Rev. S. T. Dodge, is a native of Hardin county, Kentucky, born August 18, 1830, and a son of Josiah and Ann (George) Dodge. When be was 10 years of age, his parents removed to Warren county, where he grew to manhood. He was ordained a minister of the gospel, of the Free Will Baptist denomination, on the 26th day of November, 1871. He had been preaching for two years previous to that time, as an evangelist. His labors, since his ordination, have been mostly in Knox, Warren, Fulton, McDonough and Hancock counties. He did much toward the building up of the Cottonwood church, also the church now known as the North Fandon church. He organized the churches at Webster, Hancock county, and Oak Grove. The latter has since been consolidated with the Prairie City church. Among the most noted revivals which he has conducted, are the following: near Clarksburg, Kansas, where there were 30 conversions; Woodburn, Iowa, where 80 were converted; Warren Chapel, Warren county, Illinois, with 40 conversions; Smithfield, Illinois, with 13, and Haynes chapel, Knox county, Illinois, where 90 were converted. Mr. Dodge was married in Macomb, September 18, 1856, to Mary Elizabeth Cope, daughter of Wesley and Elizabeth (Smith) Cope, who removed to this county from Fulton county in 1854. Wesley Cope died in this county, in May, 1865. His widow is still living. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Dodge have taken two children of his brother-Nora E., and Erma Alma. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Dodge located about six miles south of Bushnell, where he resided three years, then removed to a farm west of Prairie City. In 1870, he moved into Prairie City, which has since been his residence. He has been located as pastor in several places. In his evangelistic work he has had much assistance from his wife, who is an earnest and faithful worker in the cause, Mr. Dodge is a man of untiring zeal and energy and also much ability, to which is due his wonderful success as a revivalist History of McDonough County, Illinois, 1885, Continental Historical Co., Springfield, Illinois Transcribed by Karl A. Petersen for McDonough County ILGenWeb www.macomb.com/~ilmcdono/townships/PrairieCity1885.html