My Genealogy Hound

Dr. William M. Dodson is one of the oldest settlers of Auglaize Township, Camden Co., Mo., and was born in Tennessee January 11, 1811, being a son of James and Lucy (Davis) Dodson, who were born in Virginia and Tennessee, respectively, the former’s birth occurring about 1772, and his death on the 23d of December, 1832. When he was about eleven years old he removed to Tennessee with his parents, and located in what is now Sevier County. Here he grew to manhood on a farm, and after his marriage, in 1804, he became a disciple of AEsculapius, and eventually became an eminent physician. From East Tennessee he moved to Middle Tennessee, and located on a branch of Duck River, where he erected a very fine grist-mill, and resided here about eight years. He next took up his abode in Jackson County, Ala., thence, about seven years later, to Jefferson County, Tenn., and from there to Hawkins County, and finally to Boone County, Mo. He died in Camden County, while on his way with his family to Springfield, but left his wife and children in fairly good circumstances, he having been the owner of a number of slaves and considerable real estate. The mother was born in 1787, and died November 18, 1847, both she and her husband having been consistent members of the Baptist Church. Five of their ten children are living at the present time: William M., Dr. James N. B., Lucy (Estes), Zilpha (Brockman), and Benjamin D., a farmer and merchant of Highland. James N. B. was the first clerk of Camden County [see history], and is now living, retired from active business life, in Nevada, Mo. Dr. William M. Dodson was almost a man grown when he came to Missouri, and his education was acquired in the common schools of Alabama and Hawkins County, Tenn. He began the study of medicine after coming to Missouri, being under the instruction of his father, and after the latter’s death continued his medical studies under his brother James, taking a course of lectures at Lexington, Ky., in the winter of 1836-37. He commenced practicing in the summer of the latter year, at Glaize City, Mo., continuing there until 1847, when he moved to his present location, where he has practiced the healing art, off and on, up to the present time. He was the only physician in the county for many years, and as he was very successful, his practice extended over a circuit of forty-five miles. February 21, 1843, he was married to Mrs. Mildred E. Bagerly, a native of North Carolina, born in 1817. She and her first husband came to Missouri in 1840, and here the latter died in 1842, after which his widow came to Camden County, to take the boat for Kentucky, but here met and married Dr. Dodson, by whom she is the mother of two children: Lucy E., the widow of Dr. J. W. Armstrong, and Penelope, wife of Josiah Traw. Dr. and Mrs. Dodson are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he has been a member since 1845, and is now a deacon, and he has always kept his home well supplied with church and medical journals, and has kept thoroughly up with the times. He is a Democrat in politics, and although he has often been urged to run for office, he has invariably refused. During the late war he was appointed chaplain of a company in the Confederate States army, but resigned on account of ill health, and joined his family in Texas, whither he had moved them in 1861. They returned to Missouri in July, 1866, where they have since made their home.