===========================
Robert Moffat Dodds was born on Inch Road, in the heart of Kelso City, Roxburghshire, Scotland.
Robert was born to:
-----Ann Dodds, daughter of James Dodds born 1782 in Ednam, Roxburghshire and Alison Douglas born 1792 in Sprouston Parish, 2 miles east of Kelso, Roxburghshire;
-----and William Bruce Storey born Oct 8, 1819 in Kelso, son of Elizabeth Bruce born 1778 and James Storey born 1779 (both in Kelso).
William was a Master Tailor and Ann a Dressmaker when they married, (William was 34 and Ann 19), and William was the Town Missionary when he died.
Just like William Bruce Storey's brother-Adam, Ann and William Bruce Storey did not marry until 8 months after their 1st child Robert Moffat Dodds was born.
Ann & William married June 28, 1853 in Kelso. They had daughter Ann Margaret Storey on May 2, 1854.
Unfortunately, William died May 20, 1855 age 35, married less than 2 years & leaving a son (RMD) less than 2 and a half and an 8 mo old daughter.
William died suddenly, of an illness of less than 15 days in duration.
Ann was a Dressmaker, and with little money to raise both children- she turned over RMD to her brother Thomas Dodds born 1830 and his wife Janet Robson to raise.
Eventually Thomas & Janet had 11 of their own children to raise. By the time they had the first 5 or 6 children- RMD left (or was asked to leave) the family and at 12 and a half struck out on his own.
RMD considered his cousins as his siblings and even from America, kept in touch with Thomas & Janet's children- Alice Margaret (Meg) Dodds Service and her brother Thomas Dodds.
At first RMD was supposedly apprenticed to a tailor. (possibly in Coldstream, 10 mi east of Kelso), for about 4 years from abt 1864 to 1868-69, (but it could also have been in the Kelso shop where Ann worked as a Dressmaker and William originally worked as a Master Tailor with Ann).
----------
RMD's mother Ann remarried in 1863 to James Robson born 1863. He was the brother of her brother Thomas' wife Janet Robson,(Thomas & Janet who raised RMD).
Ann & James moved to Wilton, Hawick (abt 23 miles from Kelso) and had 6 Robson children of their own from 1864 to 1869.
----------
RMD went to Edinburgh to clerk in a men's wear store about age 17, from abt 1869 to 1871. An 1871 census in Edinburgh does show a Robert Dodds (same age) along with a James Dodds (the same age as Thomas & Janet's son James) both rooming together and working as painters.
From 1871 to 1873 we don't know where he was or what he was doing, but our best guess is that he worked at numerous jobs to earn the money for Vet School.
----------
In 1873 he entered the Dick Veterinary College in Edinburgh, Scotland & graduated 1877.
The old school records no longer exist online, but at least 10 years ago, the records did show he attended and graduated from the school.
---------
Immigration: RMD immigrated to USA late 1877 or early 1878 from Scotland, though no ship's manifest has yet been found to show the date or port of entry- the immigration date came from multiple census records.
---------
Minnesota Naturalization Records INDEX
Declaration of Intent for Naturalization
Name: R. M. Dodds
County: Dakota
Years: 1876 -1888
(No success yet, finding an IMAGE of the record this index refers to)
---------
After he immigrated, RMD first settled and had a Veterinary practice simultaneously in Winona, Minnesota & LaCrosse, Wisconsin for four years.
RMD was a practicing Veterinarian for 54 yrs= 50 in Mankato, MN 1898 to 1928, plus those first 4 years in WI & Winona.
RMD also owned & ran the 'Gopher Kennels' in Mankato, raising champion Airdale Terrier dogs that went to all parts of the United States.
Sophia's father gave RMD a champion Clydesdale Stallion named 'Robbie Burns' that won Blue ribbons at the MN State Fairs.
RMD through the late 1880s and the 1990's, bred, raised, sold and raced (himself) pacer/trotter horses, also in the MN State Fair and Breeder's Cup races in Mankato and surrounds.
---------------------------------
Following are the US Federal or State censuses for RMD alone and RMD with Sophia and the children, as well as any of the family in the City Directories-
1880 MN State Census
Winona Township: Winona
The family is living at 123 Main (Street? Ave?). The census page has RMD and Sophia and is continued on the next census page- with newborn first child Martha Alice.
----DODDS, ROBERT M., 27, a Veterinary Doctor, unable to work due to a kick from a horse
----wife Sophia age 26
----daughter Martha A. (Alice) 14 days old, born in MN
Son Robert Porter Dodds was born in Winona, a year later. Sophia's maternal grandmother Martha Alvord Snell-Porter came to live with them when he was born, December, 1881.
Martha's husband Dr Moses Porter had died 5 years earlier.
Martha moved with the RMD family to Waterford / Northfield MN by 1885, and died there a short time later Jan 1, 1886.
========================
1885- RMD appeared in the Eau Clair, Wisconsin City Directory.
He is listed as Robert M. Dodds of "Dodds and Wigglesworth- Veterinary Surgeons" their residence and office was at the southeast corner of Farwell & Gibson, in Eau Clair.
=============================
1885 MN STATE or Territorial Census
Northfield City, Rice County
-----Robert M Dodds 32, born in Scotland
-----wife Sophia Isabella Simpson 21, born IL
-----Martha Alvord Snell-Porter 79, born in Mass (Sophia's maternal grandmother)
-----Everett Ellsworth Simpson 22, born in MN (Sophia's brother).
Dodds children, all born in MN:
-----Martha Alice 5
-----Robert P. (Robt Porter) 3
-----R.E. (Roscoe Emerson Dodds) age 1.
(Roscoe died four years later)
==========================
1895 MN STATE Census
Rice County
Northfield City
---Robert M. Dodds 43, Vet Surgeon;
---Sophia I. 42;
---Caroline Anderson age 16, born in Denmark, a domestic servant for the Dodds household.
Dodds children, all born in MN:
---Alice 15
---Robert 14
---John 11
---Lewis 9
---Everett 7
---Barney 4 (RMD and/or Sophia's sense of humor... 'Barney' is actually Elizabeth born 1890)
---Clarence 8 months old (so born Oct 1894).
===========================
1899- RMD was listed in the Rice Co., MN Directory, a Vet Surgeon, at 402 East 6th St, in the City of Northfield.
===========================
1900- RMD was in the Mankato, MN City Directory, listed as Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon, business & residence at Pike (Street) nw corner of Cherry
===========================
1900 Federal Census
County: Blue Earth, MN
Mankato City, Ward #4,
RMD is living alone, at #432 West Cherry St, on the corner of, or a continuation of, South Front Street.
Robert's birthdate is written in as NOV, 1853, his immigration as 1877 and his years in the USA as 22(which actually=1878).
Sophia and all the children however, are living away from RMD and are in the following 1900 census in Northfield, Rice County.
------
1900 Federal Census
MN State
Rice County
Northfield City, Northfield Town
Sophia and their 7 children are living on Sixth Street (no house number on the census page), in Northfield, while RMD is living in Mankato for the 1900 census.
