Dottie had two younger brothers and two younger sisters at the time of her death. In the 1880 Federal Census of Sheridan Twp, Cherokee Co, Kansas, the Taylor Dawson family was enumerated on 17 June 1880: Taylor Dawson, 30, farmer, b. Ill.; wife Iona S. Dawson, 24, keeping house, b. Ind.; daughter Dottie M. Dawson, 5, b. Kansas; son Judge L, 3, b. Kansas; daughter "not named", b. April, 1 month old, b. Kansas; and Jasper Reid, 21, works on farm.
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| Dottie and her mother, Iona (Rodenberger0 Dawson Tintype in the Dawson Family Bible |
Some items in a Iona's scrapbook:
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| Dottie Dawson November 23, 1883 Monthly Report Reading 100; Spelling 100; Penmanship 100 No. of Days Present 19; Deportment 85 General Average 100 Nov. 24, 1883 by Ad H. Gibson, Teacher |
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| Dottie Dawson Apr. 11, 1884 Monthly Report Spelling 100; Arithmetic 100, Penmanship 100 No. of Days Present 20; No of Times Tardy 1; Deportment 95 General Average 98+ Apr. 12, 1884 by Ad H. Gibson, Teacher |
A poem, that is not scanned into the computer, NINE YEARS OLD. "In pencil, and some of it is too worn and faded to decipher, is written: "To Dottie Presented on her Birthday June 4th 1884 By Her Mother." Along side of this poem Iona has written her own poem:
Gone is the house sad the hour
Since her sweet smile is gone
But on a brighter home than ours
In heaven is her own."
A transcribed letter from Dottie with her signature photocopied:
[Dawson Family History, 1976]
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| A Bit of Experience Dottie's recitation on Dec. 25th, 1884. |
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| A Bit of experience. Rec. by her at the Friendship Christmas tree, Dec. 25th 1884. For which she received praise even at her Funeral for speak- ing it so calm and nicely, at nine years of age. |
Also from the Dawson Family History: "But most heart wrenching, and almost overlooked is the next insert, a pencil written poem with this note at the top - "This her last Declaration at school, 2 hours before her death Jan. 2nd, 1885." Dottie's last declaration was Polly Perkins.
Another item from the Dawson Family History: "In the center of this page a beautiful card with cut out paper lace, inside is glued a newspaper cutting: A little girl by the name of Dottie Maud Dawson, about ten years old, whose parents reside in Sheridan township, was drowned in a cistern last Friday evening, by accidently falling in while attempting to draw water. It is supposed she slipped upon the ice, thereby losing her balance."
And, "pasted in the seam of the album is a receipt for a picture to frame in 8x10. The price $4.50 to be delivered April 1st 1885.
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| "There was always an old type enlarged photograph, something like a tintype, of Dottie hanging in our living room. I can still see that photograph. I was always unduly impressed with the extraordinary stockings that she had on. The were outlined by multicolored circular, wide bands, and had the appearance of being made of heavy wool." Challis Dawson to his son Gerard, 1947; page 65. |
Transcription of a letter from Taylor Dawson's father, Thomas Lewis Dawson, in the Dawson Family History:
"Scottland Edgar Co. Jan the 15th Dear Children yourse of the 11th to hand which brings us the sad news of little dotty death. The shock of her death is so great that i hardly know how to express my feelings we just received her and judz (sic) fine letter and was thinking how fine they were progressing in their school and we was refuging (?) with your happy proposals but alas the newest news brings us to morning with yourselves it is hard to reconcile our feelings to such hard Strokes of Providence but the least if only thing we can do is to reconcile our feelings as best we can i trust we will not mourn as them that have no hope. The question is asked if a man die well as it is one of God old persons that asks the question i will let him answer Jobe as though skin worms destroy my flesh yet with these eyes i shall see God not that i may see but i shall see him so you can those is great consolation to the Cleven i think we all sympathize with you in your bereavement but in my own case am fully prepared to feel all pangs of affliction as i have suffered like losses myself and have learned through life that trouble awaits us of course it being accident is harder than if other wise but it is don and cant be helped well Iony you want dotty dear little letter i will copy it off and send you the likeness as it was the first & last i want to keep a copy myself in rememberance. T.L. Dawson All well & hope you the same."
[Thomas Lewis Dawson had five children die early in their lives: George Washington Dawson, age 15; Nelson Dawson, age 2 months; Stillborn twin daughters, Effie and Esther; and Ethel Dawson, age 1.]
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| Taylor and Judge Dixie, Tally, Lois, Iona (holding Dottie's portrait) |
Dottie was buried at McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co., Kansas.
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| [Source: Find a Grave, photo by Mary Parmele] |
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