Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Mordecai Doddridge
It is now eighty-five years since the family to which this well-known citizen belongs became identified with Wayne county, and its various members have won for the name an enviable distinction by their intelligence and worth. This high reputation is in no way diminished in this generation, and our subject, who is counted among the leading agriculturists of Washington township, displays in a marked degree the admirable characteristics which the name suggests.
The family is of English origin and was founded in America during colonial days, some of its representatives settling in New England, others in Pennsylvania. The Indiana branch springs from Joseph Doddridge, who left England early in the eighteenth century and first settled in New Jersey, whence he removed to Maryland, where several of his children were born. Among them was Philip Doddridge, who when grown removed with his parents to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he married. His son John was born in that state, May 2, 1786, and there married Avis Manchester, a native of Rhode Island. In 1814 Philip Doddridge, his son John. David Jenkins and John Spahr formed a colony and came to the territory of Indiana. Building a flatboat, they floated down the Ohio, with all their possessions, families and stock, to Cincinnati, where they sold the boat and then started across the country for the new Eldorado, cutting their own road in many places. Arriving at the twelve-mile purchase, Wayne county, Philip Doddridge entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, where the family settled and improved a farm, which is now occupied by David J. Doddridge. He also entered other large tracts and gave each of his children a farm. In England the family was connected with the Episcopal church, but on coming to free America joined the Methodist church, and soon after locating in Indiana Philip Doddridge and his son John were instrumental in organizing one of the first churches in this region. For a time services were held in the different cabins, but at length these two gentlemen gave the land for a church and cemetery, and the first house of worship, which was a log structure, was erected in 1816. In honor of the family it was named Doddridge Chapel. It was a historic church, and its converts are now scattered throughout many states. In 1832 the congregation erected a brick edifice, and when it became too small it was replaced, in 1876, by a more commodious and modern structure, which is still in use. It is a standing monument to Philip and John Doddridge. Many of the old settlers were laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining the church. The children of Philip Doddridge were Mrs. Hannah Jenkins, Mrs. Sabra Spahr, Mrs. Walters, and John.
John Doddridge carried forward the work inaugurated by his father, and after the latter's death inherited the home farm, on which he erected a good brick residence, which is still in use. He entered other lands in Tipton and Marshall counties, and, being quite successful in his undertakings, he left a large estate. He was a leader in all church work, and as an exhorter traveled throughout the country, attending meetings within a radius of twenty miles. He was a man honored and respected wherever known, and his death, which occurred in 1851, was widely and deeply mourned. His faithful wife, who was also an earnest church worker, survived him for many years, dying in 1883, at the advanced age of ninety-three. In their family were eight children, all born in Indiana with the exception of Isaac, the father of our subject. The others were: Philip, who died in Washington township, Wayne county; John, who died in Kansas; Mrs. Phoebe Baker; Mrs. Eliza Ream; Sarah, wife of Rev. McMullen; David J., who resides on the old homestead; and Mrs. Nancy McMullen.
Isaac Doddridge was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1809, but was reared on the Indiana frontier, and his education was necessarily limited, as there were few schools in this section at that time. At the age of twelve he commenced driving a four-horse team to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the freighting business, in which he was interested for many years. After his marriage, in 1834, he moved to Union county, Indiana, where he bought land and improved a farm, remaining there eleven years. He then purchased the Lambert farm, in Wayne county, which was his home for the same length of time, and spent the remainder of his life on the old Dickson Hurst farm, where he died January 27, 1896. He was a very industrious and energetic man, and became one of the largest landowners of the county, having at one time three thousand acres, divided into well improved farms, many of which he rented. His tenants have nothing but praise to say of him, as he was a most kind and liberal landlord. He was quiet, genial and companionable, never allowing business or trivial things to worry him; and he was a man of unquestioned integrity and honor. He kept well-posted on public questions, and was an ardent supporter of the Republican party. On the 27th of March, 1834, he married Miss Sarah Weekly, who was born in North Carolina in 1816, a daughter of Isaiah and Agatha (Fishback) Weekly, who came to Indiana in 1819 and located in Wayne county, where her father developed a farm in the midst of the forest. He led the quiet, honest and unassuming life of a farmer, and was an earnest member of the Methodist church. His children were: Fanny, wife of P. Jenkins; Sarah, mother of our subject; Betsy, wife of Philip Doddridge; and Mordecai, all now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Jenkins. To Isaac Doddridge and wife were born eleven children, namely: Mary, who first married John Wright, and secondly William Wright; Phoebe, who died March 27, 1884; Francena, wife of W. Kramer; Eliza, wife of H. Houseworth; John H., a Methodist minister of Bloomington, Indiana; Isaiah, a farmer; Mordecai, our subject; Lurena, wife of John Judkins; Benjamin, who died in 1890; Wilbur, a farmer; and James, a resident of Milton.
Mordecai Doddridge was reared to the honest toil of a farmer and was educated in the common schools and the National Normal of Ohio. After completing his education he engaged in teaching school, in both Wayne and Union counties, until his marriage. After his marriage he settled on a farm owned by his father west of Doddridge chapel, and commenced life in earnest. In 1896 he purchased what is known as the Isom Small farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has since added forty acres, and there he continues to make his home, engaged in general farming and stock-raising, with good success. He feeds most of the products of his farm to his stock. That he stands high in his community and is very popular with his fellow citizens is shown by his election to the office of trustee in a strong Democratic township when he is a Republican. He is a leading member and active worker in the Methodist church, and has held all of the church offices. He has been called upon to settle many estates, which demonstrates the fact that the people place the utmost confidence in him. He was appointed executor of his father's will and this required great care and attention, as the estate was large.
On the 12th of September, 1883, Mr. Doddridge married Miss Mary J. Spahr, who was born in Abington township, Wayne county, May 11, 1854, and they have become the parents of two children: Joseph I., born July 23, 1886; and Sarah E., born May 29, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Doddridge hold membership in the Doddridge Chapel Methodist church, and occupy an enviable position in social circles.
Mrs. Doddridge's paternal grandfather, John Spahr, was one of the colony previously mentioned who came to Wayne county in 1814 and settled in Abington township, where Mrs. Doddridge's father now lives. There he spent the remainder of his life and was actively and prominently identified with the moral and material development of the county. He was twice married and by the second union had two children: Joseph B., father of Mrs. Doddridge; and Nancy, wife of Isaac Jenkins, who was also a member of the colony of 1814 and is still living in Centerville. Joseph B. Spahr has spent his entire life upon his present farm, and as an agriculturist has met with marked success. He has made a specialty of the raising of short-horn cattle. He is a sincere and consistent Christian, a member of the Methodist church, and his life is well worthy of emulation. Formerly he was a Democrat in politics but for many years has affiliated with the Prohibition party and is a stanch adherent of its principles. He married Miss Matilda Burgess, a daughter of Richard and Susan Burgess, natives of Virginia and honored pioneers of Wayne county. By occupation her father was a farmer, miller and millwright. His children were Alexander and Leander, both farmers of Wayne county; Matilda, the first wife of Joseph B. Spahr and the mother of Mrs. Doddridge; and Martha, the second wife of Mr. Spahr.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899