(Sophia told her son Everett, it was because after 8 children, Sophia and Robert decided that maybe if they lived apart for a while, they could stop making more children.)
-----Sophia age 46, birthdate July 1853, married 22 years.
Sophia had birthed, as of the 1900 census, 8 children, but only 7 had survived- all of whom were in this census.
(Roscoe Emerson had died in 1889, at less than 6 years old).
Dodds children, all born in MN-
----Alice age 20, bdate May 1880
----Robert P. 18, bdate Dec 1881
----John S. 14, bdate Aug 1885
----Lewis T. 12, bdate Nov 1887
----Everett S. 10, bdate Mar 1889
----Elizabeth K. 9, bdate July 1890
----Clarence 4 bdate Aug 1895
(Clarence's birthdate is actually Aug 7, 1894 from his Draft Registration card for WWI, and also listed as 1894 from his 1930 census in NY).
==========================
1905 Minnesota STATE Census
Blue Earth Co., Mankato, Ward #4
The Dodds family was living at # 217 East Cherry Street in Mankato.
(Five years earlier in the 1900 Fed. Census, Robert was living alone at #432 West Cherry Street).
---Robert M. Dodds, age 52, a Veterinary Surgeon
---wife Sophia I. (ages for Sophia and the children are illegible)
Dodds children
-----Alice M. (Martha Alice)
-----John S. (John Simpson Dodds)
-----Lewis T. (Lewis Thorpe)
=============================
1905- Mankato, MN City Directory-
RMD is listed as- Robert M Dodds Vet Surgeon
Pike nw cor Cherry CITIZENS TEL 162
r (residence) #217 E Cherry CITIZENS TEL 313
Just before him in the directory was their dau Elizabeth K., student at the Normal School, living at #217 E Cherry.
==========================
Following is what appears to be a 2nd 1905 census-
1905 MN State census
Blue Earth County, Mankato City, Ward #5
June 1 to June 7, 1905 (different census taking days than the other 1905 above).
The same Dodds family as above, (except all spelled DODD with no 's') and with the addition of children-
-------------Everett S. (Sherwood)
-------------Elizabeth K. (Kellogg)
-------------Clarence L. (Laidlaw)
RMD is a (spelled thus) Vitenary.
RMD is listed as living in MN 26 yrs and 11 months (so since 1878).
===========================
1906 and 1908- RMD is again in the Mankato City Directory.
1906- RMD and the family below, are listed-
------Alice Dodds b 534 Byron
------Elizabeth K Dodds b 534 Byron
------Everett S. Dodds student b 534 Byron
------John S Dodds student b 534 Byron
------Lewis T. Dodds chainman County Surveyor b 534 Byron
------Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon.
Pike nw cor Cherry, CITIZENS TEL 162; r 534 Byron CITIZENS TEL 313
It appears that by the 1908 directory, RMD was sharing his Vet office and/or practice, with his son and new Veterinarian= Lewis T., and the office remained at "Pike nw cor Cherry".
1908 the listing is-
---Elizabeth K Dodds, student at the Normal School b 823 S Front
---Everett S Dodds draftsman b 823 S Front
---Lewis T Dodds Veterinary Surgeon Pike nw cor Cherry, b 823 S Front
---Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon and Propr Gopher Kennels, Airdale Terriers "Pike nw cor Cherry" b 823 S Front
===========================
1910 Federal Census
State, MN
County: Blue Earth
Mankato, Ward 5
The Dodds family is renting a house and living at #823 South Front Street.
The census family consists of
---Robert M. 57, listed as a Physician-General Practice, immigrated in 1878, naturalized citizen
---Sophia 56, married 30 years, 8 children, 7 survived (as of this 1910 census)
Dodds children:
---John S. 34, Civil Engineer - General Practice
---Lewis T. 22, Physician (Veterinarian)
---Elizabeth K. 18, School Teacher
---Clarence T. (should be Clarence L.) 15 and a student.
(We know from Clarence L.'s Draft Registration Card in 1918, that at least son Clarence still lived at the #823 South Front St house as of 1918).
=========================
1916- in the Mankato City Directory-
Robert Moffat Dodds is still living at 823 South Front Street, as are his dau Elizabeth K.-Teacher (graduated from the Mankato Normal School) and son Clarence L.-student.
Listed with them is also RMD & Sophia's son Lewis T. Dodds. Lewis had (since the 1908 City listing):
--married Alice Josephine Hubbell in 1910;
--moved out of the family home at 823 South Front Street and (by this 1916 date) had moved to 317 Record; and
--moved out of doing business with his Dad and opened his own Veterinary practice at 115 East Walnut.
RMD was still a Vet himself (at 64 yrs of age!) with his residence on South Front St., and his office at "ft of Cherry", but was no longer listed as Proprietor of the Gopher Kennels (breeding & selling Airdale Terriers).
Son Dr. Lewis had taken on the farm animal customers of the business (because it's a young vets game), and RMD kept the small animal clients.
===========================
RMD and Sophia thought they'd like to retire, get away from the cold MN winters and go live with daughter (Martha) Alice and her husband Arthur Rayner in about 1917. They moved between 1916 and the 1920 census and are in the 1920 census with them in Seattle, WA.
The story goes-that although they enjoyed the company of Alice and Arthur, they disliked the rain in Seattle and missed Minnesota. By the next census in 1930, RMD and Sophia are back in MN, in Blue Earth County, in Mankato.
In 1938, both Martha Alice and her husband Arthur died in a horrible auto accident in Seattle. It's good Robert and Sophia were not there for such a tragedy. Also hurt in the accident, suffering bad leg wounds was Amy (May) Elizabeth Schoelkopf, (granddaughter of Robert Moffat & Sophia), who was visiting the Rayners at the time of the accident.
-------
1920 WA State Census
County: King, City of Seattle,
The census family consisted of:
---Dodds, M. Robert 67, Retired;
---wife I. Sophia 65,
---son L. Clarence 25, a Physical Instructor;
(should be Clarence L.)
---daughter (Martha) D. Alice 38;
---son in law Rayner, E. Arthur 39, a Salesman.
Everyone was living on #2113 Biglow Street, Seattle, WA, which was the house the Rayners owned free and clear.
==========================
1930 State, MN
County: Blue Earth
Township: Mankato City, 5th Ward,
---Dodds, Robert M. 77, immigrated in 1878, naturalized citizen.
---wife (more than 51 years) Sophia I. 76.
RMD and Sophia were living at #310 State Street, owned their own house at the time, worth $4,000 and owned a radio set.
RMD died a little over a month after this census was taken, at 310 State St.
==========================
Township: Waterford
County: Dakota
Name: Robert M. Dr Dodds
Birth Date: 21 Oct 1852
Death Date: 27 May 1930
Cemetery: Red Rose
Comments: SP. SOPHIA S. NFD. 23/MAY/1930
Section: 112 C
Source Information:
Dalby, John. Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index, Select Counties [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.
