Carroll County IN Archives Biographies.....Dawson, James R. 1854 - 1907
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 18, 2006, 4:48 am

Author: John C. Odell (1916)

JAMES R. DAWSON.

   One of the well-known farmers and citizens of Madison township, Carroll
county, Indiana, during the past generation, was James R. Dawson. Having enjoyed
educational advantages superior to those which came within the opportunity of
most boys of his day and generation, he naturally became a leader in the
agricultural life of Carroll county, and at his death there was no man living in
Madison township who was more highly respected than he.

   Mr. Dawson was born in Democrat township, Carroll county, February 8, 1854,
and was a son of Samuel and Catherine (Travis) Dawson, natives of Indiana. The
former, who was the owner of more than three hundred acres of land in Carroll
county, was a Democrat in politics and a prominent member of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He was twice married, the first time to a Miss Wilson, to
which union were born two children: Isabel, the wife of James Whiteman, one of
the oldest citizens of Carroll county, and a former trustee of Madison township,
and one child who died in infancy. Mr. Dawson was later married to Catherine
Travis, and to this union were born five children: James R., the immediate
subject of this review; Joseph, deceased; Charles, also deceased; Flora and Emma.

   During his boyhood, the late James R. Rawson worked on his father's farm,
attending the district schools during the winter seasons. After his marriage he
rented the home farm, where he lived for three years, and then purchased an
interest in Gee's mill, on Wildcat creek, where he worked for three years.
Afterwards he entered DePauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana, and for some
time was a student there in the classical course. Upon the death of his father
he inherited one hundred and twenty acres of land in Democrat township, which he
farmed for some time, in all about eight years. Mrs. Dawson also inherited
eighty acres, a part of her present farm, which Mr. Dawson rented. He also
bought forty-six acres additional, making a total of one hundred and twenty-six
acres in the home farm.

   The late James R. Dawson was married to Emily Jane Shaffer, the daughter of
John and Mary (Shaffer) Shaffer, the former of whom was a native of.
Pennsylvania and who came alone from the Keystone state to Fairfield county,
Ohio, where he became a farmer, and where he met and married his wife.
Subsequently he came to Madison: township, Carroll county, purchasing the farm
which Mrs. Dawson now owns. He died on August 10, 1881. His wife, who was a
native of Fairfield county, Ohio, had passed away previously, on May 11, 1861.
They were the parents of six children: Harvey, who lives on a farm adjoining
Mrs. Dawson; Esther, deceased; Catherine, who lives in Madison township, is the
wife of Frank Wood; Matilda, who died in infancy; Mrs. James R. Dawson, and
Nelson, who married Lily Thomas.

   Mr. and Mrs. James R. Dawson were the parents of six children: Edith, who
lives in Clinton county, Indiana, is the wife, of Harry Kearns, and they have
one child, Emily; Maude, living In Benton county, Indiana, is the wife of John
Travis; Lelia Laurel, who died in infancy; Mabel, living in Colorado, is the
wife of Charles Sandifur, and they have two children living, Mary and Ruth;
Ruth, who is living at home with her mother, and Josephine, who became the wife
of N. Thompson, of Madison township.

   Since the death of her husband, October 15, 1907, Mrs. James R. Dawson has
rented out the farm by fields, and lives in a unique old brick house, with
surroundings which are thoroughly modern.

   The late James R. Dawson was a Democrat in his political faith, while
fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order, and was an earnest and
consistent member of the Methodist church, in which he took an active and
interested part.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

BIOGRAPHICAL SECTION
of

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY INDIANA

ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS
BY
JOHN C ODELL
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families

ILLUSTRATED
1916
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana


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