Dowdy Ferry Road in Southern Dallas County was named in honor of Allanson Dawdy, despite the altered spelling.
ALLANSON DAWDY, one of the first settlers of Dallas County, Texas, is a son of Allanson and Nancy Garrison Dawdy. His father was born in Tennessee, July 12, 1786. From there, in 1815, he removed to Illinois, where he remained till death. He was an active member of the Baptist Church, and a man of strict integrity and good habits. His marriage to Nancy Garrison occurred May 12, 1805. To them were born twelve children, as follows: James, born August 12, 1807, died in 1867; Sarah, April 25, 1809, now deceased; Elizabeth, June 11, 1811, is a resident of Illinois; Howell, January 13, 1813, is deceased; Matthew, November 28, 1815; George W., March 23,1819, deceased; Daniel, November 23, 1820; Rachel, February 27, 1822; Nancy, September 8, 1824, deceased; Allanson, the subject of this sketch; Jesse, April 8, 1828; William C, June 28, 1831.
Allanson Dawdy, whose name heads this article, was born December 15, 1820. He remained with his parents until 1846, when he enlisted in the Mexican war and served one year; was in the engagement at Buena Vista, under Colonel Hardin. Returning from the war, he located in Dallas County, Texas. On the Trinity River he ran a ferry, known as Dawdy’s Ferry. This he continued until 1881. In the mean time he purchased the farm where he now lives. During the civil war he enlisted, in Darnell’s regiment, under Captain Perry; was in a number of skirmishes, and was First Lieutenant. At the time of Lee’s surrender he was at Tyler, Texas.
In 1848 Mr. Dawdy was married to Rebecca Shelton, daughter of William and Elizabeth Shelton, native of Virginia. For his second wife he married Miss Mary Kinney, and for his present, Mary Batchelor, a native of Missouri.
Mr. Dawdy has had eight children, viz.: Samuel W., a farmer of Dallas county, Texas; Allanson, Jr., a farmer of Hamilton County, Texas; Jane, wife of R. Keithley; William, a farmer of Dallas county, Texas; and John Jesse, Olie, Byron and Ross, at home.
Politically, Mr. Dawdy is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic order and has been an active member of the Christian Church for several years, and was at one time a deacon of the church.
Such is a brief sketch of one of the pioneer settlers and substantial farmers of Dallas County.
[Source: Memorial History of Dallas County by Lewis Publishing, 1892.]
Note: Alternate spelling of Mr. Dawdy’s name = Alanson Dawdy.
