Tombstone Tuesday - William Wesley Dawson, Nancy (Cleveland) Dawson

McCauley Cemetery, Edgar Co, Illinois

These images are scans of 1970 era photocopies of photographs, so excuse the quality.

William Wesley Dawson was born about 1760 in Cocke Co, Tennessee.  Nancy Cleveland [possible middle name of Graves] was born 10 October 1781 in Tennessee.  So far, I, and several other researchers, have not been able to discover their parents' names.  Nancy died 3 days after a rattlesnake bit her. 

On a third side of the gravestone, Sarah J Peer is etched.  Sarah was the daughter of Jane (Dawson) and John Peer.  She died the same year as her grandmother, Nancy Dawson.

Wm Dawson
Born About 1770
Died Mar 8, 1855



Nancy
Wife of Wm Dawson
Born Oct 10, 1781
Died Aug 27, 1845





Sarah J Peer
Born 1837
Died 1845



Dawson-Cleveland Family History (1971) by Mary Lossing

Typed, and distributed to extended family, in December 1971, Mary (Swearingen) Lossing shared her research on the William Wesley Dawson and Nancy Cleveland family in a 15 page document which is priceless. 

The transcription of page 2 -

Beginning here is the earliest positive proof we have of our DAWSON & CLEVELAND ANCESTORS.

Early Marriage Records or Bonds of GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE.
WILLIAM WESLEY DAWSON & NANCY CLEVELAND. 9-23-1800.  Security - Thomas Palmer & John Kennedy.  Our Family Record gives the date of their Marriage as, OCTOBER 25, 1800.

We do not know the date of birth of William Wesley Dawson.
In the 1850 census of Edgar County Illinois, he was listed age 90, born in Tennessee, living in the home of his son, Thomas Lewis Dawson.  That would place his birth as around 1760.  (Ages in the census are sometimes correct, and sometimes not.)  His tombstone in "Old Moorefield Cemetery" (south of Raven, Illinois) inscription says:  Born around 1770.  So apparently no one knows the date of his birth.  Since some of his descendants have also lived to ages around 90 or more, his age in the 1850 census as 90, could be pretty close.  He died March 8, 1855 (age approximately 95) at the home of his son, Thomas Lewis Dawson, North of Raven, Illinois.  He died before the 1855 census, so nothing can be found there.  Nancy Cleveland was born October 10, 1781.  She died August 27, 1845.  At the time of her death, they lived southwest of Dana, Indiana, on the new road 36, between the railroad & the Ind. & Illinois state line.  She walked from her home up to the home of her son Thomas Lewis Dawson & his wife Rebecca Taylor, North of Raven, Ill. on the old road 36.  While walking through the tall grass & weeds, she was bitten by a rattlesnake & died.
In the 1880 census of Edgar County Illinois, Thomas Lewis Dawson, head of the household, lists both of his parents as born in Tennessee.
      Tennessee became a state in 1796, so at the time of birth of both William Wesley Dawson & Nancy Cleveland, they would have been born in that part of North Carolina, which later became Tennessee.  We know they were married in Greene County, Tennessee.  After their marriage, they settled in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky.  As far as I know all of their children were born at this place.  I have no proof of the time they came to this place or when they left.
WILLIAM WESLEY DAWSON, b. around 1760.  d. March 8, 1855. (age 95)
Nancy Cleveland,                    b. Oct.10, 1781. d. Aug. 27, 1845. (age 63 years, 10 mo. 17 days.)
Married Oct. 25, 1800.  Greene County, Tennessee.
Their children born in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky.
1.  John         Dawson, born  Aug. 27, 1801. M. May 18, 1835, to Rebecca Jane Sterns.
                                                                                       (Marriage record, Vermillion Co, Indiana.
2. William             "          "     Sept. 26, 1803. M. Sept.27,1832, to Sarah Green (Greer)
                                                                                       (Marriage record Vermillion Co. Indiana.
                                                                                        He died Dec.30, 1887. (age 85)
3. Benjamin          "          "     March 18, 1805. M. Sept.9, 1830, to Sarah Elliott.  Ver.Co.Ind.
                                                                                        He died May 26, 1872. (age 67)
4. Fanny               "          "     Aug. 7, 1807.
5. Jane                 "          "     Dec. 17, 1809. M. Nov.27, 1828, Vermillion Co.Indiana, to:
                                                                                        John Peer. (Had 9 children)
6. Jesse               "          "     June 15, 1812. M. April 18, 1839, to Jemima Lindsey. Ver.Co.
7. Thomas Lewis "          "     Oct. 14, 1816. M. Feb. 11, 1841, to: Rebecca Taylor. Illinois
                                                                                        He died Dec.15, 1889. Scottland, Illinois.
8. Joseph             "         "      Sept. 28, 1818.
9. Charles Hardin "        "       Mar. 8, 1821. M. Aug. 29, 1845. to: Elizabeth Digby. Ver.Co.
                                                                                        They lived Eugene, Indiana.
                                                                                        He died Oct.26,1863 in Civil War.
Note * Notice Jane Dawson was married Nov. 27, 1828 in Vermillion County, Indiana.  This is the earliest date we have of them being in Indiana.

