THE POLSON-CHENEY FAMILY

        Husband: John Wells Dawson
           Born: 09 MAR 1792 in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky
        Married: 23 MAR 1814 in Champaign County, Ohio (3)
           Died: 07 OCT 1865 in Iowa
         Father: Henry Dawson
         Mother: Maria Wells
        Spouses: 
     Occupation: Farmer
           Wife: Anna Cheney
           Born: 17 SEP 1794 in Kentucky
           Died: about 1871
         Father: Isaiah Cheney
         Mother: Constance
        Spouses:
Children
01          (M): Henry Dawson
           Born:
           Died:
        Spouses: 
02          (M): Isaac Dawson
           Born:
           Died:
        Spouses: 
03          (F): Nancy Jane Dawson
           Born:
           Died:
        Spouses: William Harrison
04          (F): Lucinda Dawson
           Born:
           Died:
        Spouses: A.H. Luce, Dr
05          (F): Mary Dawson
           Born:
           Died:
        Spouses: Daniel Stine
06          (F): Clarinda Dawson
           Born:
           Died:
        Spouses: Alexander Miller
07          (M): Lewis Dawson
           Born:
           Died:
        Spouses: 
08          (F): Martha Ann Dawson
           Born:
           Died:
        Spouses: Sillman Sherman
09          (F): Maria Dawson
           Born: 01 JAN 1817 in Near Buck Creek on Pretty Prairie, Clark County, Ohio (1)
           Died: 04 MAY 1906 in Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois (2)
        Spouses: Owen Cheney; William Paist
10          (M): John Dawson
           Born: 14 AUG 1819 in BUCK CREEK FARM, CLARK COUNTY, OHIO
           Died:
        Spouses: Caroline Wiley

Additional Information

John Wells Dawson:

Notes:
John served in the War of 1812 as a wagon master.

John lived for some time in Clark County, Ohio. He started in the fall of 1821 for Sangamon County, Ill and arrived around Christmas time. In April 1822, John continued on to Blooming Grove, his family joined him June.

During the "Winter of the Deep Snow", John entertained himself by teasing an elderly maiden lady and a bachelor by making propositions to unite them in the holy bonds of matrimony. His efforts were unsuccessful.

John built the first School house in McLean County. It was made of logs and lighted with windows of white paper instead of glass.

In about the year 1853, John moved to Iowa near Fort Dodge. Only his wife and youngest daughter went with him. He lived there the rest of his life.

John was of medium size, heavy set with black hair and black eyes. He was very hospitable, and strangers always found a home with him. (From pages 143 - 145 of "The Good Old Times in McLean County, Illinois by Dr E. Duis, 1874)


Anna Cheney:

Notes:
Anna was a jovial and witty woman. At one time while Harrison and Van Buren were candidates for president, an opponent of General Harrison declared that the latter had mismanaged his men at the battle of Tippecanoe, and that they were nearly all killed. "Oh no," said Mrs Dawson, "enough are left to elect him."

Mrs Dawson thought a lot of her neighbors and liked to visit them. (From pages 143 - 144 of "The Good Old Times in McLean County, Illinois by Dr E. Duis, 1874)

Footnotes

  1. Ezra Pound and John H. Burnham, History of McLean County, Illinois (Munsell Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1908).
  2. Ibid., 1227.
  3. Champaign County, Ohio Marriages:1805 - 1840

    Volume A, page 354.

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Revised: August 13, 2005
Copyright © 2005 Lisa Sorensen. All rights reserved.