JOSPEH M. DOTSON.

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         A veteran of the Civil war, Joseph M. Dotson is now living retired at Columbus Junction where he has made his home and has been favorably known for nearly forty years. He is a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born February 21, 1837, a son of B. S. and Mary (Davidson) Dotson. The father was born in Maryland, but the mother was a native of England and emigrated to America in childhood, the families locating in Pennsylvania. They were married in the Keystone state and in 1844 Mr. Dotson arrived with his family in Des Moines county, Iowa. In 1849 he removed to Louisa county and located upon government land in Wapello township. Here he built a frame cottage of two rooms which was one of the first frame buildings of the county and was regarded as an object of great interest by the early settlers. The father and mother continued to live at the old homestead during the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of fourteen children, seven of whom survive, namely: Joseph M.; Sarah J., the wife of George Turner, of Washington; Mark, who makes his home in Louisa county; Harriet, now Mrs. E. Stevens, of . . .

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. . . Wapello; Irene, a resident of Spokane, Washington; Oliver P., of Eldon, Iowa; and Eva, the wife of George Deal, of Wapello.

         Joseph M. Dotson, of this review, came to Louisa county with his parents and continued at home until after reaching his majority. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war he responded to the call of President Lincoln for defenders of the Union and enlisted in Company K, Second Iowa Cavalry, in which he served continuously for four years and two months. He participated in several of the great battles of the war and in many minor engagements, passing through almost unscathed, as he received only a slight wound on the head during the entire period named. He was a good soldier and was always to be found at his post of duty. He was honorably mustered out of service at Davenport, Iowa, and returned to Louisa county, where he purchased seventy acres of land in Wapello township, and which he cultivated for two years. He then sold out and spent two years at Wapello, after which he rented a farm for a period of two years. In 1872 he located in Columbus Junction and entered the hotel business, which proved a successful venture. He gained an enviable reputation as a hotelkeeper on account of his pleasing manner and the generous accommodations available at his house and continued in the business for twenty years. He has since lived in honorable retirement, being the owner of a handsome residence and of other property in Columbus Junction.

         In October, 1865, Mr. Dotson was married to Miss Amanda C. Van Horn and to them was born a daughter, Buena V., who is the wife of F. Abrams, of Columbus Junction. Mrs. Dotson departed this life in 1867, and in 1868 Mr. Dotson was married to Josephine W. Welch, a native of Indiana, who has proven to him a true and helpful companion. Mr. Dotson cast his first vote for John C. Fremont as president of the United States and he has ever since continued as a stanch supporter of the republican party. He served with general acceptance as mayor of Columbus Junction and also as a member of the town board. A valiant soldier in the time of his country’s need, he has been an honorable, energetic and progressive citizen, and in the evening of his life he enjoys a comfortable home and the respect of a large circle of friends. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also with the Grand Army of the Republic.