Thaddeus Dod
Encyclopedia
Thaddeus Dod was a prominent Presbyterian minister in Western Pennsylvania
. He is one of the founders of Washington & Jefferson College
.
Dod's ancestors were English
Puritan
s who settled in Connecticut
in 1645 and migrated to the Newark, New Jersey
area. Dod was born in 1740 and was raised in the "hill town" of Mendham in Morris County, New Jersey
. In 1751 at the age of 11, he dedicated his life to "God and doctrine." Dod funded his education at the College of New Jersey
(now Princeton University
) by teaching for a number of years, graduating in 1773 at the age of 33. He married Phoebe Baldwin shortly thereafter. He continued to study theology and was licensed to preach in 1775. He was ordained
by the Presbytery of New York in 1777 and left to preach at Patterson Creek
, Hampshire County, Virginia (now in West Virginia
)
In addition to a devotion to religion, Dod held a strong grasp of the classical subjects, especially the languages of Greek
, Latin
, and Hebrew
. He exhibited an uncommon proficiency in literature
and sciences; he composed poetry
, often breaking into verse
in a dead language in his diaries. As a preacher, he spoke on the importance of sacred music, a subject he studied scientifically, and introduced "singing without reading the line" to his congregations. In person, he was described as "dark and vivid, quick and ardent."
In 1778, Dod accepted a ministerial call from two congregations in present-day Washington County, Pennsylvania
: Lindley's Fort at Lower Ten Mile near Amity (now Amwell Township, Pennsylvania
) and Cook's Fort at Upper Ten Mile (Prosperity). He was the second minister to settle west of the Monongahela River
and the first to establish a Presbytery west of the Allegheny Mountains
. His family remained in Patterson Creek for two years before moving into a log cabin near his congregations. Dod's home was in a dangerous location near Fort Henry, perched on a steep rise with wooded valleys on either side. His home, log school, and churches were often subject to attacks from local Indian populations.
In 1781, Dod and his neighbors built a log school building, the first of its kind in the west and much larger than any other dwelling in the settlement. In 1782, the school contained 13 pupils. It was furnished with three or four beds for students in attendance. Dod taught classes in English, the classics, mathematics, and surveying before its closure in 1785. He was one of the original trustees of Washington Academy, located in the Washington, Pennsylvania
courthouse, and he held office as its first principal. The courthouse burned during the winter of 1790-1791, destroying Dod's collection of books. Dod also helped organize the academy in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
, which would later grow into Jefferson College
.
were sons of Thaddeus and Phoebe Baldwin Dod; Washington & Jefferson College
president Simon Strousse Baker
was their great great grandson; and steam engine builder Daniel Dod
was their nephew.
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
. He is one of the founders of Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
.
Dod's ancestors were English
English American
English Americans are citizens or residents of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England....
Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
s who settled in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in 1645 and migrated to the Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
area. Dod was born in 1740 and was raised in the "hill town" of Mendham in Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
. In 1751 at the age of 11, he dedicated his life to "God and doctrine." Dod funded his education at the College of New Jersey
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
(now Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
) by teaching for a number of years, graduating in 1773 at the age of 33. He married Phoebe Baldwin shortly thereafter. He continued to study theology and was licensed to preach in 1775. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
by the Presbytery of New York in 1777 and left to preach at Patterson Creek
Patterson Creek, West Virginia
Patterson Creek is an unincorporated community in Mineral County, West Virginia, USA. It lies at the northeastern end of the county, and is named for Patterson Creek which empties into the North Branch Potomac River here....
, Hampshire County, Virginia (now in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
)
In addition to a devotion to religion, Dod held a strong grasp of the classical subjects, especially the languages of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, and Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
. He exhibited an uncommon proficiency in literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and sciences; he composed poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, often breaking into verse
Verse (poetry)
A verse is formally a single line in a metrical composition, e.g. poetry. However, the word has come to represent any division or grouping of words in such a composition, which traditionally had been referred to as a stanza....
in a dead language in his diaries. As a preacher, he spoke on the importance of sacred music, a subject he studied scientifically, and introduced "singing without reading the line" to his congregations. In person, he was described as "dark and vivid, quick and ardent."
In 1778, Dod accepted a ministerial call from two congregations in present-day Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
: Lindley's Fort at Lower Ten Mile near Amity (now Amwell Township, Pennsylvania
Amwell Township, Pennsylvania
Amwell Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,960 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
) and Cook's Fort at Upper Ten Mile (Prosperity). He was the second minister to settle west of the Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
and the first to establish a Presbytery west of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
. His family remained in Patterson Creek for two years before moving into a log cabin near his congregations. Dod's home was in a dangerous location near Fort Henry, perched on a steep rise with wooded valleys on either side. His home, log school, and churches were often subject to attacks from local Indian populations.
In 1781, Dod and his neighbors built a log school building, the first of its kind in the west and much larger than any other dwelling in the settlement. In 1782, the school contained 13 pupils. It was furnished with three or four beds for students in attendance. Dod taught classes in English, the classics, mathematics, and surveying before its closure in 1785. He was one of the original trustees of Washington Academy, located in the Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
courthouse, and he held office as its first principal. The courthouse burned during the winter of 1790-1791, destroying Dod's collection of books. Dod also helped organize the academy in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
, which would later grow into Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
.
Family
Cephas Dod and educator Albert Baldwin DodAlbert Baldwin Dod
Albert Baldwin Dod was an American Presbyterian theologian and professor of mathematics. He was born in Mendham, New Jersey, and after a religious awakening while at college in Princeton, Dod became affiliated with the influential Princeton Theologians...
were sons of Thaddeus and Phoebe Baldwin Dod; Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
president Simon Strousse Baker
Simon Strousse Baker
Simon Strousse Baker was the 6th president of Washington & Jefferson College.Baker, the great-great-grandson of Dr. Thaddeus Dod, the founder of Washington Academy, was born in Amwell Township, Pennsylvania on July 11, 1866. In 1892, he graduated from Washington & Jefferson College, where he played...
was their great great grandson; and steam engine builder Daniel Dod
Daniel Dod
Daniel Dod was a mathematician and a mechanical engineer. He fabricated the engine for the first steamboat to cross the Atlantic Ocean.-Biography:...
was their nephew.