Robert Moffat Dodds was born on Inch Road, in the heart of Kelso City, Roxburghshire, Scotland.
Robert was born to:
-----Ann Dodds, daughter of James Dodds born 1782 in Ednam, Roxburghshire and Alison Douglas born 1792 in Sprouston Parish, 2 miles east of Kelso, Roxburghshire;
-----and William Bruce Storey born Oct 8, 1819 in Kelso, son of Elizabeth Bruce born 1778 and James Storey born 1779 (both in Kelso).
William was a Master Tailor and Ann a Dressmaker when they married, (William was 34 and Ann 19), and William was the Town Missionary when he died.
Just like William Bruce Storey's brother-Adam, Ann and William Bruce Storey did not marry until 8 months after their 1st child Robert Moffat Dodds was born.
Ann & William married June 28, 1853 in Kelso. They had daughter Ann Margaret Storey on May 2, 1854.
Unfortunately, William died May 20, 1855 age 35, married less than 2 years & leaving a son (RMD) less than 2 and a half and an 8 mo old daughter.
William died suddenly, of an illness of less than 15 days in duration.
Ann was a Dressmaker, and with little money to raise both children- she turned over RMD to her brother Thomas Dodds born 1830 and his wife Janet Robson to raise.
Eventually Thomas & Janet had 11 of their own children to raise. By the time they had the first 5 or 6 children- RMD left (or was asked to leave) the family and at 12 and a half struck out on his own.
RMD considered his cousins as his siblings and even from America, kept in touch with Thomas & Janet's children- Alice Margaret (Meg) Dodds Service and her brother Thomas Dodds.
At first RMD was supposedly apprenticed to a tailor. (possibly in Coldstream, 10 mi east of Kelso), for about 4 years from abt 1864 to 1868-69, (but it could also have been in the Kelso shop where Ann worked as a Dressmaker and William originally worked as a Master Tailor with Ann).
----------
RMD's mother Ann remarried in 1863 to James Robson born 1863. He was the brother of her brother Thomas' wife Janet Robson,(Thomas & Janet who raised RMD).
Ann & James moved to Wilton, Hawick (abt 23 miles from Kelso) and had 6 Robson children of their own from 1864 to 1869.
----------
RMD went to Edinburgh to clerk in a men's wear store about age 17, from abt 1869 to 1871. An 1871 census in Edinburgh does show a Robert Dodds (same age) along with a James Dodds (the same age as Thomas & Janet's son James) both rooming together and working as painters.
From 1871 to 1873 we don't know where he was or what he was doing, but our best guess is that he worked at numerous jobs to earn the money for Vet School.
----------
In 1873 he entered the Dick Veterinary College in Edinburgh, Scotland & graduated 1877.
The old school records no longer exist online, but at least 10 years ago, the records did show he attended and graduated from the school.
---------
Immigration: RMD immigrated to USA late 1877 or early 1878 from Scotland, though no ship's manifest has yet been found to show the date or port of entry- the immigration date came from multiple census records.
---------
Minnesota Naturalization Records INDEX
Declaration of Intent for Naturalization
Name: R. M. Dodds
County: Dakota
Years: 1876 -1888
(No success yet, finding an IMAGE of the record this index refers to)
---------
After he immigrated, RMD first settled and had a Veterinary practice simultaneously in Winona, Minnesota & LaCrosse, Wisconsin for four years.
RMD was a practicing Veterinarian for 54 yrs= 50 in Mankato, MN 1898 to 1928, plus those first 4 years in WI & Winona.
RMD also owned & ran the 'Gopher Kennels' in Mankato, raising champion Airdale Terrier dogs that went to all parts of the United States.
Sophia's father gave RMD a champion Clydesdale Stallion named 'Robbie Burns' that won Blue ribbons at the MN State Fairs.
RMD through the late 1880s and the 1990's, bred, raised, sold and raced (himself) pacer/trotter horses, also in the MN State Fair and Breeder's Cup races in Mankato and surrounds.
---------------------------------
Following are the US Federal or State censuses for RMD alone and RMD with Sophia and the children, as well as any of the family in the City Directories-
1880 MN State Census
Winona Township: Winona
The family is living at 123 Main (Street? Ave?). The census page has RMD and Sophia and is continued on the next census page- with newborn first child Martha Alice.
----DODDS, ROBERT M., 27, a Veterinary Doctor, unable to work due to a kick from a horse
----wife Sophia age 26
----daughter Martha A. (Alice) 14 days old, born in MN
Son Robert Porter Dodds was born in Winona, a year later. Sophia's maternal grandmother Martha Alvord Snell-Porter came to live with them when he was born, December, 1881.
Martha's husband Dr Moses Porter had died 5 years earlier.
Martha moved with the RMD family to Waterford / Northfield MN by 1885, and died there a short time later Jan 1, 1886.
========================
1885- RMD appeared in the Eau Clair, Wisconsin City Directory.
He is listed as Robert M. Dodds of "Dodds and Wigglesworth- Veterinary Surgeons" their residence and office was at the southeast corner of Farwell & Gibson, in Eau Clair.
=============================
1885 MN STATE or Territorial Census
Northfield City, Rice County
-----Robert M Dodds 32, born in Scotland
-----wife Sophia Isabella Simpson 21, born IL
-----Martha Alvord Snell-Porter 79, born in Mass (Sophia's maternal grandmother)
-----Everett Ellsworth Simpson 22, born in MN (Sophia's brother).
Dodds children, all born in MN:
-----Martha Alice 5
-----Robert P. (Robt Porter) 3
-----R.E. (Roscoe Emerson Dodds) age 1.
(Roscoe died four years later)
==========================
1895 MN STATE Census
Rice County
Northfield City
---Robert M. Dodds 43, Vet Surgeon;
---Sophia I. 42;
---Caroline Anderson age 16, born in Denmark, a domestic servant for the Dodds household.
Dodds children, all born in MN:
---Alice 15
---Robert 14
---John 11
---Lewis 9
---Everett 7
---Barney 4 (RMD and/or Sophia's sense of humor... 'Barney' is actually Elizabeth born 1890)
---Clarence 8 months old (so born Oct 1894).
===========================
1899- RMD was listed in the Rice Co., MN Directory, a Vet Surgeon, at 402 East 6th St, in the City of Northfield.
===========================
1900- RMD was in the Mankato, MN City Directory, listed as Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon, business & residence at Pike (Street) nw corner of Cherry
===========================
1900 Federal Census
County: Blue Earth, MN
Mankato City, Ward #4,
RMD is living alone, at #432 West Cherry St, on the corner of, or a continuation of, South Front Street.
Robert's birthdate is written in as NOV, 1853, his immigration as 1877 and his years in the USA as 22(which actually=1878).
Sophia and all the children however, are living away from RMD and are in the following 1900 census in Northfield, Rice County.
------
1900 Federal Census
MN State
Rice County
Northfield City, Northfield Town
Sophia and their 7 children are living on Sixth Street (no house number on the census page), in Northfield, while RMD is living in Mankato for the 1900 census.
