Dawson, Rev. Robert, 1856-1947 [k-16723]

Obituary - Harrisburg (Illinois) Daily Register, 28 October 1947

Rev. Robert Dawson, 101, Dies at Wasson

Funeral Wednesday For Saline County's Oldest Churchman

The Rev. Robert Dawson, 101, Saline County's Centennial Churchman, died Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Bertha Dumford, at Wasson.  He had been failing in health for six months, but was buoyed by his expectancy of taking part in the Centennial until this climactic event officially closed his public service.
It seemed to relatives and friends that his strength was sustained providentially to enable him to make his last appearance on the occasion of the last afternoon at the Centennial celebration, when he officiated at the wedding of a young couple from Eldorado.  Next day he collapsed and although he rallied, his vitality slowed ebbed away.  He was the oldest both in service and age.  He had been preaching for 76 years.
Rev. Dawson was named by T. Leo Dodd, president of the Saline County Historical Society, "The Saline County Centennial Churchman."
It was from his remarkable collection of events in detail, recounted in a most pleasant manner that much of the material concerning early years of Saline County's history, that Mr. Dodd compiled his chapter in the Centennial history "Saline County" on "Churches and Religious Worship."
The Rev. Dawson was converted in a Fee Will Baptist service in Tennessee, where he was born in 1846, on Oct. 26.  He was reared at Ashland, in Cheatham County, Tenn., and was ordained and started preaching when he was about 24 years of age.
He held his first revival in a dilapidated old Methodist church where the congregation sat on split rail benches, and huge timber surrounded the building.
His education was limited to three months of regular schooling, and a study of the Bible, Webster's dictionary, and the Cruden Concordance.  He said on his 100th birthday, which was celebrated in 1946, "I depended upon the Lord for wisdom."
He was married when he came to Illinois at 33 and settled in Pope County, remaining there until he was 50 years old.  He was not present at the organization of the Social Brethren Church, which took place in Saline County in 1867, but he became a minister in that denomination soon afterward and remained active in evangelism until his death.  He had resided at Wasson and preached there for more than 20 years.
Surviving children include the Rev. Bluford Dawson, Methodist minister recently at Galatia and now a Louisville, Ill.; Mrs. Sarah McDonald of Phoenix, Ariz.; Mrs. Ethel Colbert of Wasson; Mrs. Olive Dean of Eldorado; and Mrs. Bertha Dumford, widow of E. P. Dumford, of Wasson with whom he made his home for several years.  His body will lie in state at the Martin Funeral Home in Eldorado.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Spring Valley Church south of Harrisburg.  Dr. C. C. Hall of Carbondale and Rev. J. Rue Reed of Flora will officiate and interment will be in Spring Valley Cemetery.