Bio: Dodsworth, William J. (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Dodsworth, Demeline, Rose, Dewey, Britt, Kenyon, Hatch, Robinson

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 697-698

William J. Dodsworth, conductor on the Wisconsin Division of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad, between Fairchild and Mondovi, was born in Euclid, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, April 30, 1863, the son of Henry and Elizabeth A. (Demeline) Dodsworth, the father a native of Yorkshire, England, and the mother of Indiana. The family settled in Elroy, Wisconsin, in 1865, locating on a farm of 80 acres to which was subsequently added an adjoining 80, which the father cleared, cultivated and improved, and there made his home until his death. The family consisted of eight children: Henry C.; Mary, wife of J. H. Rose; William J.; Adeline, wife of John Dewey; George; Fannie, wife of John Britt; Charles and Nellie (twins), the latter being the wife of Elmer Kenyon.

William J. was raised to manhood on the homestead farm at Elroy, was educated in the public schools and followed farming as a vocation until 1885. He then entered the employ of the C., St. P., M. & Omaha Railroad, as conductor on the eastern division, and has acted in that capacity ever since, but since 1905 has been on the Mondovi division. He was married January 22, 1890, to Leora, daughter of Warren D. and Ann (Robinson) Hatch, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania. They were pioneers of Wisconsin, first settling in Dunn county in 1857, and in Eau Claire county in 1875, locating in the town of Pleasant Valley, where Mr. Hatch served as postmaster four years, of the Shaw post office. Mr. and Mrs. Dodsworth have two daughters, Laura Alice and Fae E. Mr. Dodsworth is a member of the Plymouth Lodge, No. 302, A. F. and A. M., of Elroy, and politically is a democrat.