(Sophia told her son Everett, it was because after 8 children, Sophia and Robert decided that maybe if they lived apart for a while, they could stop making more children.)
-----Sophia age 46, birthdate July 1853, married 22 years.
Sophia had birthed, as of the 1900 census, 8 children, but only 7 had survived- all of whom were in this census.
(Roscoe Emerson had died in 1889, at less than 6 years old).
Dodds children, all born in MN-
----Alice age 20, bdate May 1880
----Robert P. 18, bdate Dec 1881
----John S. 14, bdate Aug 1885
----Lewis T. 12, bdate Nov 1887
----Everett S. 10, bdate Mar 1889
----Elizabeth K. 9, bdate July 1890
----Clarence 4 bdate Aug 1895
(Clarence's birthdate is actually Aug 7, 1894 from his Draft Registration card for WWI, and also listed as 1894 from his 1930 census in NY).
==========================
1905 Minnesota STATE Census
Blue Earth Co., Mankato, Ward #4
The Dodds family was living at # 217 East Cherry Street in Mankato.
(Five years earlier in the 1900 Fed. Census, Robert was living alone at #432 West Cherry Street).
---Robert M. Dodds, age 52, a Veterinary Surgeon
---wife Sophia I. (ages for Sophia and the children are illegible)
Dodds children
-----Alice M. (Martha Alice)
-----John S. (John Simpson Dodds)
-----Lewis T. (Lewis Thorpe)
=============================
1905- Mankato, MN City Directory-
RMD is listed as- Robert M Dodds Vet Surgeon
Pike nw cor Cherry CITIZENS TEL 162
r (residence) #217 E Cherry CITIZENS TEL 313
Just before him in the directory was their dau Elizabeth K., student at the Normal School, living at #217 E Cherry.
==========================
Following is what appears to be a 2nd 1905 census-
1905 MN State census
Blue Earth County, Mankato City, Ward #5
June 1 to June 7, 1905 (different census taking days than the other 1905 above).
The same Dodds family as above, (except all spelled DODD with no 's') and with the addition of children-
-------------Everett S. (Sherwood)
-------------Elizabeth K. (Kellogg)
-------------Clarence L. (Laidlaw)
RMD is a (spelled thus) Vitenary.
RMD is listed as living in MN 26 yrs and 11 months (so since 1878).
===========================
1906 and 1908- RMD is again in the Mankato City Directory.
1906- RMD and the family below, are listed-
------Alice Dodds b 534 Byron
------Elizabeth K Dodds b 534 Byron
------Everett S. Dodds student b 534 Byron
------John S Dodds student b 534 Byron
------Lewis T. Dodds chainman County Surveyor b 534 Byron
------Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon.
Pike nw cor Cherry, CITIZENS TEL 162; r 534 Byron CITIZENS TEL 313
It appears that by the 1908 directory, RMD was sharing his Vet office and/or practice, with his son and new Veterinarian= Lewis T., and the office remained at "Pike nw cor Cherry".
1908 the listing is-
---Elizabeth K Dodds, student at the Normal School b 823 S Front
---Everett S Dodds draftsman b 823 S Front
---Lewis T Dodds Veterinary Surgeon Pike nw cor Cherry, b 823 S Front
---Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon and Propr Gopher Kennels, Airdale Terriers "Pike nw cor Cherry" b 823 S Front
===========================
1910 Federal Census
State, MN
County: Blue Earth
Mankato, Ward 5
The Dodds family is renting a house and living at #823 South Front Street.
The census family consists of
---Robert M. 57, listed as a Physician-General Practice, immigrated in 1878, naturalized citizen
---Sophia 56, married 30 years, 8 children, 7 survived (as of this 1910 census)
Dodds children:
---John S. 34, Civil Engineer - General Practice
---Lewis T. 22, Physician (Veterinarian)
---Elizabeth K. 18, School Teacher
---Clarence T. (should be Clarence L.) 15 and a student.
(We know from Clarence L.'s Draft Registration Card in 1918, that at least son Clarence still lived at the #823 South Front St house as of 1918).
=========================
1916- in the Mankato City Directory-
Robert Moffat Dodds is still living at 823 South Front Street, as are his dau Elizabeth K.-Teacher (graduated from the Mankato Normal School) and son Clarence L.-student.
Listed with them is also RMD & Sophia's son Lewis T. Dodds. Lewis had (since the 1908 City listing):
--married Alice Josephine Hubbell in 1910;
--moved out of the family home at 823 South Front Street and (by this 1916 date) had moved to 317 Record; and
--moved out of doing business with his Dad and opened his own Veterinary practice at 115 East Walnut.
RMD was still a Vet himself (at 64 yrs of age!) with his residence on South Front St., and his office at "ft of Cherry", but was no longer listed as Proprietor of the Gopher Kennels (breeding & selling Airdale Terriers).
Son Dr. Lewis had taken on the farm animal customers of the business (because it's a young vets game), and RMD kept the small animal clients.
===========================
RMD and Sophia thought they'd like to retire, get away from the cold MN winters and go live with daughter (Martha) Alice and her husband Arthur Rayner in about 1917. They moved between 1916 and the 1920 census and are in the 1920 census with them in Seattle, WA.
The story goes-that although they enjoyed the company of Alice and Arthur, they disliked the rain in Seattle and missed Minnesota. By the next census in 1930, RMD and Sophia are back in MN, in Blue Earth County, in Mankato.
In 1938, both Martha Alice and her husband Arthur died in a horrible auto accident in Seattle. It's good Robert and Sophia were not there for such a tragedy. Also hurt in the accident, suffering bad leg wounds was Amy (May) Elizabeth Schoelkopf, (granddaughter of Robert Moffat & Sophia), who was visiting the Rayners at the time of the accident.
-------
1920 WA State Census
County: King, City of Seattle,
The census family consisted of:
---Dodds, M. Robert 67, Retired;
---wife I. Sophia 65,
---son L. Clarence 25, a Physical Instructor;
(should be Clarence L.)
---daughter (Martha) D. Alice 38;
---son in law Rayner, E. Arthur 39, a Salesman.
Everyone was living on #2113 Biglow Street, Seattle, WA, which was the house the Rayners owned free and clear.
==========================
1930 State, MN
County: Blue Earth
Township: Mankato City, 5th Ward,
---Dodds, Robert M. 77, immigrated in 1878, naturalized citizen.
---wife (more than 51 years) Sophia I. 76.
RMD and Sophia were living at #310 State Street, owned their own house at the time, worth $4,000 and owned a radio set.
RMD died a little over a month after this census was taken, at 310 State St.
==========================
Township: Waterford
County: Dakota
Name: Robert M. Dr Dodds
Birth Date: 21 Oct 1852
Death Date: 27 May 1930
Cemetery: Red Rose
Comments: SP. SOPHIA S. NFD. 23/MAY/1930
Section: 112 C
Source Information:
Dalby, John. Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index, Select Counties [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.
===========================
Robert Moffat Dodds was born on Inch Road, in the heart of Kelso City, Roxburghshire, Scotland.
Robert was born to:
-----Ann Dodds, daughter of James Dodds born 1782 in Ednam, Roxburghshire and Alison Douglas born 1792 in Sprouston Parish, 2 miles east of Kelso, Roxburghshire;
-----and William Bruce Storey born Oct 8, 1819 in Kelso, son of Elizabeth Bruce born 1778 and James Storey born 1779 (both in Kelso).
William was a Master Tailor and Ann a Dressmaker when they married, (William was 34 and Ann 19), and William was the Town Missionary when he died.
Just like William Bruce Storey's brother-Adam, Ann and William Bruce Storey did not marry until 8 months after their 1st child Robert Moffat Dodds was born.
Ann & William married June 28, 1853 in Kelso. They had daughter Ann Margaret Storey on May 2, 1854.
Unfortunately, William died May 20, 1855 age 35, married less than 2 years & leaving a son (RMD) less than 2 and a half and an 8 mo old daughter.
William died suddenly, of an illness of less than 15 days in duration.
Ann was a Dressmaker, and with little money to raise both children- she turned over RMD to her brother Thomas Dodds born 1830 and his wife Janet Robson to raise.
Eventually Thomas & Janet had 11 of their own children to raise. By the time they had the first 5 or 6 children- RMD left (or was asked to leave) the family and at 12 and a half struck out on his own.
RMD considered his cousins as his siblings and even from America, kept in touch with Thomas & Janet's children- Alice Margaret (Meg) Dodds Service and her brother Thomas Dodds.
At first RMD was supposedly apprenticed to a tailor. (possibly in Coldstream, 10 mi east of Kelso), for about 4 years from abt 1864 to 1868-69, (but it could also have been in the Kelso shop where Ann worked as a Dressmaker and William originally worked as a Master Tailor with Ann).
----------
RMD's mother Ann remarried in 1863 to James Robson born 1863. He was the brother of her brother Thomas' wife Janet Robson,(Thomas & Janet who raised RMD).
Ann & James moved to Wilton, Hawick (abt 23 miles from Kelso) and had 6 Robson children of their own from 1864 to 1869.
----------
RMD went to Edinburgh to clerk in a men's wear store about age 17, from abt 1869 to 1871. An 1871 census in Edinburgh does show a Robert Dodds (same age) along with a James Dodds (the same age as Thomas & Janet's son James) both rooming together and working as painters.
From 1871 to 1873 we don't know where he was or what he was doing, but our best guess is that he worked at numerous jobs to earn the money for Vet School.
----------
In 1873 he entered the Dick Veterinary College in Edinburgh, Scotland & graduated 1877.
The old school records no longer exist online, but at least 10 years ago, the records did show he attended and graduated from the school.
---------
Immigration: RMD immigrated to USA late 1877 or early 1878 from Scotland, though no ship's manifest has yet been found to show the date or port of entry- the immigration date came from multiple census records.
---------
Minnesota Naturalization Records INDEX
Declaration of Intent for Naturalization
Name: R. M. Dodds
County: Dakota
Years: 1876 -1888
(No success yet, finding an IMAGE of the record this index refers to)
---------
After he immigrated, RMD first settled and had a Veterinary practice simultaneously in Winona, Minnesota & LaCrosse, Wisconsin for four years.
RMD was a practicing Veterinarian for 54 yrs= 50 in Mankato, MN 1898 to 1928, plus those first 4 years in WI & Winona.
RMD also owned & ran the 'Gopher Kennels' in Mankato, raising champion Airdale Terrier dogs that went to all parts of the United States.
Sophia's father gave RMD a champion Clydesdale Stallion named 'Robbie Burns' that won Blue ribbons at the MN State Fairs.
RMD through the late 1880s and the 1990's, bred, raised, sold and raced (himself) pacer/trotter horses, also in the MN State Fair and Breeder's Cup races in Mankato and surrounds.
---------------------------------
Following are the US Federal or State censuses for RMD alone and RMD with Sophia and the children, as well as any of the family in the City Directories-
1880 MN State Census
Winona Township: Winona
The family is living at 123 Main (Street? Ave?). The census page has RMD and Sophia and is continued on the next census page- with newborn first child Martha Alice.
----DODDS, ROBERT M., 27, a Veterinary Doctor, unable to work due to a kick from a horse
----wife Sophia age 26
----daughter Martha A. (Alice) 14 days old, born in MN
Son Robert Porter Dodds was born in Winona, a year later. Sophia's maternal grandmother Martha Alvord Snell-Porter came to live with them when he was born, December, 1881.
Martha's husband Dr Moses Porter had died 5 years earlier.
Martha moved with the RMD family to Waterford / Northfield MN by 1885, and died there a short time later Jan 1, 1886.
========================
1885- RMD appeared in the Eau Clair, Wisconsin City Directory.
He is listed as Robert M. Dodds of "Dodds and Wigglesworth- Veterinary Surgeons" their residence and office was at the southeast corner of Farwell & Gibson, in Eau Clair.
=============================
1885 MN STATE or Territorial Census
Northfield City, Rice County
-----Robert M Dodds 32, born in Scotland
-----wife Sophia Isabella Simpson 21, born IL
-----Martha Alvord Snell-Porter 79, born in Mass (Sophia's maternal grandmother)
-----Everett Ellsworth Simpson 22, born in MN (Sophia's brother).
Dodds children, all born in MN:
-----Martha Alice 5
-----Robert P. (Robt Porter) 3
-----R.E. (Roscoe Emerson Dodds) age 1.
(Roscoe died four years later)
==========================
1895 MN STATE Census
Rice County
Northfield City
---Robert M. Dodds 43, Vet Surgeon;
---Sophia I. 42;
---Caroline Anderson age 16, born in Denmark, a domestic servant for the Dodds household.
Dodds children, all born in MN:
---Alice 15
---Robert 14
---John 11
---Lewis 9
---Everett 7
---Barney 4 (RMD and/or Sophia's sense of humor... 'Barney' is actually Elizabeth born 1890)
---Clarence 8 months old (so born Oct 1894).
===========================
1899- RMD was listed in the Rice Co., MN Directory, a Vet Surgeon, at 402 East 6th St, in the City of Northfield.
===========================
1900- RMD was in the Mankato, MN City Directory, listed as Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon, business & residence at Pike (Street) nw corner of Cherry
===========================
1900 Federal Census
County: Blue Earth, MN
Mankato City, Ward #4,
RMD is living alone, at #432 West Cherry St, on the corner of, or a continuation of, South Front Street.
Robert's birthdate is written in as NOV, 1853, his immigration as 1877 and his years in the USA as 22(which actually=1878).
Sophia and all the children however, are living away from RMD and are in the following 1900 census in Northfield, Rice County.
------
1900 Federal Census
MN State
Rice County
Northfield City, Northfield Town
Sophia and their 7 children are living on Sixth Street (no house number on the census page), in Northfield, while RMD is living in Mankato for the 1900 census.
