They lived on eighty acres in Cozad, Dawson Co. where James Edward built a sod house for the family. This was one of the first sod houses to have a shingled roof, wood floor, glass windows and screens. This picture shows Madora's geraniums blooming in the window.
In 1898 Ed attended school in a one room classroom made out of sod. His father, James Edward, was the teacher.
In 1901 the family moved to Rochester, Indiana where Madora's father B.F. Thomas was living. The Rochester home was on 40 acres of sandy soil which was not productive except to produce berries, vegetables and other small fruits. When the fruit was in season it was picked and sold from door to door in Rochester. Transportation in those days was a horse and spring wagon which was an open vehicle with steel tired wheels.
In 1907 the family moved to Monroeville, IN. James' father, Frederick gave each of his four living children an eighty-acres of land from a large tract he purchased in Madison Township, Allen Co., IN. The soil was fertile so good crops could be raised. The school was only a quarter mile away. Edward graduated from Monroeville High School.
When World War I broke out, in 1917, farmers were exempt from the service and Edward wasn't required to serve. This gave him the opportunity to court Bessie Mae Swartz.
Ed married Bessie Mae Swartz 27 March 1918 in Monroeville, Allen Co., Indiana. Bessie's parents were Minnie Catherine Luther and Daniel Albert Swartz. Daniel Swartz was a farmer. Edward was a farmer and carpenter.
After his marriage to Bessie Swartz, Edward continued to work with his father on the family farm.
On 13 December 1918 Daniel Edward Dawson was born in Monroeville, Indiana.
Sometime before 1922 Ed and Bessie's grandparents came for a visit. Ed's grandfather B.F. Thomas and Bessie's grandfather Christian Luther.
In 1919 Bessie's father, Daniel Swartz, bought a farm in Pendleton, Madison Co., IN and Edward and Bessie moved to help him on the farm, since he had all daughters. On 31 March 1920 Glenola Idell Dawson was born in Pendleton, Indiana.
Ed and Bessie were in Pendleton until 1922 when some dispute occurred between Daniel and Edward. This has been the source of many family stories and speculation since Edward and Bessie refused to speak about it. I am sure the economic stress of the depression made life and family relations very difficult. They merely backed up their family in the Ford model T Touring convertible and moved to Cozad, Dawson Co., NE where Edward's sister Audrey "Dot:" lived. Audrey Ardenell, who was named after her aunt, was born 28 December 1921in Pendleton.
Finding work was difficult during the depression and Edward was very resourceful and hardworking. He left his family in Cozad and went to the mountains of Colorado to raise lettuce. Delmar Darwin was born in Cozad on 10 August 1923.
During the 1923 drought the crops failed and in 1924 Edward took his family to Canada looking for prosperity. They moved to Vancouver, British Columbia by train.
Since they were traveling by train, they were able to only take a few belongings. Bessie had carefully packed her china and was deeply saddened when it was damaged during the trip. Archie Gordon was born in Vancouver, British Columbia 5 May 1925.
Edward worked as a carpenter, while in Vancouver, building houses. When the housing market would slow down Edward cut ice from the Saskatchewan River. The workers would cut chucks of ice out of the river with a hand saw, and then the trains would stop and pick up the ice to keep their ice boxes cold. Bessie stayed home with the children.
Their home was 2 miles from school so the children would ride in a covered wagon. In the wintertime there was a pot bellied stove in the wagon to keep them warm and the children would all have to take turns sitting by the fire.
Bessie would also leave to find work. When the hops where in season she would take the younger children by train to the countryside to go pick hops. Audrey was expected to take care of Delmar and Archie while their mother was working.
Audrey has expressed great frustration that she was always responsible to watch Delmar and Archie. Glenola was always helping her mother and learning how to cook and household chores. Audrey was sent outside with two rowdy boys. During one of their rowdy episodes, she was kicked in the hip by a horse, Trixie. This lead to lifelong pain and eventually a hip replacement.
In the summer time they would walk to school. Delmar was the only first grader and quickly became bored when the teacher in the one room school house had little time for him. He usually would run away and hide in the cornfields until school was out. He obviously was hiding when this photo was taken.
When Ed and Bessie found out he was skipping school they had Dan make sure he went to class. This was usually accomplished by dragging him or kicking him in the behind. until he moved. He was so far behind he was eventually placed in Archie's class when he began school.
The family remained in Canada until their returned to the United States in 1937. They returned to the United States on 29 Jul 1937 crossing at International Falls or Ranier, Minnesota.
In 1937, Daniel Swartz had again bought a farm in Rensselaer, Jasper Co., IN. Edward and Bessie returned to help him on the farm. Edward bought adjacent land and opened a small grocery store where they lived until 1947.
In 1938 Delmar and Archie attended Jordon School. Dan finished school in Canada. Glenola, and Audrey graduated from Remington High School.
In 1939 Archie graduated from 8th grade. Delmar, still struggling with school, was a year behind.
Ed continued working as a carpenter and was very successful at building houses. He worked on the Jordon school built in 1938.
In 1947 Ed and Bessie moved to a house that he built in Rensselaer. This was taken in their home of the Swartz family shortly before Bessie's father Daniel died in 10 Aug 1950.
They remained in Rensselaer until 1953 when they retired to Deland, Fl.
Edward continued to work as a carpenter part-time for many years in Florida. They would return to Indiana to visit Audrey and Delmar.
Ed and Bessie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary 27 Mar 1968.
After Bessie died 11 March 1969 in Deland, FL, Ed moved into an apartment attached to Glenola's home.
Ed died 4 October 1984 in Deland, FL. Ed and Bessie are buried in Memorial Gardens in Deland, Volusia Co, FL.
Sources: Glenola Rogers, Audrey Alexander, Dewey Dawson " The J.E. Dawson Family"
Photos scanned by: Larry Alexander
