We are seeking Dodge family relatives whose ancestors moved to California from Audubon County Iowa in the late 1800's. Tired of struggling with the cold on the prairie, John and Eliza Dodge took their sons Charles E. Dodge and Carlton Dodge to the Los Angeles area, supposedly Glenwood, California. John's brother Boynton, whose family stayed behind in Iowa, had come to Iowa from Henniker, New Hampshire in the 1850's. Boynton walked all the way from New Hampshire to Iowa. He brought with him a supply of sewing materials, thread, needles, to barter in exchange for lodging and food. He thought that carrying money would invite robbery. If you belong to the Dodge line that we seek, you may be interested in some of your family history. We have photographs of Carlton and Charles, taken as youngsters in New England. Charlie was a playmate of our grandmother Ellen. We have a story recorded from family oral history, about the tool box that Ellen gave Charlie and the sled that he gave her one Christmas when they were little. And we have the recipe for gingerbread that they always made for holidays, a recipe that came with them from New Hampshire. The photographs of Charlie taken at a studio in LA suggest to me that the families kept in contact into the 20th century so you may have some family history, oral or pictorial, about the Iowa Dodge clan. To place us, let me give you some subsequent surnames. There were 9 descendents of Boynton and his wife Sophronia Dodge. Of the two sons, Arthur and John, only John (Merrill) had descendents and they were mostly in the Ellensburg WA area. The dauhters' descendents obviously had different surnames due to marriage. If your ancestors spoke of their relatives in Iowa, they may have used surnames such as Rendleman (Ellen), Bartlett (Nettie), Dyer (Ida), Statzell (Evelina or Dena) or Kirkeberg (Bess). If you think you might be descended from one of the sons of John and Eliza Dodge, Carlton or Charlie, and you are interested in stories or pictures, let us know. Of the photos that we have, we have made extra copies in print form or could send some by e-mail. Of the stories that Ellen told, we printed them and could send copies. Naturally, we would be interested in any photos or stories that you may have. Cathy Irvine davirv@netins.net Mary Gilchrist mary-gilchrist@uiowa.edu