History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties, MO
Dr. W. E. Dawson

History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, 
Missouri,  published by Goodspeed, 1889;  Pgs. 730, 731-
Cedar County Section

Dr. W. E. Dawson.  Good health is a gift of nature greatly desired 
by all, for what enjoyment can be obtained when the health is gone 
and the grim destroyer, disease, is hastening one rapidly to the 
grave?  None; and it certainly behooves us to guard carefully all 
that makes life enjoyable.  Dr. W. E. Dawson, on of the prominent 
physicians and surgeons of El Dorado, whose principal aim in life 
thus far has been to administer to the physical ailments of his 
fellow-men, was born in Monroe County, Mo., in 1844, and is the son 
of John W. and Mary (Welsh) Dawson, natives of Virginia, born in 1804.  
They removed with their parents to Kentucky when young, were married 
there in 1831, and afterward removed to Monroe County, Mo., where the 
mother died in 1864.  Mr. Dawson afterward married again, and is now 
living with his son, Dr. Dawson.  He has followed the wool-carding 
business nearly all his life, and was a justice of the peace in 
Monroe County for twenty-eight years in succession, being elected 
seven terms in one township.   He is a member of the Christian Church, 
and his wives were members of the same.  His father, John W. Dawson, 
was a native of Scotland, and died in Marion County, Mo., about 1833, 
at the age of 104 years.   Dr. W. E. Dawson, the eldest of nine children, 
eight sons and one daughter, received a good practical education in the 
common schools, and worked with his father in the factory until grown.  
At the age of seventeen he began the study of medicine, and, in 1864, 
graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill.  In 1876 he graduated 
from Louisville (Ky.) Medical College, but, between 1864 and 1866, he 
practiced in Audrain County, after which he came to Clintonville, Cedar 
County, and, in 1884, to El Dorado Springs.  He has practiced among the 
same people since 1866, and is one of the prominent practitioners of the 
county.  During the year 1888 Dr. Dawson was engaged in the drug business 
with his brother at Schell City, and he still has an interest in the 
store there.  He was married in Audrain County in 1866 to Miss Frances 
Forbis, a native of Boone County, Mo., and the daughter of James and 
Minerva Forbis, natives of Kentucky, who died in Audrain County.  To 
the Doctor and wife were born three children.  Dr. Dawson is a Democrat 
in politics, his first presidential vote being for Seymour, in 1868; 
has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. for ten years, the I. O. O. F. 
for fifteen years, and of the A. O. U. W. for eight years.  Mrs. Dawson 
is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
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