DAVID DODDS was born in county Down, Ireland, January 15, 1829, a son of John Dodds, a native of the same county and a descendant of Scotch ancestors; the father was a farmer by occupation, and spent his entire life in his own country; he died in 1863. The mother of our subject was Martha McElroy Dodds, a native of the same county as her husband, and a daughter of John McElroy, of Scotch extraction; she died in 1866, in county Down. They had a family of thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, and five of whom came to America; Betty, Sallie, Ann, Martha, John, William, James, Samuel, Robert, Thomas, and David; John, James, Samuel, Thomas and David came to the United States. Our subject was reared and educated in the county of his birth, and in his youth began to assist on the home farm. He remained with his parents until 1851, when he bade farewell to home and friends and native land, and sailed across the seas to the New World; the voyage consumed five weeks, and after landing at New York he continued his journey to Ohio, and located in Mahoning county. He remained there, working by the month, for more than eight years, and then came to Schuyler county and settled in Bainbridge township.

When the great Civil war arose, Mr. Dodds espoused the cause of his adopted country, and August 5, 1861, enlisted in Company G, Twenty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was with his regiment until April, 1866, and participated in the capture of Forts Hyman and Henry, and in the engagements at Shiloh, Grand Gulf, Champion Hills, the Hatchie, Vicksburg, Forts Beauregard and Blakely and Spanish Fort, and some others of less note. He was honorably discharged, and returned to his home, where he resumed farming. In 1867 he bought the land he now occupies.

Mr. Dodds was married in 1874, to Mrs. Martha Herron Collister, a native of county Down, and a daughter of James and Nancy (Murray) Herron. Mrs. Dodds was first married in Ireland, to Joseph Collister; they emigrated to America in 1856, and the following year came to Schuyler county. Mr. Collister became a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and after the war settled in Bainbridge township, where he lived until his death, in 1873; they had one daughter, Maggie, who married Thomas Suddith.

Mr. and Mrs. Dodds were both reared to the faith of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Dodds is a member of the Republican party, and is an ardent supporter of its principles; he belongs to Colonel Henry Post, No. 131, G.A.R.