Dodge

Dodge, on Farm Road 405 a mile north of U.S. Highway 190 and ten miles east of Huntsville in eastern Walker County, was founded in 1872 on land granted to the Houston and Great Northern Railroad by William H. Parmer (Palmer); settlers had begun farming the land as early as 1825. Martin Parmer, William's father, signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. Other area pioneers included W. H. Baker, John Roark, Ed Farris, Haden Watts, and Ishom Green Webb. In 1853 several additional families moved to the area from Cincinnati to escape a yellow fever epidemic. Among the new arrivals were James Gillaspie and Rev. William D. Shockley, who established a Methodist church known as Shockley's Chapel.

After the Civil War the H&GN Railroad, constructed by the Phelps-Dodge Company, arrived in Walker County. A depot named Dodge Station was established and a town laid out in 1872. The town took its name from the construction company, although local legend has it that the name Dodge was chosen to indicate that the company "dodged" laying its tracks through Huntsville. In the 1870s the community had a Masonic lodge, a hotel, a vacant store, a school, and two general stores. When the post office was established in 1881 Dodge Station became Dodge, and the first postmaster was Russell Roark. By the mid-1890s the population was 150; by 1914 it was 500. The community prospered, adding two churches, a bank, cotton gins, two additional general stores, and two drugstores. The town was seriously damaged by a fire in 1924 and a second one the following year.

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James L. Hailey | © TSHA

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Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

Dodge is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Dodge is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • [-Station]

Location

Latitude: 30.74546940
Longitude: -95.39799710

Has Post Office

Yes

Is Incorporated

No

Population Count, 2009

150