Frederick E. DAWSON, who figures in business circles of Henry as a dealer in builder's supplies, was born in Putnam county on the 3d of September, 1865, and is the eldest of a family of four children whose parents are Clark M. and Mary J. (RAYMOND) DAWSON, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Connecticut. The father was a farmer by occupation and after coming to Illinois settled about two and a half miles from Henry, where he owned and improved one hundred acres of land, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation. He filled the office of school director but was never very active in political circles. He held membership in the Methodist church and died in that faith in 1904 at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow still survives him and is now living in Henry. Their four children were as follows: Frederick E.; Frank, a farmer living southwest of Henry in Marshall county; Mrs. Martha SCHIMMEL, who is a widow and lives in Henry; and Edward, who follows farming on the old homestead.
Frederick E. DAWSON, whose name introduces this record, began his education at the usual age in the district schools and thus pursued his studies until he reached the age of twenty. The periods of vacation were largely devoted to farm labor and after working with his father on the home place for a tune he afterward began farming on his own account by renting land in Whitefield township. There he lived for two years, after which he spent one year upon a rented farm in Henry township, Marshall county, and five years in Putnam county. He has been engaged in his present business in Henry for seven years, conducting here a feed store and also dealing in building materials, including lime and cement. Since establishing his present enterprise he has prospered and a constantly growing trade has made him one of the substantial merchants of the town.
In 1893 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. DAWSON and Miss Hattie MATEER of Henry. They are members of the Methodist church and Mr. DAWSON gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is a typical citizen of the middle west, possessing the alert, enterprising spirit which has been the dominant factor in the development and upbuilding of this section of the country, leading to its rapid and substantial progress.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
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La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