(Sophia told her son Everett, it was because after 8 children, Sophia and Robert decided that maybe if they lived apart for a while, they could stop making more children.)
-----Sophia age 46, birthdate July 1853, married 22 years.
Sophia had birthed, as of the 1900 census, 8 children, but only 7 had survived- all of whom were in this census.
(Roscoe Emerson had died in 1889, at less than 6 years old).
Dodds children, all born in MN-
----Alice age 20, bdate May 1880
----Robert P. 18, bdate Dec 1881
----John S. 14, bdate Aug 1885
----Lewis T. 12, bdate Nov 1887
----Everett S. 10, bdate Mar 1889
----Elizabeth K. 9, bdate July 1890
----Clarence 4 bdate Aug 1895
(Clarence's birthdate is actually Aug 7, 1894 from his Draft Registration card for WWI, and also listed as 1894 from his 1930 census in NY).
==========================
1905 Minnesota STATE Census
Blue Earth Co., Mankato, Ward #4
The Dodds family was living at # 217 East Cherry Street in Mankato.
(Five years earlier in the 1900 Fed. Census, Robert was living alone at #432 West Cherry Street).
---Robert M. Dodds, age 52, a Veterinary Surgeon
---wife Sophia I. (ages for Sophia and the children are illegible)
Dodds children
-----Alice M. (Martha Alice)
-----John S. (John Simpson Dodds)
-----Lewis T. (Lewis Thorpe)
=============================
1905- Mankato, MN City Directory-
RMD is listed as- Robert M Dodds Vet Surgeon
Pike nw cor Cherry CITIZENS TEL 162
r (residence) #217 E Cherry CITIZENS TEL 313
Just before him in the directory was their dau Elizabeth K., student at the Normal School, living at #217 E Cherry.
==========================
Following is what appears to be a 2nd 1905 census-
1905 MN State census
Blue Earth County, Mankato City, Ward #5
June 1 to June 7, 1905 (different census taking days than the other 1905 above).
The same Dodds family as above, (except all spelled DODD with no 's') and with the addition of children-
-------------Everett S. (Sherwood)
-------------Elizabeth K. (Kellogg)
-------------Clarence L. (Laidlaw)
RMD is a (spelled thus) Vitenary.
RMD is listed as living in MN 26 yrs and 11 months (so since 1878).
===========================
1906 and 1908- RMD is again in the Mankato City Directory.
1906- RMD and the family below, are listed-
------Alice Dodds b 534 Byron
------Elizabeth K Dodds b 534 Byron
------Everett S. Dodds student b 534 Byron
------John S Dodds student b 534 Byron
------Lewis T. Dodds chainman County Surveyor b 534 Byron
------Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon.
Pike nw cor Cherry, CITIZENS TEL 162; r 534 Byron CITIZENS TEL 313
It appears that by the 1908 directory, RMD was sharing his Vet office and/or practice, with his son and new Veterinarian= Lewis T., and the office remained at "Pike nw cor Cherry".
1908 the listing is-
---Elizabeth K Dodds, student at the Normal School b 823 S Front
---Everett S Dodds draftsman b 823 S Front
---Lewis T Dodds Veterinary Surgeon Pike nw cor Cherry, b 823 S Front
---Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon and Propr Gopher Kennels, Airdale Terriers "Pike nw cor Cherry" b 823 S Front
===========================
1910 Federal Census
State, MN
County: Blue Earth
Mankato, Ward 5
The Dodds family is renting a house and living at #823 South Front Street.
The census family consists of
---Robert M. 57, listed as a Physician-General Practice, immigrated in 1878, naturalized citizen
---Sophia 56, married 30 years, 8 children, 7 survived (as of this 1910 census)
Dodds children:
---John S. 34, Civil Engineer - General Practice
---Lewis T. 22, Physician (Veterinarian)
---Elizabeth K. 18, School Teacher
---Clarence T. (should be Clarence L.) 15 and a student.
(We know from Clarence L.'s Draft Registration Card in 1918, that at least son Clarence still lived at the #823 South Front St house as of 1918).
=========================
1916- in the Mankato City Directory-
Robert Moffat Dodds is still living at 823 South Front Street, as are his dau Elizabeth K.-Teacher (graduated from the Mankato Normal School) and son Clarence L.-student.
Listed with them is also RMD & Sophia's son Lewis T. Dodds. Lewis had (since the 1908 City listing):
--married Alice Josephine Hubbell in 1910;
--moved out of the family home at 823 South Front Street and (by this 1916 date) had moved to 317 Record; and
--moved out of doing business with his Dad and opened his own Veterinary practice at 115 East Walnut.
RMD was still a Vet himself (at 64 yrs of age!) with his residence on South Front St., and his office at "ft of Cherry", but was no longer listed as Proprietor of the Gopher Kennels (breeding & selling Airdale Terriers).
Son Dr. Lewis had taken on the farm animal customers of the business (because it's a young vets game), and RMD kept the small animal clients.
===========================
RMD and Sophia thought they'd like to retire, get away from the cold MN winters and go live with daughter (Martha) Alice and her husband Arthur Rayner in about 1917. They moved between 1916 and the 1920 census and are in the 1920 census with them in Seattle, WA.
The story goes-that although they enjoyed the company of Alice and Arthur, they disliked the rain in Seattle and missed Minnesota. By the next census in 1930, RMD and Sophia are back in MN, in Blue Earth County, in Mankato.
In 1938, both Martha Alice and her husband Arthur died in a horrible auto accident in Seattle. It's good Robert and Sophia were not there for such a tragedy. Also hurt in the accident, suffering bad leg wounds was Amy (May) Elizabeth Schoelkopf, (granddaughter of Robert Moffat & Sophia), who was visiting the Rayners at the time of the accident.
-------
1920 WA State Census
County: King, City of Seattle,
The census family consisted of:
---Dodds, M. Robert 67, Retired;
---wife I. Sophia 65,
---son L. Clarence 25, a Physical Instructor;
(should be Clarence L.)
---daughter (Martha) D. Alice 38;
---son in law Rayner, E. Arthur 39, a Salesman.
Everyone was living on #2113 Biglow Street, Seattle, WA, which was the house the Rayners owned free and clear.
==========================
1930 State, MN
County: Blue Earth
Township: Mankato City, 5th Ward,
---Dodds, Robert M. 77, immigrated in 1878, naturalized citizen.
---wife (more than 51 years) Sophia I. 76.
RMD and Sophia were living at #310 State Street, owned their own house at the time, worth $4,000 and owned a radio set.
RMD died a little over a month after this census was taken, at 310 State St.
==========================
Township: Waterford
County: Dakota
Name: Robert M. Dr Dodds
Birth Date: 21 Oct 1852
Death Date: 27 May 1930
Cemetery: Red Rose
Comments: SP. SOPHIA S. NFD. 23/MAY/1930
Section: 112 C
Source Information:
Dalby, John. Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index, Select Counties [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.
Robert Moffat Dodds was born on Inch Road, in the heart of Kelso City, Roxburghshire, Scotland.
Robert was born to:
-----Ann Dodds, daughter of James Dodds born 1782 in Ednam, Roxburghshire and Alison Douglas born 1792 in Sprouston Parish, 2 miles east of Kelso, Roxburghshire;
-----and William Bruce Storey born Oct 8, 1819 in Kelso, son of Elizabeth Bruce born 1778 and James Storey born 1779 (both in Kelso).
William was a Master Tailor and Ann a Dressmaker when they married, (William was 34 and Ann 19), and William was the Town Missionary when he died.
Just like William Bruce Storey's brother-Adam, Ann and William Bruce Storey did not marry until 8 months after their 1st child Robert Moffat Dodds was born.
Ann & William married June 28, 1853 in Kelso. They had daughter Ann Margaret Storey on May 2, 1854.
Unfortunately, William died May 20, 1855 age 35, married less than 2 years & leaving a son (RMD) less than 2 and a half and an 8 mo old daughter.
William died suddenly, of an illness of less than 15 days in duration.
Ann was a Dressmaker, and with little money to raise both children- she turned over RMD to her brother Thomas Dodds born 1830 and his wife Janet Robson to raise.
Eventually Thomas & Janet had 11 of their own children to raise. By the time they had the first 5 or 6 children- RMD left (or was asked to leave) the family and at 12 and a half struck out on his own.
RMD considered his cousins as his siblings and even from America, kept in touch with Thomas & Janet's children- Alice Margaret (Meg) Dodds Service and her brother Thomas Dodds.
At first RMD was supposedly apprenticed to a tailor. (possibly in Coldstream, 10 mi east of Kelso), for about 4 years from abt 1864 to 1868-69, (but it could also have been in the Kelso shop where Ann worked as a Dressmaker and William originally worked as a Master Tailor with Ann).
----------
RMD's mother Ann remarried in 1863 to James Robson born 1863. He was the brother of her brother Thomas' wife Janet Robson,(Thomas & Janet who raised RMD).
Ann & James moved to Wilton, Hawick (abt 23 miles from Kelso) and had 6 Robson children of their own from 1864 to 1869.
----------
RMD went to Edinburgh to clerk in a men's wear store about age 17, from abt 1869 to 1871. An 1871 census in Edinburgh does show a Robert Dodds (same age) along with a James Dodds (the same age as Thomas & Janet's son James) both rooming together and working as painters.
From 1871 to 1873 we don't know where he was or what he was doing, but our best guess is that he worked at numerous jobs to earn the money for Vet School.
----------
In 1873 he entered the Dick Veterinary College in Edinburgh, Scotland & graduated 1877.
The old school records no longer exist online, but at least 10 years ago, the records did show he attended and graduated from the school.
---------
Immigration: RMD immigrated to USA late 1877 or early 1878 from Scotland, though no ship's manifest has yet been found to show the date or port of entry- the immigration date came from multiple census records.
---------
Minnesota Naturalization Records INDEX
Declaration of Intent for Naturalization
Name: R. M. Dodds
County: Dakota
Years: 1876 -1888
(No success yet, finding an IMAGE of the record this index refers to)
---------
After he immigrated, RMD first settled and had a Veterinary practice simultaneously in Winona, Minnesota & LaCrosse, Wisconsin for four years.
RMD was a practicing Veterinarian for 54 yrs= 50 in Mankato, MN 1898 to 1928, plus those first 4 years in WI & Winona.
RMD also owned & ran the 'Gopher Kennels' in Mankato, raising champion Airdale Terrier dogs that went to all parts of the United States.
Sophia's father gave RMD a champion Clydesdale Stallion named 'Robbie Burns' that won Blue ribbons at the MN State Fairs.
RMD through the late 1880s and the 1990's, bred, raised, sold and raced (himself) pacer/trotter horses, also in the MN State Fair and Breeder's Cup races in Mankato and surrounds.
---------------------------------
Following are the US Federal or State censuses for RMD alone and RMD with Sophia and the children, as well as any of the family in the City Directories-
1880 MN State Census
Winona Township: Winona
The family is living at 123 Main (Street? Ave?). The census page has RMD and Sophia and is continued on the next census page- with newborn first child Martha Alice.
----DODDS, ROBERT M., 27, a Veterinary Doctor, unable to work due to a kick from a horse
----wife Sophia age 26
----daughter Martha A. (Alice) 14 days old, born in MN
Son Robert Porter Dodds was born in Winona, a year later. Sophia's maternal grandmother Martha Alvord Snell-Porter came to live with them when he was born, December, 1881.
Martha's husband Dr Moses Porter had died 5 years earlier.
Martha moved with the RMD family to Waterford / Northfield MN by 1885, and died there a short time later Jan 1, 1886.
========================
1885- RMD appeared in the Eau Clair, Wisconsin City Directory.
He is listed as Robert M. Dodds of "Dodds and Wigglesworth- Veterinary Surgeons" their residence and office was at the southeast corner of Farwell & Gibson, in Eau Clair.
=============================
1885 MN STATE or Territorial Census
Northfield City, Rice County
-----Robert M Dodds 32, born in Scotland
-----wife Sophia Isabella Simpson 21, born IL
-----Martha Alvord Snell-Porter 79, born in Mass (Sophia's maternal grandmother)
-----Everett Ellsworth Simpson 22, born in MN (Sophia's brother).
Dodds children, all born in MN:
-----Martha Alice 5
-----Robert P. (Robt Porter) 3
-----R.E. (Roscoe Emerson Dodds) age 1.
(Roscoe died four years later)
==========================
1895 MN STATE Census
Rice County
Northfield City
---Robert M. Dodds 43, Vet Surgeon;
---Sophia I. 42;
---Caroline Anderson age 16, born in Denmark, a domestic servant for the Dodds household.
Dodds children, all born in MN:
---Alice 15
---Robert 14
---John 11
---Lewis 9
---Everett 7
---Barney 4 (RMD and/or Sophia's sense of humor... 'Barney' is actually Elizabeth born 1890)
---Clarence 8 months old (so born Oct 1894).
===========================
1899- RMD was listed in the Rice Co., MN Directory, a Vet Surgeon, at 402 East 6th St, in the City of Northfield.
===========================
1900- RMD was in the Mankato, MN City Directory, listed as Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon, business & residence at Pike (Street) nw corner of Cherry
===========================
1900 Federal Census
County: Blue Earth, MN
Mankato City, Ward #4,
RMD is living alone, at #432 West Cherry St, on the corner of, or a continuation of, South Front Street.
Robert's birthdate is written in as NOV, 1853, his immigration as 1877 and his years in the USA as 22(which actually=1878).
Sophia and all the children however, are living away from RMD and are in the following 1900 census in Northfield, Rice County.
------
1900 Federal Census
MN State
Rice County
Northfield City, Northfield Town
Sophia and their 7 children are living on Sixth Street (no house number on the census page), in Northfield, while RMD is living in Mankato for the 1900 census.
