Wm's Father may have been William H Dobson Sr from North Carolina. William married Martha Ann Cripe in 1856 in Fulton Co., Indiana. They also lived in McLean Illinois and Columbia Van Buren, Michigan where William died in 1891. Martha Ann's sister Elizabeth R married Joseph W Dobson also in Fulton Co., Indiana. Don't know if they were brothers, cousins or coincidence. Have hit may a brick wall in my search.