John Dodson

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois," by J. O. Cunningham, 1905

SURNAMES: DODSON, HESS, MCGEE, WHITING

 

JOHN DODSON was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, February 29, 1816, and was educated there in the public schools. Later he engaged in farming, continuing in that line of industry until he reached the age of twenty years, when he served an apprenticeship in the wagon-making and carpenter’s trade, during which time he constructed a great number of grain cradles. He followed these trades in Ohio for three years, and in 1838 moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and there followed the same line of business in connection with farming and blacksmithing. He came to Illinois in 1865 and purchased a farm of 215 acres, on which he has since resided. In his political faith he is an earnest Republican, and has held the office of School Director for a number of years. In his religious relations he is an attendant of the Universalist Church.

In December, 1838, Mr. Dodson married Miss Anna HESS, a daughter of Abraham and Ellen HESS, and two children were born of this union, namely: Margaret Ellen and Harry. Mrs. Dodson died and Mr. Dodson later married Miss Elizabeth MCGEE, a daughter of John and Ellen MCGEE, and to them two children were born: Ira H. and Edward S.

The parents of Mr. Dodson were William and Margaret (WHITING) DODSON, both of whom were natives of Virginia. They moved from that State about the year 1812, traveling all the way to Ohio on horseback. Mr. Dodson was drafted for services in the war of 1812, but was prevented from going to the front on account of illness.