Cynthia's mother, Jane Ellen (Bell) Vance, died when she was in her twenties, and Cynthia went to live with her Bell grandparents when she was two years old.
I'm grateful for her memories of the time she went to MO with them near the end of the Civil War. As a storyteller, she had few equals and would often weave a bit of flavor into her tales to benefit her listeners. She was full of energy and had a zest for living.
-----
Cynthia's 95th Birthday
In 1954 a reporter from a Pampa newspaper interviewed Cynthia and other family members on her 95th birthday. Although some names, dates, and places were inaccurately printed, it gives a description of some of her early childhood experiences during the Civil War. Corrections for some obvious errors are shown in parentheses:
"Before the Civil War, a Pampan was born and celebrated her birthday on Saturday. Mrs. C.C. Dodson, 504 N. Ward St., a little woman with a zest for visiting with people, in spite of having to move about in a wheel chair due to breaking her hip in 1947, was born at Fayetteville, Arkansas on March 27, 1859.
She remembers the Battle of Pea Ridge near Fayetteville, which took place about fifteen miles from where she lived. Although only six years old at the time, she said, "I could hear the guns popping just like popcorn in a skillet."
Mrs. Dodson has lived in Texas almost as long as she has lived in the states of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Her mother died when she was only four years old. (Cynthia was about two years old when her twin sister and brother were born in 1861. Her mother died during or shortly after their birth.) She went to live with her maternal grandparents at Sedalia, Missouri, for "things were really bad in Arkansas after the Civil War." (Actually her Bell Grandparents lived in Otterville which was a few miles from Sedalia.) Her parents were Mark and Jane Vance, while her grandparent's name was Bell. (Her parent's names were Martin and Jane Ellen Bell Vance.)
It was on February 20, 1878, just before her 20th birthday that Cynthia Vance married John Foster Preston at what is now Henrietta, Texas. They moved back to Arkansas where Mr. Preston farmed until his death in 1887, leaving five children with the baby only a year old. (John died on March 6, 1888.) Mrs. Dodson mentioned that "it is difficult for a woman with five children to make a living for her family. I was a widow for a year when Mr. Dodson and I were married." Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dodson moved to McKinney, Texas where some of their children were born. (They lived in Arkansas about four years after they were married. Here they had two sons. In Texas they lived near Stony Point, Water Ridge, and Altoga.)
During this period at McKinney, the Indians were still coming across the river and killing people in that area. Mr. Dodson farmed near McKinney. In 1918, the Dodsons moved to Achille, Oklahoma, where Mr. Dodson farmed until his death in 1945. (After leaving Altoga, they bought a farm in Yarnaby, Oklahoma. They moved to Achille about 1939/40. George died there in 1944.) Mrs. Dodson then came to live with her daughter's family, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Graham, 504 N. Ward Street.
Looking back to the time when she was a small child during the Civil War, Mrs. Dodson knows that many changes have taken place and many things have happened to her. She has had 11 children, six of whom are still living: Mrs. Ellie McDonald, Yuba, Oklahoma; Mrs. Dora McFerrin, Westminster; and Walter Preston, Yuba, Oklahoma, are the three children still living from her first marriage. J. C. Dodson, W. H. Dodson, both of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Ed Graham, the daughter with whom she lives, are by her second marriage.
She stated, "I never thought I would have so many descendants for I have 47
grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 20 great-great-grandchildren." Mrs. Dodson knows that she had many difficulties in her life, but she has had a very full life. Bright, quick, and alert still, Mrs. Dodson enjoys a good visit!"
-----
Cynthia's first husband was John Foster Preston, the son of John Foster & Christina (Socrider) Preston. The Prestons had moved to MO from OH to escape the cold weather. From MO they moved to Henrietta, Clay Co, TX. Cynthia and John were married in Henrietta on January 25, 1878. Their children, all born in TX, were Sarah Ellen, Smith, Dora, Walter Robert, & Mary Etta. They left TX & moved near Ft. Douglas, in Johnson Co, AR, where they bought a farm. John died from typhoid fever on March 6, 1888, & was buried on their farm.
Her second husband was George Dodson. George, the only child of William Stephen & Mary (Woodward) Dodson, was born in Limestone Valley, Newton Co, AR. They were married in Fort Douglas, Johnson Co, AR on February 20, 1889. They had two children while in AR: James "Jim" Calvin, & his older brother, William "Bill" Henry Thomas Edward.
