San
Francisco County
Biographies
HENRY
LEE DODGE
The Argonauts of California who were prominent
in the affairs of this Golden State will be remembered in history as among the
heroes of the world. During a long and honorable career, commencing before the
organization of our State Government, in official position and as a merchant,
the name of Henry Lee Dodge is without taint, spot or blemish. He was born in
Vermont in 1825, and traces his lineage from a noted and distinguished
ancestry. He graduated from the University of Vermont at Burlington, and taught
school to help defray the expense of a collegiate course. In 1847 he commenced
reading law. The gold discoveries of California were the immediate cause of his
laying aside the law books and embarking for the El Dorado, arriving in June,
1849. An August, 1849, he was appointed clerk of the Ayuntamiento,
or Town Council, both of which positions he held until California was admitted
into the Union. He soon after established a wholesale provision and commission
house, which with some changes has been in existence, and is now one of the
leading commission houses on the Pacific Coast. He served two terms as
Supervisor, and resigned his office to take the position of State Senator. In
1877 he was appointed a member of the Treasury Commission, and in December of
the same year he was appointed Superintendent of the Mint at San Francisco. He
held this office four and one-half years, and on his retirement received the
following tribute: “The Superintendent of the Mint at San Francisco has been
and is distinguished alike for ability, fidelity and accuracy (having returned
to the Treasury about $100,000 of appropriation unexpended). This is an example
worthy of commendation and imitation.” In January, 1885, he was elected
President of the Chamber of Commerce, and re-elected the following year. He is
a life member of the Mercantile Library Association, and was elected President
of the California Pioneers in 1879-80. An honored pioneer, respected citizen
and leading merchant, it seems a very wise choice in selecting him as one of
the Trustees of the Leland Stanford, Junior, University.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Illustrated Fraternal Directory Including
Educational Institutions on the Pacific Coast”, Page 42, Publ. Bancroft
Co., San Francisco. Cal. 1889.
© 2012 Cecelia
M. Setty.