FGS - Thomas Lewis Dawson and his two Rebecca Anns

Family Group Sheet of Thomas Lewis Dawson and his two wives

Husband – Thomas Lewis Dawson

                                Born:                    14 October 1816 in Cynthiana, Harrison Co, Kentucky

                                Spouse 1:            Rebecca Ann Taylor

                                Married:              11 February 1841 in Paris, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Spouse 2:            Rebecca Ann Parker

                                Married:              31 October 1867 in Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Died:                     15 December 1889 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:                 Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Parents:               William Wesley Dawson and Nancy Cleveland

Wife 1 – Rebecca Ann Taylor

                                Born:                     11 January 1824 in Montgomery Co, Ohio

                                Died:                     24 March 1864 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:                  Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Parents:                James Taylor and Leah Rinehart

Child 1 – Mary Elizabeth Dawson

         F                     Born:                     19 January 1843 in Vermillion Co, Indiana

                                Spouse 1:             Alfred Tabor

                                Married:               5 August 1865 in Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Spouse 2:             William Foster Harshbarger

                                Married:               6 August 1876 in Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Died:                     10 March 1910 in Fontana, Miami Co, Kansas

                                Buried:

Child 2 – George Washington Dawson

        M                    Born:                     27 January 1845 in Raven, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Died:                     31 August 1860 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:                  Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

Child 3 – Lucretia Ann Dawson

         F                     Born:                     16 April 1847 in Raven, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Spouse:                 George W Blevins

                                Married:               18 December 1866 in Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Died:                     14 May 1922 in Montana

                                Buried:

Child 4 – William Taylor Dawson

        M                    Born:                     7 August 1849 in Raven, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Spouse:                 Iona Celeste Silvana Rodenberger

                                Married:               13 September 1874 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Died:                     17 March 1940 in Suffolk, Suffolk City, Virginia

                                Buried:                 Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

Child 5 – John Wesley Dawson

         M                   Born:                     12 March 1851 in Raven, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Spouse 1:             Orina Matilda Hicks

                                Married:              19 March 1872 in Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Spouse 2:             Malinda Gaylor

                                Married:               12 October 1892 in Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Died:                     12 July 1935 in Chrisman, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:                 Woodland Cemetery, Chrisman, Edgar Co, Illinois

Child 6 – Sarah Almeda Dawson

         F                     Born:                     3 April 1853 in Illinois

                                Spouse:                 Oliver W Southard

                                Married:               15 September 1875 in Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Died:                     30 April 1937 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:                  Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

Child 7 – Nelson Dawson

         M                   Born:                      5 May 1855 in Raven, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Died:                      31 July 1855 in  Raven, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:

Child 8 – Laura Viola Dawson

         F                     Born:                     8 January 1858 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Spouse:                 John Wimsett Stokes

                                Married:               25 September 1882 in Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Died:                     22 November 1900 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:                 Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

Child 9 – Stephen Arnold Douglas Dawson

        M                    Born:                      9 September 1861 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Spouse:                 Ida May Rodenberger

                                Married:                9 April 1888 in Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Died:                     27 August 1923 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:                  Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois



Dawson Family Bible - 2nd entry
Thomas L Dawson To Mys Rebcca Taylor
Feb the 11th 1841



Wife 2 – Rebecca Ann Parker

                                Born:                     18 January 1832 in Brown Co, Ohio

                                Died:                     18 December 1904 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:                  Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Parents:              

Child 1 – Effie Dawson

         F                     Born:                     25 June 1868

                                Died:                     25 June 1868

                                Buried:

Child 2 – Esther Dawson

         F                     Born:                     25 June 1868

                                Died:                     25 June 1868

                                Buried:

Child 3 – Ethel Luethel Dawson

         F                     Born:                     19 July 1871

                                Died:                     20 August 1872

                                Buried:                  Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

Child 4 – Jessie Alva Dawson

         M                   Born:                     21 January 1873 in Prairie Twp, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Spouse:                 Florence “Odie” Alocy Clark

                                Married:               26 November 1891 in Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Died:                     3 April 1955 in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

                                Buried:                  Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

Amanuensis Monday - Taylor Dawson's history of his family, Part 1 and 2

In May 1936, Taylor Dawson wrote a five part "History of Dawson Family" for the Chrisman Courier, Illinois.  Taylor's parents were Thomas Lewis and Rebecca Ann (Taylor) Dawson.  Thomas Lewis' parents were William and Nancy (Cleveland) Dawson. 