It was hard to make a living in AR, so they sold the farm & moved to Collin Co, TX, where they lived in various places before buying a farm. They had four more children: Archie, Cora, Millie, & Jessie. From TX they moved to Bryan Co, OK, where they spent the rest of their lives.
The story of Cynthia's life is fascinating. Many of her grandchildren, who have shared remembrances of her, have all expressed a desire to be just like her. They remember her saying, "I'm going to live to be 100, turn to an Ol' gray mare, and live forever."
Her long biography is in "Dodson, One Family's Journey," & "The Family of James and Caroline Bell."
Pampa Daily News (TX)
Wednesday, October 10, 1956
"MRS. C.C. DODSON DIES TUESDAY
Mrs. Cynthia C. Dodson, 97, died in an Amarillo rest home at 10 p.m. yesterday. Mrs. Dodson was born Nov. 19, 1858, in Fayette, Ark. Her home was here with her daughter, Mrs. C.E. Graham, 504 N. Ward.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Graham; Mrs. Dora McFerrin of West Minister, and Mrs. Ellen McDonald of Yuba, Okla., two brothers, W.H. and J.C. both of Ardmore, Oklahoma., a half brother, Walter Preston of Yuba, Okla.; one sister, Mrs. Mindel Robothom of Denver, Colo.
The body is being carried overland today to Durant, Okla. Funeral services will be held at Achille, Okla., and she will be buried by the side of her husband."
I'm grateful for her memories of the time she went to MO with them near the end of the Civil War. As a storyteller, she had few equals and would often weave a bit of flavor into her tales to benefit her listeners. She was full of energy and had a zest for living.
-----
Cynthia's 95th Birthday
In 1954 a reporter from a Pampa newspaper interviewed Cynthia and other family members on her 95th birthday. Although some names, dates, and places were inaccurately printed, it gives a description of some of her early childhood experiences during the Civil War. Corrections for some obvious errors are shown in parentheses:
"Before the Civil War, a Pampan was born and celebrated her birthday on Saturday. Mrs. C.C. Dodson, 504 N. Ward St., a little woman with a zest for visiting with people, in spite of having to move about in a wheel chair due to breaking her hip in 1947, was born at Fayetteville, Arkansas on March 27, 1859.
She remembers the Battle of Pea Ridge near Fayetteville, which took place about fifteen miles from where she lived. Although only six years old at the time, she said, "I could hear the guns popping just like popcorn in a skillet."
Mrs. Dodson has lived in Texas almost as long as she has lived in the states of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Her mother died when she was only four years old. (Cynthia was about two years old when her twin sister and brother were born in 1861. Her mother died during or shortly after their birth.) She went to live with her maternal grandparents at Sedalia, Missouri, for "things were really bad in Arkansas after the Civil War." (Actually her Bell Grandparents lived in Otterville which was a few miles from Sedalia.) Her parents were Mark and Jane Vance, while her grandparent's name was Bell. (Her parent's names were Martin and Jane Ellen Bell Vance.)
It was on February 20, 1878, just before her 20th birthday that Cynthia Vance married John Foster Preston at what is now Henrietta, Texas. They moved back to Arkansas where Mr. Preston farmed until his death in 1887, leaving five children with the baby only a year old. (John died on March 6, 1888.) Mrs. Dodson mentioned that "it is difficult for a woman with five children to make a living for her family. I was a widow for a year when Mr. Dodson and I were married." Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dodson moved to McKinney, Texas where some of their children were born. (They lived in Arkansas about four years after they were married. Here they had two sons. In Texas they lived near Stony Point, Water Ridge, and Altoga.)
During this period at McKinney, the Indians were still coming across the river and killing people in that area. Mr. Dodson farmed near McKinney. In 1918, the Dodsons moved to Achille, Oklahoma, where Mr. Dodson farmed until his death in 1945. (After leaving Altoga, they bought a farm in Yarnaby, Oklahoma. They moved to Achille about 1939/40. George died there in 1944.) Mrs. Dodson then came to live with her daughter's family, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Graham, 504 N. Ward Street.
Looking back to the time when she was a small child during the Civil War, Mrs. Dodson knows that many changes have taken place and many things have happened to her. She has had 11 children, six of whom are still living: Mrs. Ellie McDonald, Yuba, Oklahoma; Mrs. Dora McFerrin, Westminster; and Walter Preston, Yuba, Oklahoma, are the three children still living from her first marriage. J. C. Dodson, W. H. Dodson, both of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Ed Graham, the daughter with whom she lives, are by her second marriage.
