Henry Dodge, 4th Governor of Wisconsin Territory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Dodge

Henry Dodge (October 12, 1782 – June 19, 1867) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, Territorial Governor of Wisconsin and a veteran of the Black Hawk War. His son was Augustus C. Dodge with whom he served in the U.S. Senate, the first, and so far only, father-son pair to serve concurrently. Henry Dodge was the half brother of Lewis F. Linn. James Clarke, the Governor of Iowa Territory, was the son-in-law of Henry Dodge.

Though was born in Vincennes, Indiana, he was raised a Kentuckian. Circumstance drove him to Spanish Missouri at an early age, where he rejoined his father Israel and an uncle. He dabbled in salt boiling and lead digging, and served as deputy sheriff of Ste. Genevieve County under his father. In 1801, he married Christiana McDonald.

During the War of 1812, Dodge was first elected as captain of a mounted company; he finished the war as a major general of the Missouri militia. His crowning achievement was saving about 150 Miami Indians from certain massacre after their raid on the Boone's Lick settlement in the summer of 1814.

Dodge emigrated with his large family and slaves inherited from his father to the U.S. Mineral District in early July 1827. He served as a commander of militia during the Red Bird uprising of that year, and in October settled a large tract in present day downtown Dodgeville, known then as "Dodge's Camp." He worked a large claim until around 1830, when he moved several miles south in a beautiful forested area known still as "Dodge's Grove." Here he began building what would become a large two-story frame house for his ever growing extended family.

Fate however took a hand, and Dodge rose to prominence during the Black Hawk War of 1832. As colonel of the western Michigan Territory militia, Dodge brought a credible fighting force into being in a very short time. More than fifteen forts, fortified homes and blockhouses sprang up almost overnight. From these forts, Dodge and the mounted volunteers, with four companies of Territorial militia and one of Illinois mounted rangers, took to the field as the "Michigan Mounted Volunteers." Dodge and his men saw action at the battles of Horseshoe Bend, Wisconsin Heights, and Bad Axe. In June 1832, he accepted a commission as Major (United States) of the Regiment of Mounted Rangers, commissioned by an Act of Congress.

The ranger experiment lasted a year, and then, in 1833, was replaced by the United States Regiment of Dragoons. Dodge served as colonel; one of his captains was Nathan Boone, Daniel Boone's youngest son. In the summer of 1834, Colonel Dodge engaged on First Dragoon Expedition and made successful contact with the Comanches.

He was a renowned Indian fighter, most noted for his 1835 peace mission commissioned by President Andrew Jackson, who had called out the U.S. Dragoons to assist.

Dodge was the first Territorial Governor of Wisconsin Territory from 1836–1841 and again from 1845–1848, an area which encompassed (before July 4, 1838, when Iowa became a territory) what became the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota.

He declined a nomination for the Presidency of the United States in the 1844 Democratic National Convention. He was loyal to Martin Van Buren and both men opposed the annexation of Texas. Despite their efforts, James K. Polk, the Democrat who favored annexation, became President.

Upon Wisconsin being admitted to the Union, Dodge was elected one of its first two senators. He served two terms. He turned down the appointment of Territorial Governor of Washington from Franklin Pierce in 1857.

In 1948, Iowa County presented a 160-acre (0.6 km2) estate to the State of Wisconsin which eventually was named Governor Dodge State Park. Over the years, this park has grown to include 5,270 acres (21 km2) in the area Henry Dodge once called his home.

Dodge County, Wisconsin was named after Dodge.

Fort Clark, the U.S. Army post built near the present-day location of Fort Dodge, Iowa, was renamed for Senator Dodge around 1850.

United States Army Officer, US Congressman, US Senator. Born in Vincennes, Indiana. Enlisted in the War of 1812 as a Captain in the Missouri State Volunteers, eventually rising to Major General of the Missouri Militia. Established successful mining operations in Illinois before taking up residence is what is now Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Led a force of mounted Michigan Territory Militia in the Black Hawk War, and fought in the Battle of Wisconsin Heights. In 1832 he was commissioned Major in the United States Regular Army to lead a battalion of mounted infantry authorized by Congress. He was subsequently promoted to Colonel, and his unit was expanded to a full regiment, designated the 1st United States Dragoons, which has the distinction of being the first mounted Regular Army unit in US Army history (It would be re-designated as the 1st United States Cavalry in 1861). His second-in-command was Lt. Colonel Zachary Taylor, who would go on to be a Major General and hero in the Mexican War, and would become the 12th United States President. Commanded the regiment from 1832 to 1836, which was based in the newly established post of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1836 when Congress established the Territory of Wisconsin he resigned his army commission and accepted the appointment of Territorial Governor, an office he served in from 1836 to 1841, then from 1845 to 1848. Elected as a Territorial Delegate from Wisconsin to the House of Representatives, serving from 1841 to 1845. When Wisconsin was admitted as a State in 1848, he was elected as one of the its first two United States Senators (along with Isaac Pidgeon Walker), serving from 1848 to 1857. He was offered an appointed as the Territorial Governor of Washington 1857, but declined. In the Senate he served alongside his son, Augustus C. Dodge, who was a Senator from Iowa. They are the only father-son combination to simultaneously serve as United States Senators. When Zachary Taylor ran for President in 1847, Henry Dodge was offered the position of Vice-President on the Ticket. He declined the honor, and it went to Millard Fillmore. Thus, he missed the opportunity to become the 13th President when President Taylor subsequently died in office in July 1850. Dodge County in Wisconsin and Henry County in Iowa are named for him. Dodge County in Minnesota is co-named for him and his son. The Dragoon regiment he commanded still exists today in the United States Army as a Mechanized tank unit stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. (bio by: Russ Dodge)

Family links:

Spouse:

 Christiana McDonald Dodge (1785 - 1865)*

Children:

 Mary Louise Dodge Dement (1816 - 1883)*

 Salina Genevieve Dodge Truett (1818 - 1897)*

• Calculated relationship

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Burial: Aspen Grove Cemetery Burlington Des Moines County Iowa, USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Dodge

Henry Dodge (October 12, 1782 – June 19, 1867) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, Territorial Governor of Wisconsin and a veteran of the Black Hawk War. His son was Augustus C. Dodge with whom he served in the U.S. Senate, the first, and so far only, father-son pair to serve concurrently. Henry Dodge was the half brother of Lewis F. Linn. James Clarke, the Governor of Iowa Territory, was the son-in-law of Henry Dodge