McDonough ILGenWeb

DAWSON, Samuel B., a well-known cigar manufacturer, of Macomb, Ill., was born in New York City, April 14, 1852, a son of Edward P. and Mary (Butler) Dawson. Both of the parents were natives of England, his father having been born in Leicestershire, and his mother in London. In 1849 Mr. Dawson's parents came from England to the United States and settled in New York City, where the subject of this sketch attended public school. There his father worked as a cigar packer for sixteen years, in 1865 coming to Macomb, where he opened the first cigar manufactory in that place. Samuel B. Dawson learned the cigar business from his father, whom he succeeded in 1888. In 1892 he sold out and went to Pittsfield, Ill., where he was employed as foreman of a cigar factory until 1898, then returned to Macomb and resumed the business there, which he has since continued. He makes six different brands of cigars, employing four experienced men and two apprentices, and dealing in everything in the smoker's line. Mr. Dawson is an intelligent and energetic man, and devotes himself assiduously to his business affairs. He has built up a flourishing trade.

Mr. Dawson has been twice married. He first wedded Harriet Frost, who was born in McDonough County, December 1, 1870, and died in April, 1885. On November 5, 1890, he married Delia Matthews, who was born and schooled in Sangamon County, Ill. By his first wife two children were born--Alfred F., in business with his father, and Fannie Dell, who died at the age of eighteen years, at Pittsfield, Ill. His last marriage resulted in one son, Harold Keith. In politics, Mr. Dawson is a Republican and served as Alderman of the Fourth Ward in Macomb for two years under Mayor Charles Dines' administration, and one year under that of W. E. Martin. His religious belief is that of the Christian Church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order and Knights of Pythias.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907.