Sheriff Joe Dawson


Sheriff Joseph Dawson......Wife Arminda Climer.... Una Dawson & Critt Phillips....Dawson/Phillips Collage
***Click on each photo to see larger version***

Information and Stories

A random conversation (Jolene to Nora) that came to me Aug, 2014, gives some anecdotal data in its original form from about Sherrif Joe:


" I remember talking with Opha Merrill. Joe' great-grandfather was her grandfather. She lived with him around 1907 or so. She said Aunt Betty Dawson (Holt) gave the land for them to build Bruners Grove Methodist Church. Decatur Phillips and Frank Dawson Brothers in laws built most of it. I asked her if that was her aunt Betty and she sai no everybody called her that but she was my grandfather's cousin (Frank or Benjamin Franklin Dawson from Bybee). "

Thanks to Mary C. for the research on the following collection of data.

While serving as Sheriff of Cocke County Tennessee, Joseph was engaged in a raid on Moonshiners. On his way home, he was shot and killed. Arminda died 4 years later. Their two daughters were sent to the Mossop School in Huntsville Tennessee. [Mossop School opened 1909 preceeded by Huntsville Academy which may or may not have had dormitories]. So no second wife for Joe since he died before Arminda.

 

1870 US Census w parents TN, Cocke, Wamsburg, Joseph, age 2

1880 US Census w parents TN, Cocke, Chuckey Knobbs, Joseph, age 12

 

Spouse: 1900 U S Census, TN, Cocke, CD6, D163, img 33, row 54, Family #330, DAWSON, Minda, head, white, female, Jul 1868, age 31, widow, 2 children / 2 living, b TN, fb NC, mb TN, landress, own account, school-blank, read-yes, write-yes, speaks English-yes, rent, house; DAWSON, Izora, daughter, white, female, Aug 1891, age 8, single, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, at school, school-9 months, rest blank; DAWSON, Una V, daughter, white, female, Mar 1894, age 6, single, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, at school, school-2 months, rest blank.

 

Information about his death:

http://www.odmp.org/officer/17155-sheriff-joseph-s-dawson (below)

Sheriff: Joseph S. Dawson Cocke County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee; End of Watch: Thursday, April 20, 1899 

 

Sheriff Dawson was shot and killed in Haywood County, North Carolina, while accompanying a posse in search for illegal stills. The posse had located a still and had arrested one person. As they headed back to Cocke County in the darkness they stopped to discuss the prisoner. They deputies were illuminated by a lantern when a shot was fired from the woods and struck Sheriff Dawson in the neck. Sheriff Dawson had served with the Cocke County Sheriff's Department for 3 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.

End Cocke county sheriff website

 

http://cockecountyconnections.blogspot.com/ (below)

Revenue Officer Killed 

The Washington Post, 11 January 1905, page 1: 

 

KILLED ON REVENUE RAID.

Member of Tennessee Posse Shot by Alleged Moonshiners.

Knoxville, Tenn., Jan. 10. -- John Carver, a member of a posse of revenue officers in charge of Capt. Kit Spears, of the local raiding force, was shot and instantly killed in Cocke County, Tenn., this morning while on a raid.

The officers has located and destroyed a seventy-gallon still just across the State line in North Carolina, and had arrested Wilson Price, one of the owners, while he was at work in the distillery. Carver and Oscar Hopkins, another posse man, were sent to the home of John Brown, a partner in the still, to arrest him. Brown refused to admit the officers, but instead shot over the door of his log cabin home, killing Carver instantly. The full charge of buckshot entered Carver's breast, tearing out his heart. Brown escaped.

Price was brought to Newport, Tenn., and jailed there. This is the first death on a revenue raids in this section since Sheriff Dosser [sic], of Cocke County, was killed about four years ago within 400 yards of where to-day's tragedy occurred.

Sheriff "Dosser" is most likely a reference to Joseph S. Dawson, a 31-year-old Cocke County Sheriff who was shot and killed 20 April 1899 in Haywood County, North Carolina, while on a moonshine raid.