She stated, "I never thought I would have so many descendants for I have 47
grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 20 great-great-grandchildren." Mrs. Dodson knows that she had many difficulties in her life, but she has had a very full life. Bright, quick, and alert still, Mrs. Dodson enjoys a good visit!"
-----
Cynthia's first husband was John Foster Preston, the son of John Foster & Christina (Socrider) Preston. The Prestons had moved to MO from OH to escape the cold weather. From MO they moved to Henrietta, Clay Co, TX. Cynthia and John were married in Henrietta on January 25, 1878. Their children, all born in TX, were Sarah Ellen, Smith, Dora, Walter Robert, & Mary Etta. They left TX & moved near Ft. Douglas, in Johnson Co, AR, where they bought a farm. John died from typhoid fever on March 6, 1888, & was buried on their farm.
Her second husband was George Dodson. George, the only child of William Stephen & Mary (Woodward) Dodson, was born in Limestone Valley, Newton Co, AR. They were married in Fort Douglas, Johnson Co, AR on February 20, 1889. They had two children while in AR: James "Jim" Calvin, & his older brother, William "Bill" Henry Thomas Edward.
It was hard to make a living in AR, so they sold the farm & moved to Collin Co, TX, where they lived in various places before buying a farm. They had four more children: Archie, Cora, Millie, & Jessie. From TX they moved to Bryan Co, OK, where they spent the rest of their lives.
The story of Cynthia's life is fascinating. Many of her grandchildren, who have shared remembrances of her, have all expressed a desire to be just like her. They remember her saying, "I'm going to live to be 100, turn to an Ol' gray mare, and live forever."
Her long biography is in "Dodson, One Family's Journey," & "The Family of James and Caroline Bell."
Pampa Daily News (TX)
Wednesday, October 10, 1956
"MRS. C.C. DODSON DIES TUESDAY
Mrs. Cynthia C. Dodson, 97, died in an Amarillo rest home at 10 p.m. yesterday. Mrs. Dodson was born Nov. 19, 1858, in Fayette, Ark. Her home was here with her daughter, Mrs. C.E. Graham, 504 N. Ward.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Graham; Mrs. Dora McFerrin of West Minister, and Mrs. Ellen McDonald of Yuba, Okla., two brothers, W.H. and J.C. both of Ardmore, Oklahoma., a half brother, Walter Preston of Yuba, Okla.; one sister, Mrs. Mindel Robothom of Denver, Colo.
The body is being carried overland today to Durant, Okla. Funeral services will be held at Achille, Okla., and she will be buried by the side of her husband."
Cynthia's mother, Jane Ellen (Bell) Vance, died when she was in her twenties, and Cynthia went to live with her Bell grandparents when she was two years old.
I'm grateful for her memories of the time she went to MO with them near the end of the Civil War. As a storyteller, she had few equals and would often weave a bit of flavor into her tales to benefit her listeners. She was full of energy and had a zest for living.
-----
Cynthia's 95th Birthday
In 1954 a reporter from a Pampa newspaper interviewed Cynthia and other family members on her 95th birthday. Although some names, dates, and places were inaccurately printed, it gives a description of some of her early childhood experiences during the Civil War. Corrections for some obvious errors are shown in parentheses:
"Before the Civil War, a Pampan was born and celebrated her birthday on Saturday. Mrs. C.C. Dodson, 504 N. Ward St., a little woman with a zest for visiting with people, in spite of having to move about in a wheel chair due to breaking her hip in 1947, was born at Fayetteville, Arkansas on March 27, 1859.
She remembers the Battle of Pea Ridge near Fayetteville, which took place about fifteen miles from where she lived. Although only six years old at the time, she said, "I could hear the guns popping just like popcorn in a skillet."
Mrs. Dodson has lived in Texas almost as long as she has lived in the states of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Her mother died when she was only four years old. (Cynthia was about two years old when her twin sister and brother were born in 1861. Her mother died during or shortly after their birth.) She went to live with her maternal grandparents at Sedalia, Missouri, for "things were really bad in Arkansas after the Civil War." (Actually her Bell Grandparents lived in Otterville which was a few miles from Sedalia.) Her parents were Mark and Jane Vance, while her grandparent's name was Bell. (Her parent's names were Martin and Jane Ellen Bell Vance.)
