Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


WILLIAM R. DODSON, 
 
proprietor of El Monte Hotel, was born in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1839. 
His father, Gainaim M. Dodson, was a native of Halifax County, Virginia, who, in 
1833, went to Kentucky, where he married Miss Nancy P. Thompson, a native of 
that State, and later settled in the county in which the subject of this sketch 
was born. Mr. Dodson was reared upon his father's farm until 1861, when the 
civil war broke out, and early in that year he entered the service of the 
Confederate States as a private in the Arkansas Cavalry. He served with 
gallantry and distinction throughout that terrible contest, and rose through the 
successive grades of rank until he reached a captaincy. In 1864 he was severely 
wounded, having his left arm shattered while engaged in the battle of 
Fayetteville, Arkansas. At the close of the war Mr. Dodson emigrated to Texas 
and located in Levere County, where he engaged in farming and stock-growing. 
January 2, 1866, he married Miss Clarmond Jones, the daughter of William L. and 
Malvina F. (Camp) Jones. Her father was a native of Tennessee, and her mother of 
Georgia.  Mr. Dodson remained in Texas until 1868, when he came overland to Los 
Angeles County, locating at Downey until the spring of 1869. Then he purchased 
seventy-three acres of land lying in El Monte, south of the county road; upon 
this he commenced a career of general farming, making many improvements and 
placing his land under a high state of cultivation, and also establishing and 
conducting a blacksmith's shop. In 1878 he rented the El Monte Hotel, which he 
has since conducted. In 1880 he purchased the property and made many 
improvements on the same. In 1882 he established in connection a livery stable. 
The Dodson Hall, a well-appointed building 20x 50 feet, two-stories in height 
(with market in lower story), was erected by him in 1887. He has been one of the 
most progressive and energetic citizens of El Monte for years, and has made many 
improvements in the town, building several cottages and residences for renting. 
His farm, hotel, stables and other enterprises are conducted by himself. His 
genial and obliging manners, combined with his well ordered and conducted hotel, 
has made the "El Monte" well known and deservedly popular. His livery stable 
contains a complete outfit of vehicles and ten or twelve first-class horses, and 
is well patronized. In his farm operations he is devoting considerable attention 
to improved stock. His cattle are Jersey and Short-horned Durham breeds. Among 
his horses are two fine stallions of Belmont stock, named Ledgerwood and 
Ledgerwood, Jr. They are fine specimens and show that as a stock-breeder Mr. 
Dodson is a success. He has for twenty years been a resident of the beautiful 
San Gabriel Valley; is well and favorably known as a strong believer in the 
future prosperity of Los Angeles County, and is always ready to aid any 
enterprise that tends to develop the resources of his chosen section. In 
political matters he is a consistent Democrat. He is a member of El Monte Lodge, 
No. 188, A. O. U. W. Mr. and Mrs. Dodson have five children living, namely: J. 
Wilkes Booth, who married Miss Nellie Wixon, and is now living in San Bernardino 
County; May, who married Dr. B. B. Means, and is residing in Texas; and 
Clayborne B., Elbert B., and William L., who are members of their father's 
household. Mrs. Dodson's parents came to California in 1868, and became 
residents of El Monte. Her father was well known throughout the valley, and was 
for years the proprietor of the El Monte Hotel. He died in 1874. Her mother is 
still a resident of the county.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 449
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler