Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Dawson, Ellis Bailey October 29, 1820 - ????
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Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 20, 2024, 3:36 pm

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, page 157
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    Ellis Baily Dawson.  One of the old and well-established families of
Fayette county is the Dawson family, founded in North Union township in
the pioneer era of privation and bloodshed, by Nicholas Dawson; and among
the many worthy and honorable descendants of that daring old pioneer and
Revolutionary here is Ellis Baily Dawson, one of the most upright and
public spirited citizens of Fayette county; and is a son of Judge John
Dawson and Ann Baily Dawson, and was born at Uniontown, Fayette county,
Penna, October 29, 1820.
    Nicholas Dawson was born near the site of Washington City and came with
his father, George Dawson, to near the site of Youngstown coke works in
1768 and settled there.  They were planters and brought their slaves with them.  
    Nicholas Dawson was with Washington in 1764 and served with him during
the Revolutionary War.  He was in Crawford's defeat and barely escaped
capture that he might save a bewildered soldier from being captured by
the Indians.   His wife was Violet Littleton of Fairfax county, Virginia.  
He removed to the "pan handle" of West Virginia where his son, Judge John
Dawson, was born July 13, 1788; and at twenty years of age John Dawson
removed to Uniontown, read law with Gen Thomas Meason and Judge John
Kennedy, and was admitted to the Fayette county bar, August 17, 1813.  He
practiced law most successfully for over thirty years, and was appointed
associate judge in 1851, and died January 16, 1875.  
    He was a sound lawyer, a safe counselor, an agreeable companion and a
popular judge.  He married Miss Ann Baily, the only daughter of Ellis Baily.   
    Ellis Baily Dawson was reared in Uniontown, attended the excellent
schools and Madison College of the same place, and was graduated from
Washington College in the class of 1839.  He studied law with his father,
and was admitted to the practice of law in the courts of Fayette county,
June 6, 1843, and in the Supreme Court of the State in 1846.  E B Dawson
pursued the practice of his profession successfully for several years,
but subsequently had to abandon professional work on account of his
business interests that required his personal attention.  Although retired
from active practice, he has not given up his interests in legal affairs
or his participation in matters of general interest, or in State and
national politics.  In all that has concerned the advancement and
prosperity of his native place and county, he has always taken a lively
interest and an active part.
Thought he never sought public office, yet in 1862 upon solicitation by
Governor Curtin, he accepted "commissioner of the draft" for Fayette
county.  It was an arduous and delicate post as matters then stood, but he
fulfilled the trust with impartiality and success, and the full quote of
Fayette county's 2,500 men were added to the State troops for national
service.
    He has always been studious and his leisure time has always been occupied
with the perusal of history, biography and literature.  Within the last
year he has evinced anew his interest in his native place by donating
five acres or more of highly valuable ground for the erection of a large
glass works, which establishment is now completed and in successful operation.   
    Mr Dawson stands high as a citizen and gentleman.  Hopeful and ever alert
for the material and mental development of his native county, he is
always ready to aid any enterprise calculated to attain either or both of
these objects. 

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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