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This biography appears on page 1763 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904)
GEORGE A. DODDS, one of the leading and pioneer merchants of
Watertown, is a native of the state of New York, having been born in Wellington, St. Lawrence county, on the 17th of June, 1845, and being a
son of Captain George and Anne (Walton) Dodds, the former of whom was born in Scotland and the latter in England, while the father was for
many years engaged in mercantile business, both he and his wife having died in Waddington, New York. After attending the public schools of his
native town the subject of this review went to Ogdensburg, New York, where, at the age of seventeen years, he secured a clerkship in a dry-goods store, being thus employed for the following decade and gaining an
intimate-knowledge of the details of the business. At the expiration of the period noted he came west to the city of Chicago, where he was
engaged in clerking in leading mercantile establishments until 1875, having been in the city at the time of the memorable fire of 1871. In
1875 he there engaged in the dry-goods business upon his own responsibility, continuing this enterprise until 1884, when he disposed
of his interests in the western metropolis and came to Watertown, South Dakota, where he opened a dry-goods store in the Mellette block, his
having been the first exclusive dry-goods establishment in the city. He built up an excellent trade, the growth of the enterprise keeping pace
with the development and progress of the town, and finally he added other departments to his business and secured large and ample quarters,
where he now has a general stock of merchandise of select and comprehensive order. He is one of the alert and progressive business men
of the city and commands the unqualified esteem of its people, while he always maintains a deep interest in public affairs and in the promotion
of the welfare of the city and state. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and both he and his wife are valued members of
the Congregational church.
Mr. and Mrs. Dodds have an attractive home, located on the north side
of the city, and the same is a center of refined hospitality. |
