Joseph Terrell Dotson (1911 - 1972)

Born 18 Jun 1911 in Buncombe County, North Carolina

Ancestors

Died 10 Aug 1972 at age 61 in Buncombe County, North Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lisa Arrowood [send private message]

Biography

Preface

From the beginning of our country religion has been a major part of our lives. The earliest people who came to the New World were coming for the freedom to worship. Loading their families onto a small sailing ship and debarking the safety of their homes to a land across the dangerous ocean to this New World they had only heard about. Over the centuries the men who preached the gospel were needed in every small settlement to maintain the religious desires. These preachers were devoted to their calling and performed the duties as the preacher. Leading the church with a uplifting sermon on Sundays and prayer meetings, visiting the sick, conducting marriages, funerals, and other services of the church. Care and maintenance of the church was also at times left to the preacher to get the job done. He or she was often paid for their services with a meager offering taken for them after the church offering. The rural areas with few members who themselves had little money could not afford to give much to either offering on Sunday. These preachers had to in addition to serving what was a full time job as preacher also had to have another job to assist him financially to support the needs of his family. In addition the rural preachers like all the rural families raised a garden and had livestock to provide needed food, milk and eggs for his family's needs. This situation continues today in many remote areas of the U.S.

One of these rural preachers in the rural area of Western North Carolina was Joseph Terrell Dotson Sr.. He was born on 6/18/1911 in McDowell County, Broad River Section which is now Buncombe County. He was the second child of James Nelson Dotson and Dula Leola Hudgins. Joe grew up in this loving family that consisted of thirteen children. His father James was a farmer and also a Justice of the Peace. James did all the duties of JP from his home where Joe observed many of the marriages, and minor disputes of neighbors where James always used his bible for swearing people in for their statements and also reading from his bible for weddings. Joe decided his calling would be a servant to God and as many other young preachers had to begin by working on the farm and also working at other jobs to obtain money to support his main calling. He attended revivals, tent meetings, and other church functions until he was ordained. He preached at many churches and was elected as the preacher at several churches during his life. Joe not only was a Baptist Minister he learned several other trades. He was a surveyor, and was a very good carpenter. In the 1960's he worked building homes for Shell Homes in Asheville. They had built model homes on a lot across from Miller's Hardware Store in Hawcreek section near Oteen. We would visit Uncle Joe at work and tour some of the homes on display. He was still doing carpentry in 1972. He was rebuilding a log cabin that he had salvaged from being destroyed. He carefully removed each log from this cabin and rebuilt it at his home in Oakley, NC. He also did genealogy and wrote poetry. Joseph began his family live when he married Clara Lou Craig the daughter of James Morris Craig and Maggie C Pack. Joe and Clara had a daughter Clara Evelyn Dotson born on 5/23/1931 and Clara his wife died 4 days later from complications of childbirth on 5/27/1932 leaving Joe to raise Clara alone. I assume the baby was given nourishment to survive by feeding her cows milk or another substitute for mothers milk. Within two years Joseph married Lillian (Lillie) Hudgins who helped him raise Clara. Lillie was the daughter of Samuel Bailson Hudgins and Lourine Searcy. On 4/17/1934 Lillie gave birth to a son Joseph Terrell Dotson Jr. on 4/17/1934. On 3/21/1949. Joe was hit by another tradgy when Lillie died. Dr George Bond on her death certificate stated the cause was a condition called Pemphigus (Exfolliative). The family thought it was caused by a permanent she had received prior to becoming ill. Research I have found states this condition causes blisters and sores to arise on the skin, usually beginning on the scalp. It is not contagious to others. Today is cured by steroid drugs after research done in the 1960's. Its is an autoimmune disorder and does not have a cause associated with it, the body creates the disorder on its own. With this information it is unlikely that a permanent could have caused her illness. Joseph did regain his spirits when he met and married Barbara (Jean) Chatham and continued his family with Jean. They had 5 more children. Rebecca (Joan) Dotson, James (Jimmy) Randall Dotson, Carolyn (Joy) Dotson, Loretta (June) Dotson, and Barbara (Jill) Dotson. I recall Uncle Joe had a little community store at his home in Oakley where he had built to serve the local residents. In my opinion he built it more as a hobby and enjoyment of his family rather than for a profit. He was an amazing man and will be remembered for those who fortunate to know him.

Joseph was the preacher at the following churches:

Brush Creek Baptist Church

Broad River Baptist Church

Laurel Springs Baptist Church ?

Chestnut Hill Baptist Church ?

Refuge Baptist Church ?

Sources

• BIRTH 1911

Source:

• CENSUS 1920

United States Census, 1920, North Carolina, McDowell Co., Broad River Township, Enumeration Date: 1/23/1920, Enumeration District: 118 , Enumerator: Horace Ledbetter , Sheet #:7-B Line: House #:127 ,Line # 51

Name: Joe T Datson Event Type: Census Event Date: 1920 Event Place: Broad River, McDowell, North Carolina, United States Gender: Male Age: 8 Marital Status: Single Race: White Race: White Relationship to Head of Household: Son Relationship to Head of Household: Son Birth Year (Estimated): 1912 Birthplace: North Carolina Father's Birthplace: North Carolina Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina Sheet Letter: B 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

• MARRIAGE Clara Craig 1929

Source:

• CENSUS 1930

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

• MARRIAGE Lillian Hudgins 1833

Source:

• CENSUS 1940

Source: United States Census, 1940 North Carolina Buncombe Broad River Township https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MB-YWYV?mode=g&i=13&cc=2000219

Source: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MB-YWYV?i=13&cc=2000219

• MARRIAGE Jean Chattams 1949

Source:

• Death 1972

12 Aug 1972 Buncombe Co. NC

Source: North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994 Reference ID v 27B cn 27912 GS Film number 1983663

Name Joe Terrell Dotson Event Type Death Event Date 10 Aug 1972 Event Place Asheville, Buncombe, North Carolina Birth Year 1911 Burial Date 12 Aug 1972 Burial Place Asheville, N.C. Cemetery Green Hills Cemetery Residence Place Asheville, Buncombe, N.C. Address 3 Chestnut Terr. Oak View Park Gender Male Age 61 Marital Status Married Race (Original) W. Occupation Minister Retired Birth Date 18 Jun 1911 Birthplace N.C. Father's Name J.N. Dotson Mother's Name Dula Hudgins Spouse's Name Jean Chatham Additional Relatives X Citing this Record "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FPSH-PCQ : 1 July 2015), Joe Terrell Dotson, 10 Aug 1972; citing Asheville, Buncombe, North Carolina, v 27B cn 27912, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,983,663.

• OBIT

• Buried

Green Hills Cemetery Asheville Buncombe County North Carolina

Source: * http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38112457