Ebenezer Dobson

Ebenezer Dobson

Ebenezer Dobson, shoemaker, and farmer on section 34, Denver Township, is a son of James and Esther (Bull) Dobson, natives of Orange County, N. Y., was born in that county Aug. 22, 1817. Soon after this event, his father moved to Bradford County, Pa., and located upon a farm, where he lived until his death, which occurred when Ebenezer was four years old. The latter assisted his brothers in taking care of their widowed mother until he was 13 years old, when he went to work for a neighbor. He remained with him one year and then returned home. After a few months he went to work for a farmer, where he enjoyed some school privileges and a good deal of hard labor. In the summer of 1836 he apprenticed himself to Mr. Alva Cooley, of the town of Wysox, to learn the shoemaker's trade. At the expiration of two years he commenced to work for the proprietor, and was the principal manager for several months. He then spent some time in school, worked on a farm for a brief period, and in the fall of 1840, came to Michigan, Jackson County, where he worked at his trade about three years. He then went to Oakland County, where he was treated by a physician two months for a sciatic and spinal affection. In September, 1861, he came to Newaygo County and settled in Denver Township, where he has since resided.

Mr. Dobson held the office of Township Clerk six terms, when Dayton Township extended nine miles from east to west and 21 miles from north to south. He was Postmaster at Panama in this county nine years. He is a member of the M. E. Church, a politics a Republican.

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