BERTRAND DAWSON. During almost his entire life Mr. Dawson was an honored resident of Sangamon County, coming of one of its early pioneer families and well known for many years as one of its leading farmers and stock breeders. His untimely death, October 3, 1882, was a severe blow to the interests of the county.
Mr. Dawson was born April 25, 1827, a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois in his infancy, his family being one of the early pioneer families and possessing wealth and influence. Bertrand began life as a farmer on a farm in Mechanicsburg Township, on which the greater part of his life was passed, and which he improved and beautified to a great extent. Early in life he manifested great interest in the stock business and began the improvement of his stock. His success was such that he became widely known as in intelligent and successful breeder of fine roadsters. His farm consisted of four hundred acres of highly cultivated land, finely located near the station of Dawson, which was named in honor of his family. His estate is underlaid with coal which his enterprise helped to discover and develop. He became one of the wealthy men of the town, and was a potent factor in its advancement.
Mr. Dawson was a man of excessive modesty and a retiring disposition, and only his family and intimate acquaintances knew his true worth. He had a high sense of honor, was kind and charitable in all things, and his life record was without a flaw. A man of his sturdy, upright character and sound mental calibre was fitted for civic life and his fellow citizens appreciating that fact often called him to fill positions of honor and trust within their gift. He never neglected an opportunity to advance his township and was especially interested in school work. He was one of the most valuable members of the Christian Church and though he has passed away his influence is still potent for good in the community where he spent his life.
Mr. Dawson was married January 9, 1879, to Miss Kate Rea, a native of Missouri. She was finely educated in a private school and was a successful and honored teacher prior to her marriage. Her union with our subject brought to them two children - David R. and Bertrand, one of whom died in infancy and the other, a child of rare promise at the age of four years. Since her husband's death Mrs. Dawson has taken up the work left by him and is managing it with more than ordinary success. She has built a cozy brick house on the site marked by her husband at the end of a beautiful avenue of maple trees, planted by his hand.
The many friends of the late Mr. Dawson will be pleased to notice his portrait on another page of this volume.