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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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HON. ELI E. DOTSON. Eli E. Dotson was born in Edgar County, Illinois, on February 20, 1847, and was brought to Jasper County, Iowa, in June 1848, by his parents. He is the son of Charles A. Dotson, whose sketch see in 'this work. He was reared on the home farm, two and one-half miles north of Colfax, and attended the common schools. Then, showing a fondness for books and education beyond that of most farm boys, he attended Grinnell College. For several terms he taught school in Jasper County, and for a time in Colfax, and in this capacity became well known, and because of his forceful personality and mastery of his profession he exerted a strong influence for good on the pupils who came under his instruction. He became the owner of a large tract of land west of Colfax in Washington Township, and resided on the farm from 1876 to 1897, during which time he prospered. In 1897 he moved to Colfax and now resides there, but still manages his farm of five hundred acres personally, with the same capability which he exercised when he lived upon it. At the organization of the First National Bank of Colfax Mr. Dotson became vice-president and later cashier, and his ability has had much to do with the progress and prosperity of that institution, one of the soundest of Jasper County's banking establishments. Mr. Dotson is a Republican in politics and early held the offices of Township clerk, trustee, member of the school board, and other local offices. In 1879 he was elected to the Iowa Legislature from Jasper County, and re-elected in 1881. He served in the sessions of 1880 and 1882, and in the latter session was chairman of the committee on schools, which was in that session one of the most important committees, as several significant laws in regard to education were considered by the Assembly. Here Mr. Dotson's experience and reputation as a teacher had equipped him to render efficient service. Mr. Dotson has been chairman of the County central committee and has long been very active in County and state politics. In fraternal relations he is a member of the Masons, of the Mystic Shrine, and of the Knights of Pythias. In 1868 Mr., Dotson was married in Jasper County to Mary Ellen Hurst, the daughter of Alfred Hurst, of Jasper County. She bore to him the following children: Ulysses, now principal of schools at Salem, Oregon; the Rev. Charles A., of Portland. California, pastor of the Christian Church; Doctor Eli E., of Corning, Oregon: Seymour H., and Sarah Belle, the wife of Ed Bolen, of Poweshiek County, Iowa. Mr. Dotson was married a second time to Anna Triplett, of Jasper County. To this marriage one child was born, Hugh L., of the United States navy on the flagship "Tennessee" of the North Atlantic squadron. Mr. Dotson is well known to the people of Colfax, and they fully realize the value of his services to the community and the worth of his character. For this reason words of encomium are unnecessary, beyond saying that he is known in such a way as to create respect for the man who has builded his life so admirably. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa, Gen. James B.
Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912, page
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