End cockecountyconnections.blogspot

 

The other side of the story: 

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=sebranch70&id=I005355&style=TABLE

Baxter, Bohanan, Branch, Breeden, Green, Jenkins, Thomas, Webb, Williamson & other families of Cocke & Sevier Counties, TN

John W. "Sandy John" Sutton

B 23 MAY 1851 in Cocke County, TN

D 23 JUN 1927 in Canton, Haywood County, NC

 

Sandy John was generally acknowledged to have shot and killed Cocke County Sheriff Joe S. Dawson. In April of 1899 Sheriff Dawson illegally came into Haywood County, NC and went to John's house looking for bootleg whiskey. John wasn't home at the time. The sheriff poured out and destroyed John's whiskey and pushed around and abused John's wife, Genetta. Sandy John waited for the Sheriff on the trail back to Newport and shot and killed him. He was never arrested for the killing even though it was widely known that he had done the shooting. Shortly afterwards a song was made up about this episode, supposedly written by a Mrs. Hicks. Recently Mrs. Tilda Webb of Cosby wrote the words down from memory. It's reproduced here courtesy of Tilda.

 

DEATH OF JOE DAWSON

 

Sheriff Joe Dawson was the bully of the town,

Oh, lawdy law.

Sheriff Joe Dawson was the bully of the town.

 

He rode through Haywood and got shot down,

Oh, lawdy law.

He rode through Haywood and got shot down.

 

He rode through Haywood robbing stills,

Oh, lawdy law.

He rode through Haywood robbing stills.

 

He was shot down in Joe Phillips field,

Oh, lawdy law.

He was shot down in Joe Phillips field.

 

He was shot in the neck and fell on his side,

Oh, lawdy law.

He was shot in the neck and fell on his side.

 

And that's the death Joe Dawson died,

Oh, lawdy law.

And that's the death Joe Dawson died.

 

He came riding upon his horse's back,

Oh, lawdy law.

He came riding upon his horse's back.

 

Little Charlie Roberts brought him back

in a forty dollar hack.

Oh, lawdy law.

Little Charlie Roberts brought him back

in a forty dollar hack.

 

A minor variation of this song, "remembered" by someone else, has Sanders Dennis as the one who brought the Sheriff's body back to Newport.

End of http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=sebranch70&id=I005355&style=TABLE

 

Arminda died 20 Jul 1903

 

In other situations when the mother or both parents have died, the children live with grandparents or other relatives. I don’t know why Izora and Una went to the Mossop School instead.

 

About his 2 girls:

 

THE MOSSOP MEMORIAL SCHOOL was begun in 1909 after the Huntsville Academy closed. It was a boarding school for girls, operated by Dr. and Mrs. Henry Butler of Harriman, Tennessee. The school was associated with the Presbyterian Church and operated in Huntsville until the late 1920s, at which time it was closed and many of the students transferred to the Mossop School in Harriman.

The students were girls from less fortunate families who worked for their tuition. All the domestic work was performed by the girls, even the canning of fruits and vegetables for meals.

The pupils were strictly disciplined and were never allowed to be out without a chaperone. A favorite pass-time for local boys was to watch as the girls were lined up and chaperoned from the dormitory to the Academy for classes.

Four Mossop girls married local men: UNA V. DAWSON married CRIT PHILLIPS; LEONA WHITE married SYLVESTER CHAMBERS; WALTER SHERMAN, editor of the Cumberland Chronicle, married ELLA (LODEN); and ROBBIE LEE LINGO married JOHN MURPHY of Pine Knot, KY.

In 1915, Dr. BUTLER retired from the ministry and a short time later the school was moved to Harriman, Tennessee.

FNB Chronicle, Vol. 2, No. 4 - Summer 1991, First National Bank P.O. Box 4699 Oneida, TN 37841 (p4)

Note: The Huntsville Academy opened 31 Aug 1885 and closed in 1909 and was also supported by the Presbyterian Church.

