Norman B. Dawson
It was about 1810, or 1812, that Thomas and Jemima Dawson migrated to the wilds north of the Ohio river from their native state of Virginia, reached the unbroken wilderness and became the second white settlers of Milton township. They bought a tract of wild land of three hundred and twenty acres from the government. The work of clearing and improving the place was entered upon in the true pioneer spirit, and after years of arduous labor and privation a smiling and productive farm had taken the place of the once wild woodland and roadless briarpatch. In the log cabin put up shortly after the arrival, this sturdy couple reared a large family, consisting of six sons and six daughters, and in the course of years were gathered to their fathers on the farm that had been the scene of all their labors. Eugene B. Dawson, one of their sons, who was born, like the other children on the Milton township farm, grew to manhood after the fashion of pioneer boys, learning much of the hard work and seeing little of the frivolities of life. In the course of time he became a farmer on his own account and eventually accumulated one hundred and sixty acres of land in his native township. In 1879 he sold out and removed to Missouri, where he remained until his death, in 1903, at the age of seventy-three years. In early manhood he married Sarah Moses, of Massachusetts, whom he met while she was visiting an aunt in Wayne county. She was the daughter of Ambrose and Lydia Moses, the former a native of Scotland who settled at Westfield, Massachusetts, during the latter part of the eighteenth century. In 1849 he went with his wife to California during the gold rush and lived there until both their lives ended by a tragedy near Sacramento, when each was over a hundred years old, which resulted fatally, terminating their long lives after they had lived together more than eight years. Mrs. Eugene B. Dawson is still living in Missouri at an advanced age. She became the mother of six children, of whom three sons and two daughters are living.
Norman B. Dawson, one of the surviving sons, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, January 22, 1857. He was educated at Lodi Academy and Baldwin University, but at the end of his junior year in 1876 he entered the Cincinnati Medical College and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1879. Locating at Sterling, he immediately began the practice of his profession,which he has continued up to the present time. He soon became acquainted, gradually secured business, which increased with the years, and has long been recognized as one of the leading physicians of the county. Though formerly a Republican, his inclinations are towards independence in politics, preferring to vote for measures and men rather than for party. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Wooster Commandery, Knights Templar, and is also connected with the Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum He is a member of the Wayne County, Ohio State and American Medical Associations, and enjoys high rank and popularity in his profession.
On September 19, 1882, Doctor Dawson married Adelina, daughter of John and Katherine Petit, natives of France, who came to America about 1817, and settled in Milton township, Wayne county, where they reared their family and became prominent in social and business circles. Doctor and Mrs. Dawson have an only daughter, Emily, who is now the wife of Howard A. Slemmons, who is graduate of Buchtel College and one of the progressive young men of Wayne county. Mr. Slemmons received the degree of Master of Arts from Wooster University and Mrs. Slemmons the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy from Buchtel College at Akron, Ohio
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910