Obituaries

Here he settled down, founded the town of Denison, and during his first year of residence here organized the Denison Baptist Church, of which he was pastor until 1863. After his retirement every successive pastor found in him a judicious counsellor, an earnest co-laborer, and a warm personal friend.

Historical Sketches of Iowa Baptists, Burdette Company, Burlington, Iowa, 1886, page 496.

Dow City Enterprise 11-5-1909

Harry Dobson of Deloit was killed almost instantly by the bursting of a fly wheel. He was engaged with others in sawing wood when the accident happened.

He was born in Deloit, July 24, 1883 and grew to manhood where he was highly respected as an honorable, upright citizen and neighbor.

He was the youngest son of Mrs. T. C. Dobson of Deloit and a brother of Mrs. A. H. Rudd of Dow City.

The funeral was preached by Elder J. W. Wight of Lamoni, Iowa and was very largely attended. The remains were interred in the Deloit cemetery. He leaves a wife and one son, his mother, two brothers, four sisters and many other relatives and friends to mourn his departure. We extend sincere sympathy to the bereaved ones.

It is with deep regret that ... comes the duty of The Review this week to chronicle the death of Crawford County's oldest settler, John Dobson, who departed this life at his home in Deloit on Saturday morning, October 21st, after a lingering illness. He has been afflicted for the past year with tumor of the stomach, which hastened his departure from this life.

John Dobson was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, December 21, 1834, being at the time of his death 76 years and 10 months of age. His ancestry can be traced back to Roger Dobson, who was born in England in 1683 and died in 1767. He was one of a family of eleven children and was the only surviving member of this family. John and his brother, Thomas, were closely identified with the early history and development of Crawford county.

In April, 1852 they, with their father, Benjamin Dobson, came to Crawford county, settling at Mason's Grove just east of the present site of Deloit, and there built the first saw mill, which was later converted into a flour and grist mill and was operated by them for eighteen years. They endured many hardships during their pioneer days being compelled to make many trips to Council Bluffs hauling merchandise from there, as that was the nearest trading point. The ground was broken and their first farming done with teams of oxen on the present site of the town of Deloit, which town they named.

The early school training of John Dobson was obtained under great difficulties, for in those days educational facilities were exceedingly limited. He attended a subscription school in Illinois, the first term being in 1839 and continued his studies until old enough to commence work in the fields on his father's farm.

He continued to follow farming as a vocation until 1900 when he started a hotel business in Deloit, with which he met with a great deal of success until a few years ago when his hotel was destroyed by fire.

Mr. Dobson was united in marriage on February 18, 18555 to Miss Lucy Jane Winans, of Deloit, who lives to mourn his death. Unto this happy union were born eleven children: Merinda; Julia Ann and Mary Jane, twins, the latter of whom passed away Feb. 27, 1890; Clinton M. who resides in the state of Washington: Franklin C: Julian Elihu and Junius, twins; both of whom are now living in Idaho; Cora, Edith C. and two deceased.

He is also survived by 23 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Dobson was a very active man and was able to attend to his duties up until a few months before his death. His affectionate wife and faithful daughter, Edith, tenderly and lovingly administered to his every want and were assisted by a host of sympathetic friends. "Uncle John," as he was commonly known, was loved and respected by all who came in contact with him and everyone feels that they have lost a faithful friend in the death of this beloved pioneer.

The funeral services were held at the L. D. S. church at Deloit Monday, October 23rd at eleven a.m. conducted by Elder J. M. Baker, of Omaha, Neb. The church was filled to overflowing with the friends and fellow citizens of this estimable old gentleman. The body was laid to rest in the Deloit cemetery where his father, mother, two brothers, a sister and his two children are buried. The sympathy of a host of friends is with the family in their hour of sorrow, with which the Review joins.

Sarah K. Dobson was born Aug. 24, 1823, near Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky and died April 27, 1909, being 85 years, 8 months and 3 days old, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ellen Horr, with whom she has been living the past 12 years. She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Taylor and a relative of Ex-President Zachary Taylor. The Taylor family is traced back to the thirteenth century.

