Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Dawson, James B 1850 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 3:57 pm

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

James B. Dawson

This gentleman is accounted one of the successful merchants of Morris, as the 
elements necessary to a successful business career are numbered among his 
leading characteristics. He is wide-awake, energetic and diligent, and above 
all he is reliable in all his trade transactions.

Mr. Dawson was born in Scotland, December 26, 1850, and on the paternal side 
is of Irish lineage, while on the maternal side he is of Scotch descent. His 
parents were John and Agnes (Stewart) Dawson, and their children were William, 
Agnes, John and Margaret, all now deceased; Fannie; Mary; Charlotte; Charles, 
deceased; and James B. The daughters went to Australia in early life and 
Fannie died in that country. Mary, however, resides in Melbourne, Australia, 
and Charlotte is living in Wellington, New Zealand. In the spring of 1864 
Charles Dawson came to the United States and in the fall of the same year his 
brothers, John and James B., also arrived in the new world. They spent a short 
time together in Pennsylvania and then separated, each starting out to seek 
his fortune. Shortly after the sons emigrated to the United States the parents 
also came and located in Limetown, Pennsylvania, where the father’s death 
occurred five years later. The mother then joined her son, James, in Missouri 
and spent her last days in that state. In 1867 William Dawson also came to 
this country and both he and his brother, John, died in Pennsylvania.  

James B. Dawson was a lad of fourteen years when he crossed the Atlantic and 
from that time has been dependent entirely upon his own resources, so that he 
deserves great credit for the success he has achieved.  His educational 
privileges were very limited, but from early youth he manifested a strong love 
of books, and through private study and the perusal of books and papers, 
combined with a broad experience in the affairs of life, he has become a well 
informed man. For several years he was engaged in lead and coal mining in 
Missouri, and for one term he pursued the study of medicine in the St. Louis 
Medical College; but not finding the profession entirely to his taste he left 
that institution and in 1877 located at Wadsworth, Illinois, where he engaged 
in the drug and grocery business. He removed from that town to Morris in 1884 
and has since engaged in merchandising here, carrying a large line of 
groceries, drugs and toilet articles. He has been very successful in his 
business and is now enjoying a large and profitable trade.

While in Wadsworth Mr. Dawson was married, in 1880, to Miss Mary A. 
Sutherland, a native of Scotland, and three children honor their union—John, 
Mabel and Mamie. In politics Mr. Dawson is a Republican, unwavering in his 
support of the principles of the party. In the spring of 1899 he was elected a 
member of the board of aldermen in Morris and is now serving in that position. 
Fraternally he is a Master Mason. Quick of apprehension, he mastered the 
intricate affairs of business life and steadily worked his way upward, gaining 
a comfortable competence and at the same time meriting the respect and 
admiration of his fellow men. His career both public and private is marked by 
the strictest integrity and faithfulness to every trust reposed in him.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy Counties 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, pages 523-524

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