Dotson, Charles A.

DOTSON, SHELTON, YORK, SWAFORD, RHODES, MCFARLAND, HURST, REESE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/4/2008 at 07:37:48

DOTSON, C. A.
Farmer; Sec. 25; P. O. Colfax; born in Jefferson Co., Tenn. in Jan. 1821; came to Indiana in 1828, thence to Jasper Co., Iowa in June 1848. Has 295 acres of land, valued at $60 per acre. Marries Miss Marian YORK in 1842. She was born in North Carolina in November 1820. They have six children - Eli E., Mary J., Elizabeth A., Sarah J., Charles L. and Julia E. Republican; has held the office of Township Trustee; he is a member of the Christian Church. His brother-in-law, A. J. BERRY, came to this county at the same time, and at one time, owned 1,900 acres of land, in Sherman and Poweshiek Tps.; in 1868, he sold out and went to Texas; first to the Cherokee country, and then to the Chickasaw; he raised a large family, and at one time was considered the wealthiest man in the county. ~ "Poweshiek Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)
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Charles A. Dotson

In a record comprising the history of the principal old settlers of Jasper County, the name of Mr. Dotson cannot properly be omitted. In May 1848, he came to this county and located in Poweshiek Township, where he entered a tract of land that had not yet been placed on the market. Under his judicious management the property has become highly productive, and he now owns two hundred and forty-five acres, upon which, for many years he conducted general farming and stock raising. Since 1889 he has resided in Colfax, where he lives somewhat retired from active business cares.

In this connection it will not be inappropriate to mention, somewhat briefly, the parental history of our subject. His father, Henry Dotson, was a native of Greene County, TN, and was reared to farming pursuits, following throughout his entire life the occupation of a farmer. After his marriage, he removed to Indiana, about 1826, and located on land which he entered from the Government and which was situated in Morgan County. There he cleared and improved a farm and continued to make his home until 1839, when he removed to Edgar County, IL, and for two or three years rented a farm there.

Coming to Iowa in 1848, Henry Dotson entered a tract of land from the Government, and with the assistance of his sons cleared and improved a farm. There he remained until the death of his wife, after which he made his home with our subject until his demise, at the age of seventy-five.

In politics he was a Whig. A man of liberal spirit and progressive ideas, he was a valued citizen in every community in which he resided, and possessed noble qualities of heart and mind, which endeared him to all his associates. But little can be learned of his ancestry, but it is supposed that his father was a native of Virginia.

The mother of our subject born the maiden name of Saluda Shelton, and was born and reared in Virginia. Her death occurred at the age of fifty-five. She was the mother of four sons and three daughters, all of whom attained years of maturity, and all are now living, with one exception. Our subject, the second in order of birth, remained with his parents until he was fourteen years old, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a wheelwright. Not satisfied with that occupation, he commenced learning the trade of a tanner and currier, at which he served an apprenticeship of five years in Morgan County, IN. Later he followed his trade for two years.

After spending a year upon a farm in Kentucky, Mr. Dotson removed to Illinois where, in 1842, married Miss Miriam York, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth (Swaford) York, who were born in North Carolina. Mrs. Dotson was born November 30, 1820, and remained in the state of her birth until sixteen years of age, when she went to Illinois, residing in that state until her marriage. In 1842, immediately following his marriage, Mr. Dotson located in Jasper County, IL, where he remained until May of 1848, the date of his arrival in Jasper County, Iowa.

As a farmer, Mr. Dotson is energetic, prudent and judicious, a man of abundant energy and tireless industry. As a result of his efforts, he brought his farm in Poweshiek Township under excellent tillage and embellished the land with a commodious dwelling, barns and granaries. While he has devoted his attention mainly to agriculture, he has not been unmindful of his duties as a citizen, and has maintained a deep interest in all matters of local and national importance. In politics he adheres to the Republican Party. He has been elected to various positions of matter, having served as Trustee of the township, Road Supervisor and School Director, as well as in other positions of responsibility.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Dotson has resulted in the birth of eleven children, six of whom are living. Eli E. was born in Jasper County, IL, and is now engaged in farming and stock raising in Washington Township, Jasper County. Mary I. is the wife of John Rhodes, of North Dakota; Lizzie A. married Seymour McFarland of Chicago; Sadie, Mrs. Hurst, with her two sons, Glenn and Dale, makes her home with her parents; Charlie L. is a resident of Des Moines; Julia B. is the wife of W. M. Reese, and lives in Davenport, Iowa.