(Sophia told her son Everett, it was because after 8 children, Sophia and Robert decided that maybe if they lived apart for a while, they could stop making more children.)
-----Sophia age 46, birthdate July 1853, married 22 years.
Sophia had birthed, as of the 1900 census, 8 children, but only 7 had survived- all of whom were in this census.
(Roscoe Emerson had died in 1889, at less than 6 years old).
Dodds children, all born in MN-
----Alice age 20, bdate May 1880
----Robert P. 18, bdate Dec 1881
----John S. 14, bdate Aug 1885
----Lewis T. 12, bdate Nov 1887
----Everett S. 10, bdate Mar 1889
----Elizabeth K. 9, bdate July 1890
----Clarence 4 bdate Aug 1895
(Clarence's birthdate is actually Aug 7, 1894 from his Draft Registration card for WWI, and also listed as 1894 from his 1930 census in NY).
==========================
1905 Minnesota STATE Census
Blue Earth Co., Mankato, Ward #4
The Dodds family was living at # 217 East Cherry Street in Mankato.
(Five years earlier in the 1900 Fed. Census, Robert was living alone at #432 West Cherry Street).
---Robert M. Dodds, age 52, a Veterinary Surgeon
---wife Sophia I. (ages for Sophia and the children are illegible)
Dodds children
-----Alice M. (Martha Alice)
-----John S. (John Simpson Dodds)
-----Lewis T. (Lewis Thorpe)
=============================
1905- Mankato, MN City Directory-
RMD is listed as- Robert M Dodds Vet Surgeon
Pike nw cor Cherry CITIZENS TEL 162
r (residence) #217 E Cherry CITIZENS TEL 313
Just before him in the directory was their dau Elizabeth K., student at the Normal School, living at #217 E Cherry.
==========================
Following is what appears to be a 2nd 1905 census-
1905 MN State census
Blue Earth County, Mankato City, Ward #5
June 1 to June 7, 1905 (different census taking days than the other 1905 above).
The same Dodds family as above, (except all spelled DODD with no 's') and with the addition of children-
-------------Everett S. (Sherwood)
-------------Elizabeth K. (Kellogg)
-------------Clarence L. (Laidlaw)
RMD is a (spelled thus) Vitenary.
RMD is listed as living in MN 26 yrs and 11 months (so since 1878).
===========================
1906 and 1908- RMD is again in the Mankato City Directory.
1906- RMD and the family below, are listed-
------Alice Dodds b 534 Byron
------Elizabeth K Dodds b 534 Byron
------Everett S. Dodds student b 534 Byron
------John S Dodds student b 534 Byron
------Lewis T. Dodds chainman County Surveyor b 534 Byron
------Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon.
Pike nw cor Cherry, CITIZENS TEL 162; r 534 Byron CITIZENS TEL 313
It appears that by the 1908 directory, RMD was sharing his Vet office and/or practice, with his son and new Veterinarian= Lewis T., and the office remained at "Pike nw cor Cherry".
1908 the listing is-
---Elizabeth K Dodds, student at the Normal School b 823 S Front
---Everett S Dodds draftsman b 823 S Front
---Lewis T Dodds Veterinary Surgeon Pike nw cor Cherry, b 823 S Front
---Robert M Dodds Veterinary Surgeon and Propr Gopher Kennels, Airdale Terriers "Pike nw cor Cherry" b 823 S Front
===========================
1910 Federal Census
State, MN
County: Blue Earth
Mankato, Ward 5
The Dodds family is renting a house and living at #823 South Front Street.
The census family consists of
---Robert M. 57, listed as a Physician-General Practice, immigrated in 1878, naturalized citizen
---Sophia 56, married 30 years, 8 children, 7 survived (as of this 1910 census)
Dodds children:
---John S. 34, Civil Engineer - General Practice
---Lewis T. 22, Physician (Veterinarian)
---Elizabeth K. 18, School Teacher
---Clarence T. (should be Clarence L.) 15 and a student.
(We know from Clarence L.'s Draft Registration Card in 1918, that at least son Clarence still lived at the #823 South Front St house as of 1918).
=========================
1916- in the Mankato City Directory-
Robert Moffat Dodds is still living at 823 South Front Street, as are his dau Elizabeth K.-Teacher (graduated from the Mankato Normal School) and son Clarence L.-student.
Listed with them is also RMD & Sophia's son Lewis T. Dodds. Lewis had (since the 1908 City listing):
--married Alice Josephine Hubbell in 1910;
--moved out of the family home at 823 South Front Street and (by this 1916 date) had moved to 317 Record; and
--moved out of doing business with his Dad and opened his own Veterinary practice at 115 East Walnut.
RMD was still a Vet himself (at 64 yrs of age!) with his residence on South Front St., and his office at "ft of Cherry", but was no longer listed as Proprietor of the Gopher Kennels (breeding & selling Airdale Terriers).
Son Dr. Lewis had taken on the farm animal customers of the business (because it's a young vets game), and RMD kept the small animal clients.
===========================
RMD and Sophia thought they'd like to retire, get away from the cold MN winters and go live with daughter (Martha) Alice and her husband Arthur Rayner in about 1917. They moved between 1916 and the 1920 census and are in the 1920 census with them in Seattle, WA.
The story goes-that although they enjoyed the company of Alice and Arthur, they disliked the rain in Seattle and missed Minnesota. By the next census in 1930, RMD and Sophia are back in MN, in Blue Earth County, in Mankato.
In 1938, both Martha Alice and her husband Arthur died in a horrible auto accident in Seattle. It's good Robert and Sophia were not there for such a tragedy. Also hurt in the accident, suffering bad leg wounds was Amy (May) Elizabeth Schoelkopf, (granddaughter of Robert Moffat & Sophia), who was visiting the Rayners at the time of the accident.
-------
1920 WA State Census
County: King, City of Seattle,
The census family consisted of:
---Dodds, M. Robert 67, Retired;
---wife I. Sophia 65,
---son L. Clarence 25, a Physical Instructor;
(should be Clarence L.)
---daughter (Martha) D. Alice 38;
---son in law Rayner, E. Arthur 39, a Salesman.
Everyone was living on #2113 Biglow Street, Seattle, WA, which was the house the Rayners owned free and clear.
==========================
1930 State, MN
County: Blue Earth
Township: Mankato City, 5th Ward,
---Dodds, Robert M. 77, immigrated in 1878, naturalized citizen.
---wife (more than 51 years) Sophia I. 76.
RMD and Sophia were living at #310 State Street, owned their own house at the time, worth $4,000 and owned a radio set.
RMD died a little over a month after this census was taken, at 310 State St.
==========================
Township: Waterford
County: Dakota
Name: Robert M. Dr Dodds
Birth Date: 21 Oct 1852
Death Date: 27 May 1930
Cemetery: Red Rose
Comments: SP. SOPHIA S. NFD. 23/MAY/1930
Section: 112 C
Source Information:
Dalby, John. Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index, Select Counties [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.
