My Genealogy Hound

DODGSON, CHRISTOPHER, who bore no secondary part in the growth and development of the flourishing County of Greene, was a native of Yorkshire, England, and was born in 1802. In his 18th year, date 1820, he looked about him for a new field of labor, and accordingly embarked on board a sailing vessel for America, landing in the City of Baltimore, thence to Madison County, Ill., where he first worked as a farmhand. Two years later, he became a resident of Greene County, locating near the present City of Carrollton, on the farm now owned by Benjamin Roodhouse. As this date, 1822, was an early one even the history of the great Northwest, we here append a few facts relative to an early settlement in a new country. There was but one building then in Carrollton, a rough dwelling composed of logs, which was used as an inn, and known as the Jack Traveler. It stood for many years on the site now covered by the dry goods establishment of McFarland & Weagley. On the old farm homestead of his parents, John and Elizabeth Dodgson, our subject passed his earlier years, and subsequently became a distiller. In 1843 he united his fortunes to Miss Mary Morfoot, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Morfoot. During this term of years Mr. Dodgson had become exceedingly prosperous, and began to take a leading position as an agriculturist, having purchased the property formerly owned by John Dodgson, his father. He continued on the home place many years, and some 13 years ago moved to Carrollton, where he built one of the most substantial and handsome residences that the city affords; and here, while enjoying the fruits of his early labors, he passed quietly away to that world of spirits to which we all are tending, on the 4th of April, 1878. None of his great success in life was due to accident or fortunate circumstances, but lay in his own indomitable will and an energy that never flagged. And to such men, who made a home in the wilderness, do we owe the comforts that we today enjoy. Mrs. Dodgson, from whom this narrative is obtained, resides on the home property, in Carrollton, is a native of England; born in 1810, the second child of John Morfoot, whose name is mentioned elsewhere, who settled in Greene County in 1820, who was the first among the early settlers who were attacked by the cholera then prevalent, and died some 45 years ago.