Benjamin M Dawkins

DAWKINS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/15/2010 at 13:10:47

Benjamin M Dawkins, now in his eightieth year, is ilving retired in Boone, residing in the home of L W Johnson on 22nd street. Alwasy a resident of the middle west, he has lived to witness remarkable changes, for in the period of his boyhood Indians were not far from his home and there were great stretches of uncut forests and unbroken prairies through out the middle Mississippi valley.
Mr Dawkins was born in Oldham county, Kentucky, January 25, 1835, a son of Johnson and Mary (Ransdell) Dawkins. The gradfatehr, William Dawkins, was from Virginia and removed to Henry county, Kentucky, where Johnson Dawkins spent the period of his youth. In 1854 he removed to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and in the fall of 1856 arrived in Boonesboro, Iowa. At that time there was only one building in what is now the city of Boone. He had purchased 160 acres of land near Ridgeport in Dodge township and upon that place established his family in 1856. His wife had died in Kentucky, but he brought with him his two sons and two daughters, these being Mrs Felicia Dorcas Pollard, Mary J Thomas, and Benjamin M. The last named is the only one now living. Other sons and daughters of the family were: John R, who died in early manhood, Lucy and Elizabeth. The father afterward spent some time in Madison county, Iowa and died in Boone county in August 1879, his funeral services being held on the 6th of that month. He was a farmer and stockman who successfully conducted business. He also improved land in Madison county and was a well known and highly respected citizen.
Benjamin M Dawkins was reared in Kentucy and in Indiana, to which state the family removed during his ealry boyhood. He attended school in both Indiana and in Iowa. Reared upon the frontier, he also had the experiences of pioneer life in this state. He assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm and contined to engage in general agicultural pursuits until about 1875. He then established a drug store at Ridgeport, which he conducted with growing success for twenty-eight years, or until 1903, when he sold out and has since lived practiallly retired. His was a well appointed store and his honorable dealing won for him a liberal patronage that made his income a gratifying one. He now has some coal interests in Colorado and at different times has owned small farms in this section of the state.
In his political views, Mr Dawkins is a democrat, giving stalwart support to that party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He served for four years, from 1868 until 1872, as supervisor of Boone and has also been township trustee. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Ridgeprot and is well known in the county where he has so long made his home. There have been no spectacular events in his life history, but faithful performance of duty and diligence in business has gained him a comfortable competency and he is now able to live retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil.

1914 Boone County History Book