Silas W. Dolson, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Silas W. Dolson
SILAS W. DOLSON. A man of intelligence and excellent business capacity, S. W. Dolson has spent his entire life in Porter county, Indiana, being now one of the best known residents of Valparaiso, where he has been actively engaged in business for many years. A son of the late Jesse Dolson, he was born July 12, 1844, on a farm in Union township, where his father was an early settler.
A native of New York state, Jesse Dolson was but eight years old when his parents, Samuel and Millie (Edwards) Dolson, removed to Canada, where he was reared and educated. In 1843, accompanied by his family he migrated to Indiana, and having purchased land in Union township, Porter county, was there engaged in agricultural pursuits for nine years. In 1852 he located in Valparaiso, and after conducting a grocery for a year embarked in the livery business. Selling out in 1862, he purchased another farm in Union township, and was there a tiller of the soil for seven years. In 1869 he again took up his residence in Valparaiso, and here remained until his death, at the venerable age of seventy-seven years. He married, in Canada, Esther Ann Fulton, a native of Canada. She survived him, passing away in the eighty-second year of her age. Eight children were born of their union, five sons and three daughters, the two elder having been born in Canada, and the others in Porter county. Four of the children are still living, as follows: Harry A., a resident of Kansas; George H., of Valparaiso; S. W., the special subject of this brief sketch; and Chloa, wife of Washington McNiece, of Center, Minnesota.
A young lad when his parents removed from the farm in Union township to Valparaiso, Silas W. Dolson was educated in this city, attending the public schools and the Methodist College. Engaging in the livery business in early manhood, he was located at Michigan City, Indiana, from 1872 until 1875. Returning then to Valparaiso, he continued in the same industry, for six years being associated with his brother, George H. Dolson. In 1881, Mr. Dolson purchased the grocery store of George E. Stanton which he operated two years. In 1883 he sold out his interests in the establishment, and in 1884, in company with R. E. VanNess, he again opened a grocery store. Dividing his stock with his partner in 1885, Mr. Dolson continued his mercantile business, forming a partnership with W. I. Talbott. At the end of seven years Mr. Talbott sold his interest in the store to A. F. Harrington, and the business was for two years carried on under the firm name of Dolson & Harrington. In 1893 Mr. Dolson disposed of his interests in the firm, selling out to Howard Fishborn, and has since been actively and prosperously engaged in the livery business in Valparaiso, where he has an extensive and liberal patronage.
Mr. Dolson married, August 5, 1867, Catherine A. Newkirk, who was born in Canada, and when a small girl came with her parents to Porter county. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children, namely: Ernest A., Bertha and Dr. Glenn S. Dolson, of Valparaiso. Mr. Dolson has been very successful in life, in addition to his lucrative business as a liveryman owning a good farm in Washington township. Fraternally he is a member of Mason Lodge, No. 137, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; and of Valparaiso Chapter No. 79, Royal Arch Masons.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 800-801
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook