Dobson, George 1875 - 1901

DOBSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/2/2018 at 17:14:32

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Feb. 5, 1901, FP, C4

George Dobson who enlisted into the regular military service of the United States and was among the first sent to Cuba, and was honorably discharged after three years service, died in the hospital at San Francisco, Jan. 31,1901, after an illness of several months. His age was some thing like 25 years. He was a son of Thomas Dobson of this city and was as hearty and robust a young man as could be found.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Feb. 22, 1901, LP, C7

Obituary.
Geo. W. Dobson was born in Cresco, Iowa, July 29, 1875, where he lived until his twentieth year, attending the public schools of Cresco, being a member of the high school when he went to Rockford, Ill., and was employed there about two years.
He enlisted in CO. A 4th U. S. Inft. At Chicago, June 28, 1897, and was sent to Fort Sheridan, Ill., staying there with his regiment until June 1898, when they were sent to Tampa, Fla., on their way to Cuba, going with the 5th Corps to Santiago. He was in the battles of ElCaney, San Juan and the Siege of Santiago and several small skirmishes and several days and nights after the battles, burying the dead and caring for the sick and wounded, until stricken with malaria and fever himself. He was sent with the other sick soldiers to Montauk Point, Long Island, where he was held in quarantine for a month. His health being somewhat improved, he was given a thirty days furlough, to visit friends at home, at the close of which he reported at Fort Sheridan, about Nov. 8, 1898. George being of a studious turn of mind had improved his spare time in the Fort previous to going to Cuba in pursuit of studies which he had previously been interested, and continued to study and to pursue useful reading whenever he had opportunity and was well informed. He also was proficient in music and was a member of the Cresco band before he left his native town. In January, 1899, he was promoted as trumpeter and assigned to Co. I of the same regiment, and started enroute to the Philippine Islands, via New York, Gibraltar and Suez Canal. He served with his regiment for some time in Luzon and was in several encounters with the Filipinos.
The severity of the service resulted in his health again breaking down, and he was sent to the hospital in Manila, staying there about a month when he was sent on a hospital ship to San Francisco, arriving Feb. 4, 1900, and remaining in hospital there until somewhat improved in health, when he reported for duty, but he had several relapses in which he was obliged to return to the hospital. On expiration of his term of three years service he was discharged from the army July 7, 1900, at San Francisco, Cal. He did not come home, knowing that the climate here would be unfavorable for him, after being subject so long to the intense heat of the tropics. He had been employed during the winter until his last sickness. He was taken with apoplexy Sunday, Jan. 27, and was taken to the city hospital, where he died at 3 p. m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 1901.
The letter bringing the particulars of his last sickness says: “he had a great many friends here.” This was true of George wherever he was well known. He was a young man of good character and gentlemanly bearing and won the respect and esteem of those who knew him well. The same letter brings to the bereaved friends here the comforting assurance that he received in his last sickness the kindest care that loving hands could give him, and that he was laid to rest with a soldier’s honors in the Presidio by those who loved him.
Thus, in a soldier’s grave another, the third, of our young men from Cresco who gave themselves to their country when its honor and its flag needed defenders. He loved his country, his God; and did his duty. All honor to his memory.

“Soldier rest, thy warfare o'er,
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking,
Dream of battle fields no more,
Days of danger, nights of waking.”