Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/19

Rh Sarah, daughter of Peter and Mary George. Their son, Samuel Dodge, born September 9, 1691, settled about 1718 at Cow Neck, in the town of Hempstead, on Long Island. His will proved March 25, 1761, names his wife Elizabeth and several sons and daughters. The second son, Jeremiah Dodge, was born in May, 1716, and engaged in business in New York City. In 1745 a prayer meeting was held in his house, which resulted in the organization of the First Baptist Church in New York City. In 1753 this body occupied a rigging loft on William street, and purchased a lot on John street in 1760, on which a church was subsequently erected. Jeremiah Dodge married, October 6, 1737, Margaret Vanderbilt, daughter of John and Margaret Vanderbilt, and descended from Aert Van Der Bilt, who lived in Utrecht, Holland. Jan Aertson (that is son of Aert) Van Der Bilt, came to America and was residing in New York as early as 1650. After 1663 he removed to Flatbush, and about thirty years later to Bergen, New Jersey, where he died February 2, 1705.

John Dodge, eldest child of Jeremiah and Margaret (Vanderbilt) Dodge, was born February 22, 1739, probably in New York, and died April 13. 1816. He was a clergyman of the Baptist church located at Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, New York. He married (third) October 13, 1777, Keziah Newcomb, born November 7, 1758, died February 1, 1814. By his three wives he had sixteen children, all but four being children of the third wife.

The ninth of these, Cyrenus Newcomb Dodge, was born August 13, 1794, and died February 14, 1863. He married, January I, 1817. Margaret Dodge, born October 23, 1787, died February 23, 1863, senior daughter of Jeremiah (2) and Sarah (Frost) Dodge, and granddaughter of Jeremiah (1) Dodge, above mentioned. He was among the first founders of the First Baptist Church in New York. Children of Cyrenus Newcomb Dodge: Sarah J., born October, 1817, married Charles B. Knudsen: Margaret, died two weeks old: Margaret E., born March 25, 1822, married Joseph F. Florentine: William M., mentioned below.

William Miner Dodge, youngest child of Cyrenus Newcomb Dodge, was born September 22, 1824, in New York City, and lived a long and useful life. While successfully engaged in business, he was fond of art and poetry, and during his school days exhibited considerable artistic talent. Of indomitable energy and optimistic nature, he compelled success with every undertaking, and was very kindly and thoughtful of others. From early life, until his death, he was a member of the Baptist church. In the early part of his life he was a ship owner of Lynchburg, Virginia, and from 1870 to 1880, resided in Chicago, engaged in the insurance business. In 1881 he removed to Brooklyn, New York, and died June 2, 1904, at Bryn Mawr Park, Yonkers, New York. He was often wont to quote poetry, and the following was one of his favorite stanzas:

 In youth's early morning; in manhood's firm pride; Let this be our motto, our footsteps to guide. In storm or in sunshine, whatever assail. We'll onward and conquer, and never say fail.

He married (first) September 6. 1848. Susan M. Hopkins, born February 23, 1825, at Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, died August 7, 1853. He married (second) February 11, 1857, Emma Webb Sowers, born January 8, 1836, in Clarke county, Virginia, died July 29, 1864, at Lynchburg, Virginia. He married (third) May 16, 1866, Mary de Leftwich, a daughter of Rev. M. de Leftwich; she is now living in a historic building formerly a convent, in Nettuno, the birthplace of Nero, thirty miles from Rome, Italy. She is a painter, giving attention chiefly to portraits. She studied art in Munich, and received numerous medals. The only child of the first marriage. Edward Sanderson, died when five months old. Children of the second marriage: Mary Sowers, born November 1, 1857; Margaret, February 6, 1859; Emma Kerfoot, June 8, 1860. Children of the third marriage were: William de Leftwich, mentioned below: Annie de Leftwich, born May 15, 1870, in Chicago: and Robert E. Lee, September 29. 1872, at La Grange, a suburb of Chicago.

William de Leftwich-Dodge was born March 9, 1867, in Liberty, Bedford county, Virginia, and inherited from his mother a rich artistic talent. In youth he attended the public schools of Chicago and Brooklyn, and also of Munich, Bavaria. He was also a student at the Brothers School in Paris, France. He began to receive