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Dolph worked as a bookkeeper with Ellington Brothers, a general store in Gold Hill after his marriage.
After moving to Opelika a few years later, Dolph went into the automobile business with V. P. Cherry and Jim Ellington. Later these three, along with Winfield Williams formed the Opelika Mercantile Company. When this business was dissolved, Dolph went into business for himself, establishing the Opelika Implement Company , which he continued to operate until his death.
Dolph was a self made man and was active in many civic affairs, serving for many years on the Opelika City Council, where he helped establish Opelika's first adequate water supply system. He was also active behalf of the city school system, and was instrumental in the building of Opelika High School stadium.
A Rotarian, Dolph served the club both as secretary and treasurer. Dolph was noted for his work with reports and figures. When he made a report for any organization, members could be sure it was inclusive and complete down to the last detail.
Though his church membership remained with Farmville Baptist Church, he was very active in Opelika United Methodist church after marriage to Maude. He served for many years as the Sunday School Treasurer.
The following was said of Dolph by Mr. Joe Tyner and Mr. Thomas Sanford, Jr. in a special Rotary Club tribute held for Dolph and Mr. John V. Denson after their deaths. "Dolph was unobtrusive, steady, the soul of honor and the personification of integrity, always efficient and careful. Whenever a call was made upon him he answered it. He was a leader among leaders in the civic affairs of this community. Though he labored untiringly in such activities, he was unobtrusive almost to the point of self-effacement. The average person might not realize how much good Dolph Botsford had done, but those of us who worked with him knew. Whenever there was any big project undertaken for this club, you could always find Dolph quietly working behind the scenes. The success of those project was due a great deal to his unspectacular but efficient efforts. He was a man of simplicity of manner, sincerity of purpose."
Dolph died unexpectedly early Christmas morning in 1940. The family had exchanged gifts, and had a family dinner the evening prior. Dolph remained up after the family had retired, and, a little after midnight suffered what he believed to be an attack of indigestion. He took some medicine and later summoned the family physician. Apparently, Mr. Botsford was not believed to be seriously ill, but about 4 o'clock, his family was aroused by a noise in the kitchen, and arose to find he had dropped dead.
[Source: "Maude and Dolph Botsford" by Luella Botsford Henderson]
**************************************** Maude Brown and Robert Adolphus Botsford Sr. had the following children:
+22 i.
Robert Adolphus Botsford Jr..
+23 ii.
Luella Botsford.
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