 

Izora

 

TN Delayed Birth Cert-1891, Aug, pg 888, Izora Dawson b 18 Aug 1891 Bybee, Cocke, white, female, father-Joe S Dawson b TN, mother-Arminda Climer b TN registrant-Izora Dawson Holdway address-Medicine Lodge, KS 26 Apr 1948; supporting evidence-Orig Fam rec made & ke in Holy Bible, Dawson Family; affdt of C E Dawson, Uncle; affdt of J A Bible, non-relative. Affidavit Cocke, TN ~ 78 ~ Uncle ~ I am her uncle and remember the birth signed his mark, C E Dawson Rt2 Bybee, TN 10 Apr 1948; Affidavit Cocke, TN ~ 77 ~ I lived in the community and remember the birth, J A Bible Rt2 Bybee, TN 10 Apr 1948.

 

1910 US Census, TN, Cocke, Civil District 7, District 0046, row 49, Family #332, DAWSON, Zara, boarder, female, white, age 19, single, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none, able to read and write, attended school, rest blank; boarding with DUNCAN, George age 46 and wife Lillie age 34 married 13 yrs (0 children / 0 living), merchant, hardware, own account.

 

Married about 1920 Emmet K Holdway

 

1920 US Census TX, Eastland, Cisco, 118, pg 59, row 32, 202 W 13th [multifamily], dwelling 513, Family #620, HOLWAY, E K, head, rent, value-blank, male, white, age 31, married, school-no, read-yes, write-yes, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English-yes, machinest, garage, worker; HOLWAY, Zora, wife, female, white, age 28, married, school-no, read-yes, write-yes, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English-yes, occupation-none.

 

1930 US Census, TX, Stephens, Precinct 1, 6, pg 44, row 56 Brinkmier and Precincts Road, no house number, dwelling 479, Family #479, HOLDWAY, Emmet K, head, rent, $8, radio-blank, a farm-no, male, white, age 40, married, age first marriage 29, school-no, read & write-yes, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English-yes, stationery engine, oil field, worker, at work yesterday-yes, veteran-no, farm # blank; HOLDWAY, Izora, wife-H, female, white, age 38, married, age first marriage 28, school-no, read & write-yes, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English-yes, occupation-none; HOLDWAY, Joseph, son, male, white, age 2, single, school-no, read & write-no, b TX, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English-blank, occupation-none.

 

1940 US Census, KS, Barber, Aetna, 4-1, pg 2, row 60, no street name or house number, household 16, rent, $7, a farm-no, HOLDWAY, Emnest [Emmet], head, male, white, age 52, married, school-no, highest school-H2, b TN, res 01 Apr 1935-same house, at work week of Mar 24-30: yes, assigned to public emergency work-dash, if last two answers no-seeking work-dash,  if not seeking, have a job-dash, Housework (H), School (S), unable to work (U) or other (Ot)-dash, # Hours worked week of Mar 24-30: 42, Duration of unemployment-blank, Occupation-chief engineer, Industry-pipeline co, Class of worker (PW-paid worker)-PW, # wks worked in 1939-52, Wages in 1939-$1,860, Income of $50 or more from sources other than wages-yes, farm # blank; HOLDWAY, Rose [Zora] (informant), wife, female, white, age 48, married, school-no, highest school-C1, b TN, res 01 Apr 1935-same house, at work week of Mar 24-30: no, assigned to public emergency work-no, if last two answers no-seeking work-no,  if not seeking, have a job-no, Housework (H), School (S), unable to work (U) or other (Ot)-H, # Hours worked week of Mar 24-30: blank, Duration of unemployment-blank, Occupation-blank, Industry-blank, Class of worker (PW-paid worker)-blank, # wks worked in 1939-0, Wages in 1939-$0, Income of $50 or more from sources other than wages-no; HOLDWAY, Joseph E, son, male, white, age 13, single, school-yes, highest school-6, b TXN, res 01 Apr 1935-same house, rest blank. 

