Obituary for James Dawson

The Daily Evening Kansan of Newton, Kan. contains the following death notice of James Dawson, a former Fayette countain [sic]:

"James Dawson, county surveyor of Harvey county, died this morning, March 17, 1898 at 6:45. He was 68[?] years of age and has been suffering from cancer of the eye. He was sick 11 weeks.

He was the second son of John and Elizabeth Dawson of Fayette, county Pa. and came to this state about 35(?) years ago. In his early days he taught school. In April 1842[?], he married Elizabeth Beeson, to whom were born eight children, four of whom are dead and six survive [that doesn't add up]. He was a veteran of both the Mexican and Civil Wars. He moved to Iowa in 185? and in 1861 was elected surveyor of Johnson county. He came here in 1873 and for the last 12 years held the position of county surveyor of Harvey county.

He was a brother of Lewis M. Dawson of this place, John S. of Hopwood, William H. of South Union, Harrison of Luzerne, Mrs. Ellis Barnes of Connellsville and Mrs. Sarah Jane Murphy of Newton, Kan."