Bio:  Alonzo H. Dawson, Claiborne Parish, LA
Source:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez, Jan. 2000


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Alonzo H. Dawson, farmer and merchant, also ginner and manufacturer of lumber,
was born in Chambers County, Ala., April 12, 1850, and is the son of O. H. P.
Dawson.  The latter was born in the Palmetto State, but was reared in Alabama,
where he was married to Miss Sarah A. Spinks, a native of Georgia.  Mr. Dawson
followed farming in Alabama until 1859, and then located in Claiborne Parish,
La.  He made a large farm near Haynesville, and there he and his estimable
wife now reside, somewhat advanced in years, but still hale and hearty.  Dr.
Dawson served in the late war.  Alonzo H. Dawson and six brothers and four
sisters, of the above-mentioned couple, came with his parents to Louisiana in
1859, received a common-school education in Claiborne Parish, and remained
under the parental roof until twenty-seven years of age.  He then started out
for himself as an agriculturist.  He located in Ward No. 7 in 1882, bought a
steam saw-mill and engaged in the lumber, also gin business, which he has
continued up to the present time.  He also bought a farm in this parish in
1885, and has built a nice, neat dwelling-house, besides improving it very
materially in other respects.  He has about 700 acres, all in a body, and has
500 under cultivation.  Mr. Dawson makes a specialty of cotton, averaging
about 100 bales annually.  He commenced empty handed, and is what he has
accumulated is the result of his own industry and perseverance.  He was
married in this parish in 1878, to Miss Virginia C. Taylor, a native of
Georgia, and the daughter of Jonathan Taylor.  Mrs. Dawson was reared and
educated in this parish.  The fruits of this union were three living children:
Gulliver W., Lafayette and Ernest.  They lost one, Fred, in infancy.  Mr. and
Mrs. Dawson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is one of
the trustees in the same.  He was formerly a member of the Farmer's Union.  In
1885 he started a store here, and has been in the mercantile business ever
since.  He carries a general stock and is doing a fair business for a country
store.  Hi is a good business man, and in energetic and enterprising.

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