In his social connections Mr. Dotson is identified with Riverside Lodge No. 389, A. F. & A. M. In the Christian Church, of which he has been a member for many years, he is serving as Treasurer. He is a generous contributor to all religious and benevolent enterprises. He is justly regarded as one of the solid reliable citizens of Colfax and in every department of life he has always been faithful to his duties and responsibilities, and as a husband, father, neighbor and citizen, it may truly be said that his character is such as to inspire respect and esteem. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 214.
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Dotson, Charles A.

In a record comprising the history of the principal old settlers of Jasper County, the name of Mr. Dotson cannot properly be omitted.

In May 1848, he came to this county and located in Poweshiek Township, where he entered a tract of land that had not yet been placed on the market. Under his judicious management the property has become highly productive, and he now owns two hundred and forty-five acres, upon which, for many years he conducted general farming and stock raising. Since 1889 he has resided in Colfax, whore he lives somewhat retired from active business cares.

In this connection it will not be inappropriate to mention, somewhat briefly, the parental history of our subject. His father, Henry Dotson, was a native of Greene County, TN, and was reared to farming pursuits, following throughout his entire life the occupation of a farmer. After his marriage, he removed to Indiana, about 1826, and located on land which he entered from the Government and which was situated in Morgan County. There he cleared and improved a farm and continued to make his borne until 1839, when he removed to Edgar County, IL, and for two or three years rented a farm there.

Coming to Iowa in 1848, Henry Dotson entered a tract of land from the Government, and with the assistance of his sons cleared and improved a farm. There he remained until the death of his wife, after which he made his home with our subject until his demise, at the age of seventy-five.

In politics he was a Whig. A man of liberal spirit and progressive ideas, he was a valued citizen in every community in which he resided, and possessed noble qualities of heart and mind, which endeared him to all his associates. But little can be learned of his ancestry, but it is supposed that his father was a native of Virginia.

The mother of our subject born the maiden name of Saluda Shelton, and was born and reared in Virginia. Her death occurred at the age of fifty-five. She was the mother of four sons and three daughters, all of whom attained years of maturity, and all are now living, with one exception. Our subject, the second in order of birth, remained with his parents until he was fourteen years old, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a wheelwright. Not satisfied with that occupation, he commenced learning the trade of a tanner and currier, at which he served an apprenticeship of five years in Morgan County, IN. Later he followed his trade for two years.

After spending a year upon a farm in Kentucky, Mr. Dotson removed to Illinois where, in 1842, be married Miss Miriam York, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth (Swaford) York, who were born in North Carolina. Mrs. Dotson was born November 30, 1820, and remained in the state of her birth until sixteen years of age, when she went to Illinois, residing in that state until her marriage. In 1842, immediately following his marriage, Mr. Dotson located in Jasper County, IL, where he remained until May of 1848, the date of his arrival in Jasper County, Iowa.

As a farmer, Mr. Dotson is energetic, prudent and judicious, a man of abundant energy and tireless industry. As a result of his efforts, he brought his farm in Poweshiek Township under excellent tillage and embellished the land with a commodious dwelling, barns and granaries.

While he has devoted his attention mainly to agriculture, he has not been unmindful of his duties as a citizen, and has maintained a deep interest in all matters of local and national importance. In politics he adheres to the Republican Party. He has been elected to various positions oft mat, having served as Trustee of the township, Road Supervisor and School Director, as well as in other positions of responsibility.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Dotson has resulted in the birth of eleven children, six of whom are living. Eli E. was born in Jasper County, IL, and is now engaged in farming and stock raising in Washington Township, Jasper County. Mary I. is the wife of John Rhodes, of North Dakota; Lizzie A. married Seymour McFarland of Chicago; Sadie, Mrs. Hurst, with her two sons, Glenn and Dale, makes her home with her parents; Charlie L. is a resident of Des Moines; Julia B. is the wife of W. M. Reese, and lives in Davenport, Iowa.

In his social connections Mr. Dotson is identified with Riverside Lodge No. 389, A. F. & A. M. In the Christian Church, of which he has been a member for many years, he is serving as Treasurer. He is a generous contributor to all religious and benevolent enterprises. He is justly regarded as one of the solid reliable citizens of Colfax and in every department of life he has always been faithful to his duties and responsibilities, and as a husband, father, neighbor and citizen, it may truly be said that his character is such as to inspire respect and esteem. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 214.