Here is the transcription of Part 1:

Page 3, Your Column

HISTORY OF DAWSON FAMILY

     Chrisman Courier:  I have often been asked to write the history of the Dawson family.  All I know about them is what I heard from my father and his brother.  It appears they were a very destitute family.  Grandfather William and Nancy Dawson were the old-fashioned hill people of Kentucky, never owning any property of any kind; not a roof or a chicken.  There were six of the brothers, my father the youngest.  There was thirty-five years between him and the oldest.  One sister, Mrs. Jane Peer, was the youngest.  They were people that were very much on the move.  Some time twice in one year if some empty shack could be found.  One with a fire place was preferred, but anything would do just so they got to move.  When all was ready, and having no furniture, the boys would tie up everything and throw the bundles on their backs and start for some country always going north.  It took them twelve years to go from Kentucky to Perrysville, Ind.  The boys had the old-fashioned flintlock gun and hunted and supported the family by their gun.  Being a flintlock, they bought no ammunition but powder, and shot wooden plugs for bullets.  They could not kill a deer, but would shoot him in the head and stagger him until the dog and boys could get to him and cut his throat and take his hide off.  The boys would carry a spade as well as a gun and when they found a bear in a den they would dig him out while he was asleep and have him killed and dressed before he found it out.

     The family wore bearskin clothing in the winter time and for footwear they would skin a dead horse or cow, take the hide from the front leg - knee down - cut the hoof off, sew up the end and turn it inside out; get a stick of wood the shape of a boot and drive it in the leg and when it got dry they pulled it out and then they had a leather boot.  They would trade a bearskin for a sack of corn, tie a string around the sack, run a pole through the string and put it on the shoulders of two of the boys and go to the mill.

     The oldest one of the boys was a blacksmith and went to Chicago when a young man and was never heard from until a few years back.  We have one of his blacksmith account books.  It says:  jon jonson - to one 6 inch fire shuvie with 18 inch handl and nob on end of handl, 18 sents; Garge Yulf to one flat iron 4 pounds, 6 sents; to Garge Yulf one set of 4 linch pins for 5 sents.  Received from jon jonson and others 60 2-sent coppers which is 120 sents all paid to me in hand on the 27th day of November 1794.  Now I thank you for now I can make payment on my rent which is long past due."

     When they settled at Perrysville there were six boys and one girl and the old folks.  Not one of the nine could read or write.  The oldest was a blacksmith, the next was a Baptist preacher.  Four of the boys got to be landowners.  My father owned 360 acres less than the other three.  My father and one of the others followed flat-boating on the Wabash to New Orleans.  On one trip they sold the cargo for enough to pay their way half way home and walked the other half, and by the way, my grandmother was Grover Cleveland's father's cousin.

     Will give you more of the history some other time.

                                                               Yours truly,

                                                       TAYLOR DAWSON.

Transcription of Part 2:

Thursday, May 28, 1936, Your Column

To the Courier Editor:

MORE OF THE DAWSON FAMILY HISTORY

     When the Dawson's settled in Perrysville, Indiana, they took it for the Promised Land that overflowed with milk and honey and all moving was at an end.  But not so.  They soon got to going again.  The oldest one, a blacksmith, went to Chicago and was never heard from.  The next was a Baptist preacher.  He could not read, but would have the Bible read to him.  Then he would preach them all to sleep.  He would get real loud about three o'clock - time for dinner.

     The boys all got scattered, each going his own direction.  My father married and took care of the old folks.  He entered a quarter section of land two miles west of Dana and built a little shack fourteen feet square and lived there for twenty years.  At that time there were ten of us in the family until Grandmother was bitten by a rattlesnake and died in four days.  Grandfather stayed with us until his death in 1855.

     My father then sold the farm and bought 360 acres one mile north of Scottland.  Beside the shack that we lived in, there were three old tumbled down buildings.  Father's brother came to the place and occupied all of them, moving into one the second time.  He soon got anxious to move again, and found a house at the old mill dam on the Vermilion River and there - believe it or not - he stayed two years in one house.  Finding no other empty he soon bought one acre and built a shanty of his own.  He later went to the army and died.  It was his son, wife and daughter, that were murdered at Monmouth a few years back - your readers no doubt remember the account of it.

     The farm bought eighty years ago is still in the Dawson name and belongs to the grandchildren, Drexel, Gale, Wayne and Dewey Dawson.

                                                        Yours respectfully,

                                                           TAYLOR DAWSON.



May 28, 1936
The Chrisman Courier