 

CA Death Index-I Z Holdway, female, b 18 Aug 1891 TN d 06 May 1973 Kern, CA.

SSN Death Index-Zora Holdway last res-93308 Bakersfield, Kern, CA b 18 Aug 1891 d May 1973 issued CA 1973.

 

Una

 

Delayed Certificate of Birth-Una V Dawson b 21 Mar 1894 rural, Cocke, TN, white, female, father: Joseph Dawson b Cocke, TN, mother: Arminda Climer b Hamblen, TN signed: Una V Dawson Phillips, present address: Helenwood, TN 16 Aug 1948. Abstract of supporting evidence: Orio Fam Rec made & kept by parents in Holy Bible 21 Mar 1894, affdt of Thula Dawson, Aunt, reverse side 20 Aug 1948, affdt of J A Bible, non-relative, reverse side 20 Aug 1948; information concerning registrant as stated in document of corresponding number above: birth date 21 Mar 1894, Cocke County, father-Joseph Dawson, mother-Arminda Climer [for all three].

Affidavit of Thula Dawson. I hereby certify on oath that I am at present 77 years of age; that I am related to the person represented by this certificate as Aunt, and that I had actual knowledge of the facts as stated in this certificate at the time the birth occurred and know them to be true because I remember her birth, have known her all her life.  Signature Thula [X her mark] Dawson, present address: Rt 2, Bybee, TN

Affidavit of J A Bible. I hereby certify on oath that I am at present 77 years of age; that I am related to the person represented by this certificate as Aunt, and that I had actual knowledge of the facts as stated in this certificate at the time the birth occurred and know them to be true because I lived in the same community & remember her all her life.  Signature J A Bible, present address: Rt 2, Bybee, TN.

 

As noted in story of Mossop School Una married John Crittened Phillips

TN State Marriage Index: Crit Phillips m 16 Apr 1910 Una V Dawson, Scott Co, TN, solemnized by J P Hughell, M. G.

 

1910 US Census, TN, Scott, Civil District 2, District 0163, image 5, row 92, family #35, PHILLIPS, Betty A, head, female, white, age 58, widow, 11 children / 10 living, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, own income, able to read and write, own, free, house; PHILLIPS, Lida, daughter, female, white, age 25, single, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none, able to read and write, attended school-blank; PHILLIPS, Cril [Crit], son, male, white, age 18, marriage 1, 0 yrs, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none, able to read and write, attended school; PHILLIPS, Union [Univa], daughter-in-law, female, white, age 16, marriage 1, 0 yrs, 0 children / 0 living, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none, able to read and write, attended school.

 

1920 US Census, TN, Scott, Civil District 3, District 177, image 1, Helenwood Pike, family #3, row 10, PHILLIPS, John C, head, own, free, male, white, age 27, married, able to read and write, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, operator, telegraph office, worker; PHILLIPS, Una V, wife, female, white, age 25, married, able to read and write, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none; PHILLIPS, C Dawson, son, male, white, age 8, single, attended school, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none; PHILLIPS, Joseph C, son, male, white, age 7, single, attended school, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none; PHILLIPS, Zora E, daughter, female, white, age 3 9/12, single, attend school-no, read and write-no, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none; PHILLIPS, Elizabeth A, mother, female, white, age 68, widow, did not attend school, able to read and write, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none.

 

1930 US Census, TN, Scott, District 3, 5, image 33, row 14, family #242, PHILLIPS, Critt J, head, own, $1500, have radio, not a farm, male, white, age 38 [1894], married, age first marriage 18, did not attend school, able to read and write, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, telegraph operator, worker, at work yesterday, not a veteran; PHILLIPS, Una V, wife, female, white, age 36, married, age first marriage 16, did not attend school, able to read and write, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none; PHILLIPS, Dawson, son, male, white, age 18, single, attended school, able to read and write, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none; PHILLIPS, Jae [Joe], son, male, white, age 17, single, attended school, able to read and write, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none; PHILLIPS, Bettie, daughter, female, white, age 14, single, attended school, able to read and write, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none; PHILLIPS, Paul, son, male, white, age 2 8/12, single, attended school-no, able to read and write-blank, b TN, fb TN, mb TN, speaks English, occupation: none.

