James Nelson Dotson (1864 - 1939)

Born 17 Dec 1864 in Rutherford County, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Minnie Hughie Dotson — married 24 Dec 1888 in Henderson County, North Carolina

Husband of Dula Leola (Hudgins) Dotson — married 21 Oct 1905 in Henderson , North Carolina

Descendants

Died 30 Sep 1939 at age 74 in Buncombe County, North Carolina

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Biography

James Nelson Dotson did not get along very well with his first wife’s mother, Mary Connor Dotson. After he first married Minnie Hughie Dotson, he and his wife apparently lived on the same farm as her parents. They had a turkey that was deformed. The turkey’s beak was located wrong. Jim took care of and fed the turkey. When it came time to kill the turkey, James N. Dotson could not kill the bird or eat it either. He wrote a poem about the event around 1889

POEM

The Cross Billed Turkey

The summer was ended; the crops were all done A dinner was set, for the most favored ones. There had to be meat, to go with the bread, That meant cross billed turkey, would soon be dead.

For months they had him, turned under a tub Though he still wasn’t fat, from the limited grub. For old Mother Nature, had made quite a flop The bottom of his beak, was mounted on his top.

His wattle hung limply, almost to the ground He breathed through one nostril and it was upside down How down at the wash place, the men huddled still A coin would be tossed, in the death of cross bill.

While in his dark prison, old cross bill would squeak Unable to gobble, because of his beak. The lot fell on Kelton, although not of his will To bring an end, to the life of cross bill.

The crowd had all gathered, the clock soon would strike One son-in-law missing, that Ma didn’t like. Now Jim would admit, he was sprouting no wings He just wouldn’t squat, when she said certain things.

He chose for his lot, to stay on the hill And weep for the death, of poor ole cross bill I heard a faint flutter, as off came his head I know from my feelings, that cross bill was dead.

The grief and bereavement, was all I could stand No longer ole cross bill, would eat from my hand With thirst and with hunger, I sat on the hill While they ate the dumplings, from poor ole cross bill.

Written around 1889 by James Nelson Dotson James was born in 1864. James Dotson ... He passed away in 1929.^[1]

Sources

• BIRTH 1864

Source:

• CENSUS 1870

Source:

• CENSUS 1880

Source: United States Census, North Carolina

• MARRIAGE 1888

Name J N Dotson Event Type Marriage Event Date 25 Dec 1888 Event Place Henderson, North Carolina, United States Gender Male Age 23 Birth Year (Estimated) 1865 Spouse's Name Minnie Dotson Spouse's Gender Female Spouse's Age 21 Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 1867 Citing this Record "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ9-1FPQ : 4 November 2017), J M Dotson and Minnie Dotson, 25 Dec 1888; citing Henderson, North Carolina, United States, p. 71, Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 1,758,927.

Source: Reference ID 71 GS Film Number 001758927 Digital Folder Number 004810386 Image Number 00070

• CENSUS 1900

Source: United States Census, 1900 North Carolina McDowell ED 115 Broad River Township Enumeration District: 115, Sheet #: A 75 Enumeration date: 9/11/1900 , Enumarator: Zeb V Hudgins, Film # 004117832, Line #: 99

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-67B3-DJJ?mode=g&i=4&cc=1325221

• MARRIAGE Dula

Source:

• CENSUS 1910

United States Census, 1910 North Carolina McDowell Broad River ,Enumeration Date: 4/20/1910, Enumeration District: 96, Enumerator: C.J. Owenby, Sheet #: 2B Line: 74

Name: James N Dotson Event Type: Census Event Date: 1910 Event Place: Broad River, McDowell, North Carolina, United States Gender: Male Age: 49 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race: White Relationship to Head of Household: Head Relationship to Head of Household: Head Birth Year (Estimated): 1861 Birthplace: North Carolina Father's Birthplace: North Carolina Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina Sheet Letter: B Sheet Number: 2 Household Role Sex Age Birthplace James N Dotson Head Male 49 North Carolina Dula L Dotson Wife Female 23 North Carolina Benjamin H Dotson Son Male 19 North Carolina Frank L Dotson Son Male 17 North Carolina Clarence J Dotson Son Male 14 North Carolina Mable C Dotson Daughter Female 8 North Carolina Fred W Dotson Son Male 3 North Carolina

Source: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RJX-VYQ?i=3&cc=1727033

• CENSUS 1920

United States Census, 1920, North Carolina, McDowell Co., Broad River Township, Enumeration Date: 1/22/1920, Enumeration District: 118 , Enumerator: Horace Ledbetter , Sheet #:7-A Line: House #:127 ,Line # 47

Name: James N Datson Event Type: Census Event Date: 1920 Event Place: Broad River, McDowell, North Carolina, United States Gender: Male Age: 58 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race: White Relationship to Head of Household: Head Relationship to Head of Household: Head Birth Year (Estimated): 1862 Birthplace: North Carolina Father's Birthplace: North Carolina Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina Sheet Letter: A Sheet Number: 7 Household Role Sex Age Birthplace James N Datson Head Male 58 North Carolina Dula L Datson Wife Female 34 North Carolina Mayble C Datson Daughter Female 18 North Carolina Fred W Datson Son Male 14 North Carolina Joe T Datson Son Male 8 North Carolina Martha M Datson Daughter Female 6 North Carolina Richard N Datson Son Male 5 North Carolina Hela M Datson Daughter Female 3 North Carolina Dela V Datson Daughter Female 3 North Carolina Anna V Datson Daughter Female 0 North Carolina

Source: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RNT-D3C?i=12&cc=1488411

• CENSUS 1930

Source: United States Census, 1930 North Carolina Buncombe Broad River Township, Enumeration Date: 4/10/1930, Enumeration District: 11-42, Enumerator: Marion H Elliott, Sheet #: 5-A Line: 74 House #:92 ,Line # 50

Source: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RCS-9VZ?mode=g&i=9&cc=1810731

• Death 1939

Sep 30 1939 Buncombe Co. NC Source: North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics

• BURIAL

Old Broad River Cemetery Black Mountain Buncombe County North Carolina

Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42084824

1. ↑ A source for this information is needed.