William Dawley

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: BECK, DAWLEY, GAY

 

WILLIAM DAWLEY. The subject of the following sketch owns and occupies a fine homestead in Scott Township, on section 3. This comprises 240 acres of choice land, upon which he has erected a fine set of frame buildings, and supplied the premises with all things needful for carrying on of agriculture in a first-class manner. Mr. Dawley has been a resident of Scott Township since 1866. He was born in Greene County, Ohio, April 26, 1828, and is the son of Devvorix and Huldah DAWLEY, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Kentucky. After their marriage they located in Ohio, and the mother died in Greene County in about 1837. After the death of his wife the father of our subject removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, where he again married, and then removed to Fairfield County. He died in Lancaster, that county, in about 1880.

The parental family consisted of seven children, three sons and four daughters, of whom our subject is the third child. He remained a resident of Ohio until 1851, when he came to Piatt County, this State, first working out by the month, then operating on rented land until 1866. He was married in Piatt County, Jan. 6, 1853, to Miss Susan GAY, also a native of the Buckeye State. They became the parents of nine children, three now deceased. Those surviving are Diantha, John, Mary C., William, Ida and Clara. John married Miss Nancy BECK, and is farming in Scott Township. Those deceased are Albert, Rosaltha and Jane.

Mr. Dawley has held office of Highway Commissioner, and is a man who takes a genuine interest in the welfare of his community. Politically he is a reliable Republican. Mrs. D. is a member in good standing of the Methodist Church.