The Mt. Vernon Register News published the following on Wednesday, November 10, 1937 which reads:

Wilburn Neal Dodds, one of Mt. Vernon's most highly respected old citizens, died early this morning at the family home, 214 South Seventeenth Street. Death followed a long period of ill health.

Mr. Dodds was born April 3, 1858, in Knob Prairie, near what is now Waltonville, and was a son of John and Emeline Dodds, well known people in their day.

Mr. Dodds was united in marriage with Miss Emma Frances Philip October 9, 1881, and she with two sons, Harry of this city, and John of Denver, Colo., survive.

Two grandchildren survive. Two brothers, Wm. S. and John D. Dodds, preceded Mr. Dodds in death, as did one sister, Mrs. Thos H. Mannen, of Waltonville. One sister, Mrs. Susan Hirons of Waltonville, survives.

Funeral services will be held in the First M.E. Church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock conducted by Dr. Harry C. Brown, and burial will follow in Knob Prairie cemetery, near Waltonville. The body was taken to the undertaking parlors of O.B. Fly & Sons, 107 North Tenth Street and prepared for burial, where it may be viewed by friends at any convenient time up to the funeral hour tomorrow.

Of an intensely patriotic nature, Mr. Dodds served as a sergeant in Company K, Illinois volunteer infantry in the Spanish American War in 1898. He proved a good soldier, living up to his rule of giving wholehearted service in all the undertakings of life. He was a member of Eben Swift Post, No 94, United Spanish War veterans, and in the days of his health and strength took much interest in the organization, and the patriotic principles for which it stands.

Born on a farm, Mr. Dodds spent his early life in farm pursuits, but located in Mt. Vernon 49 years ago. He and his brother, John David Dodds, operated an extensive livery business at Eleventh and Broadway, a number of years, the business at that time being one of much importance. Later he served as a city policeman at different times being most favorably known as a conscientious and efficient officer. Mr. Dodds, aside from his many excellent personal qualities and virtues, will be best remembered as a magistrate. For 25 or 30 years he served in one or the other of two offices of the same nature, police magistrate of the city of Mt. Vernon and justice of the peace of Mt. Vernon township. Mr. Dodds, in his long service as a magistrate was recognized as a capable judge of the law, a fair and conscientious administrator of the law as far asit was involved in the office of magistrate. His courteous treatment, his consideration for unfortunates, brought before him on criminal charges, and fair dealing with all concerned in civil and all other cases, combined to make him a most popular man and official. His popularity through a long period of public service is attested by the fact that even in Republican landslide years, he as a Democrat, received the largest vote of any candidate of either party, being the only Democrat elected. Although a consistent Democrat he won the support of people of all parties by reason of his fair and honest disposition of the matters coming before him in his official capacity. Personally, popular, of a kindly, friendly nature, he made and retained friends throughout his long life, the friends of his youth being his friends until the end. To his personal friends Mr. Dodds was universally known as Neal, while to many others, he was always "Uncle Neal." His quiet, peaceful death was a fitting climax to a life of earnest honest endeavor, of a spirit of live and let live, of good will toward others, with tolerance for the weaknesses and fralities of the human family and with malice toward none, a life in which the Golden Rule was exemplified as nearly as it can be in a modern world."

Submitted by: "Family Links"
February 25, 2003