 

1940 US Census, TN, Scott, Other Places [Huntsville], 76-5, pg 26, row 16, Central, dwelling 202, rent, $5, a farm-no, PHILLIPS, Critt, head, male, white, age 48, married, school-no, highest school-6, b TN, res 01 Apr 1935-same house, at work week of Mar 24-30: yes, assigned to public emergency work-dash, if last two answers no-seeking work-dash,  if not seeking, have a job-dash, Housework (H), School (S), unable to work (U) or other (Ot)-dash, # Hours worked week of Mar 24-30: 48, Duration of unemployment-blank, Occupation-agent RR, Industry-railroad, Class of worker (PW-paid worker)-PW, # wks worked in 1939-52, Wages in 1939-$1170, Income of $50 or more from sources other than wages-no, Farm # blank; PHILLIPS, Una V (informant), wife, female, white, age 46, married, school-no, highest school-8, b TN, res 01 Apr 1935-same house, at work week of Mar 24-30: no, assigned to public emergency work-no, if last two answers no-seeking work-no,  if not seeking, have a job-no, Housework (H), School (S), unable to work (U) or other (Ot)-H, # Hours worked week of Mar 24-30: blank, Duration of unemployment-blank, Occupation-blank, Industry-blank, Class of worker (PW-paid worker)-blank, # wks worked in 1939-0, Wages in 1939-$0, Income of $50 or more from sources other than wages-no; PHILLIPS, Paul, son, male, white, age 12, single, school-no, highest school-7, b TN, res 01 Apr 1935-same house, at work week of Mar 24-30: no, assigned to public emergency work-no, if last two answers no-seeking work-no,  if not seeking, have a job-no, Housework (H), School (S), unable to work (U) or other (Ot)-S, # Hours worked week of Mar 24-30: blank, Duration of unemployment-blank, Occupation-blank, Industry-blank, Class of worker (PW-paid worker)-blank, # wks worked in 1939-0, Wages in 1939-$0, Income of $50 or more from sources other than wages-no.

Row 19, dwelling 203, rent, $5, PHILLIPS, Elizabeth A, head, female, white, age 88, widow, school-no, highest school-5, b TN, res 01 Apr 1935-Rural, Scott, TN, a farm-no, at work week of Mar 24-30: no, assigned to public emergency work-no, if last two answers no-seeking work-no,  if not seeking, have a job-no, Housework (H), School (S), unable to work (U) or other (Ot)-U, # Hours worked week of Mar 24-30: blank, Duration of unemployment-blank, Occupation-blank, Industry-blank, Class of worker (PW-paid worker)-blank, # wks worked in 1939-0, Wages in 1939-$0, Income of $50 or more from sources other than wages-no.

 

Obit from find a grave # 50495979 (not sourced)

Rites held for Mrs Phillips; Una V Phillips, 76, of Rt 1 Kelenwood, passed away at the Scott County Hospital Sunday night November 22, 1970. She was the daughter of the late Joe S Dawson and the late Arminda Climer Dawson, a member of the Firt Presbyterian Church.

  Survivors are one daughter, Mrs Betty Fisher of St Albans, W Va., three sons, C D Phillips and Paul Phillps both of Helenwood, Tenn., Joe C Phillips of Daytona Beach, Florida; one sister, Mrs E K Holdway of Oil City, Calif., three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren.

  Funeral services were conducted form the West Funeral Home Chapel 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 1970 with the Rev. Virgil Cecil officiating. Burial followed in the Carson Memorial Park.

  Pallbearers were, Porter Rector, Carl Byrd, Roy Burress, George C Phillips, Leon Sexton and Dub Blakely.

  West Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.