Ruel Dodson was born the 17th March 1810 in Virginia. Ruel was the son of George Dodson and Martha Lockhart.
Ruel married Mary (Polly) Dickerson on the 3rd of May 1830 in Hendricks county, Indiana.[1]
Ruel appears in the 1850 Federal census in Vermilion county, Illinois. Ruel's household appears as follows: Reuel age 40, occupation given as Farmer & Baptist Minister, place of birth, Virginia; wife Polly age 44, place of birth Virginia; Sarah Dodson age 15, born Indiana; Nancy Dodson age 13, born Indiana; George Dodson age 11, born Indiana; Reuel Dodson age 8, born Indiana; Martha Dodson age 70, born Virginia; and Mary Dickinson age 70, born Virginia.[2]
Ruel appears in the 1860 Federal census in Vermilion county, Illinois. Ruel's household appears as follows: Ruel age 51, occupation given as Baptist Minister, born Virginia. Wife Mary age 57, born Virginia; George Dodson age 20 occupation given as farmer, born Indiana; and Ruel Dodson age 16, born Indiana.[3]
Ruel's wife Mary (Polly) Dickerson Dodson died sometime after the 9th of July 1860 when the census was enumerated and before the 4th of October 1860 when Ruel married his second wife Lucinda Walls.
Ruel married Lucinda Walls on the 4th of October 1860 in Hendricks county, Indiana.[4]
Ruel appears in the 1870 Federal census in Vermilion county, Illinois. Ruel's household appears as follows: Ruel age 60, occupation given as Farmer, born Virginia; Lucinda age 40, born Indiana; Mary Dodson age 7, born Indiana, and Martha age 6, born Indiana.[5]
Ruel made his last Will and Testament on the 11th of June 1870; and added a codicil to the will on 17th December 1870. Ruel's last Will & Testament and codicil reads as follows: "Know all men by these presents that I Ruel Dodson of the Town of Blount in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois being in sound mind, do in the presence of God make this my last Will and Testament. I will and bequeath to my wife Lucinda the farm on which I now reside with the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining known and described as follows. Commencing fifty three (53) Rods North of the South East corner of the East half of the South West quarter of Section No. six (6) Township No. twenty (20) North, Range No. Eleven (11) West, thence North to the North East corner of said Lot, Thence West seventy four (74) rods & eleven links to the North West corner of said Lot, thence South to a stake fifty three (53) Rods North of the South West corner of said Lot; thence East seventy four (74) Rods and eleven (11) links to the place of beginning, containing 48 acres be the same more or less. I also Will and bequeath to my wife Lucinda all of my household and kitchen furniture, excepting two beds & bedding, which I will, one to my daughter Mary Jane and one to my daughter Martha Ann. I also will and bequeath to my said wife Lucinda, one Iron Grey mare five years old and one sorrel colt one year old last spring, also one sett of double harness, one lumber wagon, one Buggy and Buggy harness, also two milk cows known as the old cows now on my farm. I also Will and bequeath to my wife Lucinda One thousand Dollars ($1,000) in money all of the said property money & Real Estate heretofore mentioned which I have willed to my wife Lucinda she shall have under her entire control to rent or sell as she may wish during her lifetime, and at her death all that is remaining or the proceeds thereof shall be sold and equally divided between all of my children. I also Will and bequeath to my Daughters Mary Jane Dodson and Martha Ann Dodson Five hundred and twenty five Dollars ($500.00) each, for the purpose of making them equal in property to my first children. I also Will and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Rickert Seven hundred dollars (700.00) to be left in the hands of Elon Sperry of Vermilion county Illinois, for him to pay her the interest on the same annually as long as she remains the wife of Jacob Rickert, and if she is left a widow, then she shall have the privilege of drawing the said sum of seven hundred dollars from the said Elon Sperry. I also Will and bequeath to my Daughter Nancy Lockhart seven hundred Dollars ($700.00) and to my son George W. Dodson seven hundred Dollars ($700) and to my daughter Mary Jane Dodson seven hundred Dollars ($700) and to my daughter Martha Ann Dodson seven hundred Dollars $700. I also Will and bequeath to my wife Lucinda Twelve shoats now owned by me and I also will to her the produce now growing on my home farm = All that remains of my property after the above distribution shall be equally divided between my five children, and I hereby appoint and constitute my son George W. Dodson Executor of my Estate. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 11th day of June A.D. 1870 Signed & sealed in the presence of Leonard Butts, Wm Newlin, John B. Buckles, H.G. his X mark Poulter [signed] Ruel his X mark Dodson Codocil No. 1 I this day make the following alterations to this my last Will & Testament, I hereby revoke so much of my will giving the land before mentioned being the Lewis Sarsher farm, to my wife Lucinda as I have sold that farm and I hereby will and bequeath to my wife Lucinda Eighty acres of land with all the buildings & appartenances thereon or appertaining thereto known as the homestead of John Rickert deceased and lately owned and occupied by Philip Blagg, and purchased by me of said Blagg containing Eight acres. I also revoke that part of my will as gives the Grey mare to my wife Lucinda and I hereby will her my Dunn mare, my sorrel mare, and one yearling colt. I also direct that the Five hundred and twenty five Dollars mentioned willed to my Daughters Mary Jane and Martha Ann be put out at interest until they are of age, and the interest thereon be paid annually to my wife as long as she keeps said children then the said interest to be paid annually to whoever shall raise them. And also so much of my will as given seven hundred Dollars ($700) to my children Sarah Rickert Nancy Lockhart, Mary Jane and Martha Ann Dodson I hereby change to four hundred Dollars ($400) subject however to all the restrictions & directions heretofore made in this will. Witness my hand and seal this 17th Day of December A.D. 1870 Signed & sealed in the presnece of Leonard Butts, Wm Newlin, H.G. his X mark Poulter [signed] Ruel his X mark Dodson. Filed March 4, 1871 & Probated J.W. Dale Clerk by W.T. Cunningham Dep."[6]
Ruel died on the 26th February 1871 in Vermilion county, Illinois.
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