Her mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Patrick, daughter of John and Elizabeth Patrick. She descended from one of three Irish brothers that settled in the east in an early day, two of them went back to Ireland and the one that remained is said to be the father of all the Patricks in America. William and Elizabeth Taylor were the parents of 14 children of whom Mrs. Dobson has only one surviving brother, Green Taylor of Utah.

She married Thomas Dobson on October 29, 1843 and to them 10 children were born, two dying in infancy and T. C. Dobson, F. T. Dobson and Sarah A. Newcom known by those residing here with her husband, who died 30 years ago last July, have preceded her to the great beyond.

Of those living are 5 daughters, Mrs. J. H. Smith, Clearwater, Neb., Mrs. I. E. Geith, Addy, Washington; Mrs. S. Horr of Deloit, Mrs. S. P. Spence, Garden Grove, Iowa and Mrs. J. S. Myers, Brentwood, Arkansas.

After their marriage they resided in Hancock Co., Ill. Until the spring of 1846 they moved to Pottawattamie Co., Iowa and in the fall of 1849 to Union Grove, Harrison Co., Iowa where they lived until the spring of 1852, when they came to Mason’s Grove, Crawford Co., Iowa where her husband immediately set about looking up some claims. After locating a claim he built a log cabin which he introduced to his wife and three children, where they lived a true pioneer life of early days, without the many advantages of the women of today, cooking by a fireplace, we understand. She had the pleasure of entertaining all the women in the county to a quilting.

They moved in a frame building in Deloit in the year 1858, where she resided until she came to live with her daughter. Her home was always made welcome to all and she took great pleasure in looking after the comfort of others besides her family. Many homes were visited in time of sickness and their wants administered to the best she could give. She united with the L. D. S. church in her girlhood days and remained a true Christian and neighbor.

Beside her children, her posterity numbered 64 grandchildren, 88 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren who will ever cherish and revere her sacred memory and the good council and instruction given them. She was very proud of her posterity, the total number being 154 beside those who married into the family. Of this number only one daughter, four grand children, Mrs. A. H. Rudd, Harry Dobson and Eunice Dobson and Beatrice Riggleman and Lemuel Dobson were permitted to be present at her funeral.

She lived 63 years in the state of Iowa and 57 years at Deloit. About the year 1862 they drove to Des Moines and purchased their first cook stove. Although her husband was away from home a great deal acting as recorder in Denison 6 years and attending to various duties beside missionary work, she attended to family without a murmur and reared her children, always instructing them in the ways of righteousness and truth. Her husband preceded her to the grave 30 years last July.

Her funeral was held Thursday at 11:00 a.m., the discourse was preached by Elder Charles Derry of Woodbine, Iowa. The pallbearers were: J. G. Myers, S. F. Wedlock, C. W. Winey, John Cose, F. H. Brogden and T. Munsey. Mr. Juddy Bond of Denison in charge, the remains were laid to rest by the side of her husband in Deloit cemetery to await the resurrection of the just.

He was born in Clinton Co. IA, Jan. 13, 1868. His parents were Daniel and Bridget Harkins Dougherty, natives of Ireland. He came to Crawford Co in 1878 and farmed northeast of Manilla.

He was married to Catherine Monahan Jan 21, 1889.

Survivors include his wife Catherine, children, Mrs. Lillian Rice of Deloit, Frank of Monticello, Mrs. Marie Berkmeir of Sioux City, Mrs Madonna Graham and Angela Dougherty both of Ann Arbor MI, Margaret of Sioux City and Rita at home, and his brothers John of Columbus NE, Cornelius of Sanborn, Patrick, Hugh of Manilla and James of Sioux City.

Preceding him in death were his brothers, Edward, Philip and Dan, and one sister, Mrs Anna Ryan.

Funeral: Sacred Heart Catholic Church Manilla
Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Manilla
Pall Bearers: George Riggs, Edward McGuire, Dennis McMahon, Hugo Willy, S. J. Reiff, L.L. Sheffield