The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1897-04-09
LIVED In NEBRASKA
A CHECKERED LIFE THAT Fl.
NALLY ENDED VIOLENTLY.
An Old-Time Nebraskan One OF the
Victims of the Chandler Cycione-A
Man Who Is Well Remembered
by Many OF the Prominent
Politicians
John Dawson, OF Lincoln, Neb.


Old-time politicians around the legis.
lature, says World-Herald dispatch,
read the press dispatches from Okla
-homa and had the memories of twelve
wears ago revived The story of the
cyclone at Chandler told of men and
women killed in the wreck, of houses
bers. In the list of those who perished
was "John Dawson of Lincoln, Neb. y
That inquiry among the men who are
now prominent in the politics of the
state as to who this was met with the
response, Il never heard of him. is
but another illustration of the old
truth that a man is soon forgotten
after he drops out of the running.
Ten years ago there was no better
known man among the politicians OF
1.-THE state than John Dawson. In the
eighteenth session of the legislature he
was a member of the house and led the
fight for Gen. John &. Gown for the
United States senatorship. Fewer men
have forgotten the battles of the past,
but old timers say that this was one of
the most brilliant of the political
fights of the state. In the front ranks
of the Gown men was John Dowson,
leader, who had the devoted allegiance
of his followers and the admiration of
his opponents which is the need of
dash and brilliancy.
Dawson was an attorney who lived
in Alma, and in that session he repre-
Sented the district now represented by
Hull upon the floor of the house. He
had a large practice, and it is said he
got a fee out OF every good case
for hundred miles around his home.
He was native of Iowa and a gradu-
ate of the university of that state. The
late Z. M. Marquette said of him that
he was the brainieSt man and the most
brilliant that came up to the legisla-
ture that year. He was an omnivorOus
reader and his energy is said to have
been of that kind which never tagged.
Like many other men whose abili-
ties and opportunities have seemed to
conspire to make certain their future
success, he failed to meet the eXpecta-
tions OF his admirers. Habits of disSi-
patton became the master of the man
and his business suffered. He wandered
away from his home and family and
finally settled at Vancouver, in the far
northwest, where his wife and children
joined him, and he attempted to re-
trieve the fortunes which had waned.
The history of this attempt is one that
has had its counterpart in the memory
of almost every man. Nevertheless in
its details there is SO much of human
frailty and its penalties and strength
of human love and it's powers to call
the erTing heart back to paths of right
endeavor that it deserves more than d
passing lire.
From place to place John Dawson
wandered, trying to again get his feet
planted on firm ground of professional
success, and only found that life grew
harder for him. Six months ago he
went from Niobrara. where he then
lived, to Texas, and then to Oklahoma.
The END OF it all is that the press dis
patches contain line giving his name
among the list of dead. Dawson's S
family, it is understood, are living at
Montezuma. Colo, this being one of
places at which he attempted to get a
foothold in business. Ten or twelve
years IS a short time, but it is long
enough for q man to be forgotten, and
the story Of John Dawson is but an
added proof that the general rule is
true