superintendent of Pacific Woodenware and Cooperage.[9][10] In March 1890, Dodge was appointed cashier in the office of the U.S. Internal Revenue Collector for San Francisco, a position he held until the late 1890s.[2] In retirement, he resided with his son in San Rafael, California.[11]
Dodge died at the San Rafael home of his son George on February 3, 1901.[12] He was buried at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael.[13]
In 1849, Dodge married Lucia Pomeroy Moore (1825-1903) of Burlington.[2][14] They were the parents of a son, George Moore Dodge.[2] George Dodge (1850-1925) was a graduate of the University of Vermont who became a well-known railroad construction engineer and surveyor in California.[15]
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