James M. Dawson was born April 5, 1832 (source: info from the Dawson Family Bible) in Marion County, Indiana and died June 1, 1904 in Ames, Cloud County, Kansas. He was the son of Matthias & Nancy McIlvain Dawson. He married Sarah Margaret Laflin on May 15, 1856 in Union Co., Indiana. She was born June 28, 1840 in Connersville, Indiana and died April 21, 1918 in Clyde, Kansas and was the daughter of William Laflin and Mary Tevis. Much of the family information is taken from the James M. & Sarah M. Dawson Bible.
A family member has the original of a very interesting letter which was sent to James M. Dawson on July 23, 1863. It is from a Willis D. Wright and concerns James M. Dawson selling land in Indianapolis. The interesting part is that the first sentence tells of the excitement in Indianapolis of Morgan's raid (Civil War) into Indiana. Link to letter and mortgage.
James M. Dawson, left picture -------------------------James M. Dawson and Sarah Laflin Dawson, right picture
Census: 1850 Washington Twp, Marion Co, Indiana-- Sept 14, 1850 Mathias Dawson, age 41, male, property value $6000, born IN; Nancy Dawson, age 42, female, born KY; Elijah Dawson, age 20, male, born IN, attended school; James Dawson, age 18, male, born IN, attended school; Margaret Dawson, age 16, female, born IN, attended school; William Dawson, age 13, male, born IN, attended school; Uriah Dawson, age 10, male, born IN, attended school; Amanda Dawson, age 6, female, born IN, attended school; Clarinda Dawson, age 3, female, born IN; Elisa W. McLoaine, age 24, female, born Ohio.
Census: 1860 Washington Twp, Marion Co, Indiana-- July 23 1860 James M. Dawson, age 28, male, farmer, value of real estate 2500, value of personal property 400, born Indiana; Sarah A. Dawson, age 20, female, housewife, born Indiana; Ella F. Dawson, age 8 months, born Indiana.
Census: 1900 Shirley Twp, Cloud Co., Kansas -- June 19 1900 James Dawson, head, married, born apr 1832, age 68, married for 44 years, born Indiana, parents born Indiana, farmer, can read, write and speak English, owns free of mortgage, farm, #184 (or 154) on farm schedule; Sarah M. Dawson, wife, female, born Jan 1840, age 60, married 44 years, mother of 7 children, 3 still living, born Indiana, parents born Kentucky, can read, write and speak English; Arthur J., son, male, born Dec 1887, age 12, single, born Kansas, parents born Indiana, at school can read , write and speak English, attended school for 5 months in year; Beatrice Frederick, grandaughter, born Jan 1891, age 9, singles, born Kansas, parents born Indiana, at school for 5 months in year.
Census: 1910 Shirley Twp, Cloud Co, Kansas- April 18 1910-- Sarah M Dawson, head, age 70, widow, 7 children born and 3 still living, born Indiana, parents born Kentucky, speaks English, own income, rents home; Arthur J. Dawson, son, age 23, singles, born Kansas, parents born Indiana, speaks English, no occupation; Bernice Frederick, grandaughter, age 14, single, born Kansas.
Sarah Margaret Laflin Dawson is at the far right of the picture. Family is not sure of the identity of the other people.
Obituary: J.M. Dawson Dead -- June 2, 1904; The Clyde Republican, Clyde Kansas: Died -- J.M Dawson, of near Ames, who was about sixty five years of age died this morning of appoplexy. Last evening while at work in the field he suffered a paralytic stroke that rendered him unconscious and later resulted in his death. He was one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of that vicinity. The funeral services will occur tomorrow (Friday).
Obituary: The Clyde Republican -- Apr 25 1918 ----Sarah M. Laflin was born near Connersville, Indiana, January 28 1840, and was united in marriage to James M. Dawson in the year of 1856, and passed away on April 21st, 1918, age 78 years, 2 months and 23 days. To this union seven children were born, five daughters and two sons. The husband and daughters have preceded her to the great beyond. She leaves to mourn their loss one brother, two sons, fourteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Clyde M.E. church Tuesday, at 10:30 A.M. conducted by the Pastor. C.E. Carpenter, and the body was laid to rest in Mount Hope cemetery.
James M. Dawson's Last Will and Testament was written on March 3 1904 and probated on July 6 1904.
