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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
WALTER E. DAWSON, a young and energetic citizen of Fremont, Iowa, is becoming one of the important factors in its industrial interests, having in 1885 established a tile manufactory, which, combined with other business, is serving to give employment to numbers of men, and circulating large sums of money monthly. Mr. Dawson was born in Cherry Grove, Hamilton Co., Ohio, Oct 2, 1861, and is the son of John and Catherine (White) Dawson. His father was a native of England, and the mother of Pennsylvania; the latter died in Indiana about the year 1866. John Dawson is engaged in the manufacture of tile at Colfax, Clinton Co., Ind., being one of the first to engage in that business in that county, and is the, patentee of what is called the up-and-down draft kiln for burning tile. He landed in America in 1850, and since that time, by his energy and industry, and tile profits of his invention, has accumulated a snug fortune of $25,000. The subject of this sketch came to this part of the county Aug. 20, 1885, and began the manufacture of tiling at Fremont. His works have a capacity of 20,000, or about $300 worth of tile per week. He has two dry-sheds, 100 feet long and 20 feet wide, two kilna, 16x18 feet, and burns one kiln per week. He has also a small house, 20x20 feet, with engine-room, and a molding-shed, 60x20 feet, attached. The works use the late improved Bennett Tile Machine, which makes all dimensions up to fifteen inches, and is operated by a thirty-horse-power engine, made by Cunningham & Temple, Lafayette, Ind. The mill is of the manufacture of Nordyke & Marmon, Indianapolis, Ind. His power also operates a corn-sheller. His clay ground is contiguous to the works; the bed is inexhaustible in quantity, and of the finest quality. The works are situated near the Central Iowa Railroad, and finely located for the shipment of this class of goods. Mr. Dawson is turning out a very superior article of tile, and is doing a good and rapidly increasing business. Walter E. Dawson was married, Oct. 7, 1886, to Miss Anna Johnson, of Colfax, Clinton Co., Ind., and the young couple have settled in Fremont, where they are highly esteemed among a large circle of acquaintances.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy