From the WPA Federal Writers Project - answers to Questionnaire - Arkansas HRS Form J

Interview done by: Elisha C. Harris 6-12-1941

more information on this settler ...

Early Settlers Personal History

1. Wafer Jey Dodson
2. Paris, Ark. R-1
3. Farming
4. Farming active yet
5. July 25th, 1860
6. Shelby Co., Alabama
7. Laura Chesser- in Nov. 25th ,1881- Weldon Co. ??
8. Born in Alabama
9. Dec. 1883
10. By Train- Mo. Pacific
11. Seeking land to homestead
12. Log house- stick and dirt chimneys
13. Pine knots and tallow candles
14. None
15. Wood
16. Corn meal- Sorghum molasses- game plentiful
17. Home spun homemade shoes, looms spinning wheel
18. None -  chiviaries (shivarees) at weddings
19. Clothing was lower in price than today-
20. Eagerly shared food with needy
21. Corn & cotton, wheat, oats, potatoes. Before my day tomatoes were love apples.
22. All plows used were homemade. Smith’s made them, no factory made implements
23. None
24. Most all mentioned were used
25. Most interesting incident- a group of soldiers stacked arms- 12 or more were called Home Guards at four years of age
26. Bucket Brigade and back fire. No town fires
27. In Shelby Co.- mountain Double Mts., Red Mtn., Oak Mtn., Coosa River- Caharber 27. Cont. - Deer, raccoons, turkeys
28. None
29. Shelby Co. School - frame building
30. Some 30 miles from town - west -  Dadeville, Ala.
31. Johnie Lowe- 25 years old
32. By subscription
33. McGuffey Reader- Webster's - Blue Back Speller- Negro school near my home school
34. County Paper- Shelby Centinal (Sentinel)
35. Can't say
36. Buggies- early travel- Trolley cars, can't say- Ox carts were used-
37. In 1910 - at Paris, Ark-
38. L&N Railroad- in 1868- Louisville & Nashville
39. In 1914 at Paris, Ark.
40. In 1926- at Fort Smith
41-47.None
48. Can't say, just a small boy
49-50. None
51. Just after Civil War Ku-Klux organized here
52-55. None
56. 11 children
(56. Cont.)  26 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren
James William Dodson Sept. 18 - 1872
Nancy Dodson Jan 5th 1885
57. Arthur Dec 23 - 1886
John W. Dodson Oct 28 - 1894
Clark J. Dodson Feb 28 - 1897
58. Grandchild name - Dorie Dorough- Girl
         "             "       Victor Dorough- Boy
59. None

 

Transcribed by Alisha Carey, Class of 2007