Children of James M. Dawson & Sarah Laflin:
Ella Francis Dawson: born November 22, 1859 (Family Bible); died December 3, 1876; married Lee Means
Elmer Morton Dawson: born January 26 1863; Richmond, Wayne Co, Indiana
Georgia Ann Dawson: born January 22, 1865; died April 1, 1891. She married Will Patterson and had two children, Henry Patterson and Matilane Blanche Patterson. Matilane married Louis Marion Duleg on October 19, 1907 in Clyde, Cloud Co, Kansas.
Clara Alice Dawson: born April 12, 1867, Indiana; died January 24 1899 in Denver Colorado. She married Grant Frederick on April 30, 1889 and had two daughters, Beatrice Frederick and Clara B. Frederick. Obituary: - Clyde Republican -- Feb 1 1899 "Mrs. Grant Frederick died one day last week, in Denver, of lagrippe. The remains were brought to Clyde and the funeral services took place at the M.E. church; Rev. Allen officiating. She was the daughter of Mr. Dawson who lives near Ames. She leaves a husband and two daughters, both of whom are quite young to mourn the loss."
Lucilla Dawson: born October 19, 1869, Montmorency, Fayette Co, Indiana; died March 12 1915, Ames Ks. She married George E. Headley on January 26, 1892 in Cloud County, Kansas. There children are: Josephine Headley, Edwin Chapin Headley, Rulo Martha Headley, Hazel Viola Headley, Harriett Sarah Headley, Anna Lucille Headley, Georgia Stella Headley.
Obituary: Mrs. George E. Hadley-- The Clyde Republican -- Mar 18, 1915 "Mrs. Lucile Dawson Hadley, daughter of James M. and Sarah Dawson, was born October 19, 1869 near Richmond, Indiana, and died Friday morning, March 12, 1915 at her mother's home near Ames. She has resided in Kansas since ten years of age. She was united in marriage to George E. Hadley January 26, 1892. To them seven children, six girls and one boy, were born, all of whom are living and at home excepting two, Mrs. Edsall and Mrs. Pacey. Mrs Hadley was a member of the Presbyterian church, having united with that church at Argentine, Kansas in the early years of their married life under the ministry of Dr. Gregg. For the past four years she has resided near Miltonvale. She was one of five sisters. all deceased, one passing away in infancy; the others, Mrs Will Patterson, Mrs. Grant Frederick and Mrs. Lee Means. Besides her husband children and mother, she is survived by two brothers, E.M of Ames and Arthur at home. She was a loving wife and mother a faithful Christian and leaves a host of friends to mourn her departure. The funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church on Monday at eleven o'clock and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. J.M. Bolton. The floral offerings were many and beartiful. There was one especially attractive design bearing the word, "Mother". The large number attending the funeral attest the high respect in which the deceased was held. Interment was made in Mount Hope cemetery."
Sarah Cyntha Dawson: born December 10 1874; died January 3 1875.
James Arthur Dawson: born December 19, 1886 Ames, Kansas; died November 7 1973 in Cloud Co., Ames, Kansas. He married Alice Waunita Inman on August 13, 1918 in Ames, Ks and had one daughter, Cornelia Irene Dawson who was born August 11, 1919 in Clyde, Cloud Co, Kansas. Obituary-- Concordia Blade -- Nov 14 1973 "James A. (Art) Dawson of Ames died at his home in Ames on Wednesday evening, Nov. 7. He had been in failing health for the past year. He was 86. Mr. Dawson was born Dec. 19 1886 at Clyde the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Dawson. He was married to Alice W. Inman on Aug. 13 1918 in Concordia. This past August they observed their 55th wedding anniversary. He was a lifetime resident of the Clyde and Ames community. He farmed near Clyde until 1945 when they moved to Ames where he and his wife owned and operated the grocery store. Preceding him in death were his parents, one brother and five sisters. Survivors are his wife Alice, a daughter, Nelie and husband, Mrs. and Mrs. Leonard Carlson of Ames and nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Saturday at 10a.m. in the Clyde United Methodist church with the Rev. Lloyd Geiser officiating. Casket bearers were Virgil Cyr, Wendell Appleby, Donald Cyr, Wilbur Appleby, Edward Ryser and Archie Chartier. Burial was in Mount Hope cemetery in Clyde, Kansas."