1823
Thomas H. Dodge was born September 27, in Eden, Vermont.

Early Childhood
Thomas was privileged to be able to attend the best district schools as his father was a well-to-do farmer. The family moved to Lowell, Vermont, where they lived until Thomas was 14 years old.

1837
The Dodge family moved to Nashua, New Hampshire. Dodge decided to become a lawyer and manufacturer. He told his parents that he was going to pay all of his own expenses to prove what he could accomplish.

1843
On June 30, Thomas married Eliza Daniels of Brookline, New Hampshire. Dodge decided to learn the cotton manufacturing business. He went to work for a cotton manufacturer as a roll carrier. After earning enough money in the factory, he enrolled in Gymnasium Institute at Pembroke, New Hampshire.

1850
Dodge published a famous review of the Rise, Progress, and Importance of Cotton Manufacturing in the United States.

1851
Thomas joined the firm of George Y. Sawyer and A.F. Stevens of Nashua, New Hampshire, to train for the law. After three years he was admitted to the bar at Manchester, Massachusetts.

1853
Dodge was at the forefront of his profession as an advocate and jurist.

1854
At the age of 31, Dodge opened a law office in Nashua, New Hampshire.

1855
Dodge was appointed as the first assistant in the U.S. Patent Office and shortly thereafter was appointed examiner-in-chief.

1858
Dodge resigned from the patent office to concentrate on his law practice.

1864
Thomas moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, to continue his law practice and become a third owner of the Union Mowing Machine Company.

1878
Dodge received a patent for a barbed wire which was 201,507. This was the first of his seven patents.

1881
Thomas became associated with Charles G. Washburn and organized the Barbed Fence Company of Worcester, Massachusetts. He was named president of the company.

1881
On November 29, Dodge received his second patent for a barbed wire, which today is called the Dodge Star and is considered a very rare wire.

1882
Dodge and Charles G. Washburn obtained a patent on a four point barbed wire.

1883
Dodge had a serious break in his health and was required to retire from the active routine of business.

1905
Thomas and his wife each made a $500 donation to a boys and girls camp.

After 1905
No accurate date has been found for Thomas Dodge’s death.