It was on February 20, 1878, just before her 20th birthday that Cynthia Vance married John Foster Preston at what is now Henrietta, Texas. They moved back to Arkansas where Mr. Preston farmed until his death in 1887, leaving five children with the baby only a year old. (John died on March 6, 1888.) Mrs. Dodson mentioned that "it is difficult for a woman with five children to make a living for her family. I was a widow for a year when Mr. Dodson and I were married." Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dodson moved to McKinney, Texas where some of their children were born. (They lived in Arkansas about four years after they were married. Here they had two sons. In Texas they lived near Stony Point, Water Ridge, and Altoga.)
During this period at McKinney, the Indians were still coming across the river and killing people in that area. Mr. Dodson farmed near McKinney. In 1918, the Dodsons moved to Achille, Oklahoma, where Mr. Dodson farmed until his death in 1945. (After leaving Altoga, they bought a farm in Yarnaby, Oklahoma. They moved to Achille about 1939/40. George died there in 1944.) Mrs. Dodson then came to live with her daughter's family, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Graham, 504 N. Ward Street.
Looking back to the time when she was a small child during the Civil War, Mrs. Dodson knows that many changes have taken place and many things have happened to her. She has had 11 children, six of whom are still living: Mrs. Ellie McDonald, Yuba, Oklahoma; Mrs. Dora McFerrin, Westminster; and Walter Preston, Yuba, Oklahoma, are the three children still living from her first marriage. J. C. Dodson, W. H. Dodson, both of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Ed Graham, the daughter with whom she lives, are by her second marriage.
She stated, "I never thought I would have so many descendants for I have 47
grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 20 great-great-grandchildren." Mrs. Dodson knows that she had many difficulties in her life, but she has had a very full life. Bright, quick, and alert still, Mrs. Dodson enjoys a good visit!"
-----
Cynthia's first husband was John Foster Preston, the son of John Foster & Christina (Socrider) Preston. The Prestons had moved to MO from OH to escape the cold weather. From MO they moved to Henrietta, Clay Co, TX. Cynthia and John were married in Henrietta on January 25, 1878. Their children, all born in TX, were Sarah Ellen, Smith, Dora, Walter Robert, & Mary Etta. They left TX & moved near Ft. Douglas, in Johnson Co, AR, where they bought a farm. John died from typhoid fever on March 6, 1888, & was buried on their farm.
Her second husband was George Dodson. George, the only child of William Stephen & Mary (Woodward) Dodson, was born in Limestone Valley, Newton Co, AR. They were married in Fort Douglas, Johnson Co, AR on February 20, 1889. They had two children while in AR: James "Jim" Calvin, & his older brother, William "Bill" Henry Thomas Edward.
It was hard to make a living in AR, so they sold the farm & moved to Collin Co, TX, where they lived in various places before buying a farm. They had four more children: Archie, Cora, Millie, & Jessie. From TX they moved to Bryan Co, OK, where they spent the rest of their lives.
The story of Cynthia's life is fascinating. Many of her grandchildren, who have shared remembrances of her, have all expressed a desire to be just like her. They remember her saying, "I'm going to live to be 100, turn to an Ol' gray mare, and live forever."
Her long biography is in "Dodson, One Family's Journey," & "The Family of James and Caroline Bell."
Pampa Daily News (TX)
Wednesday, October 10, 1956
"MRS. C.C. DODSON DIES TUESDAY
Mrs. Cynthia C. Dodson, 97, died in an Amarillo rest home at 10 p.m. yesterday. Mrs. Dodson was born Nov. 19, 1858, in Fayette, Ark. Her home was here with her daughter, Mrs. C.E. Graham, 504 N. Ward.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Graham; Mrs. Dora McFerrin of West Minister, and Mrs. Ellen McDonald of Yuba, Okla., two brothers, W.H. and J.C. both of Ardmore, Oklahoma., a half brother, Walter Preston of Yuba, Okla.; one sister, Mrs. Mindel Robothom of Denver, Colo.
The body is being carried overland today to Durant, Okla. Funeral services will be held at Achille, Okla., and she will be buried by the side of her husband."
I'm grateful for her memories of the time she went to MO with them near the end of the Civil War. As a storyteller, she had few equals and would often weave a bit of flavor into her tales to benefit her listeners. She was full of energy and had a zest for living.
-----
Cynthia's 95th Birthday
In 1954 a reporter from a Pampa newspaper interviewed Cynthia and other family members on her 95th birthday. Although some names, dates, and places were inaccurately printed, it gives a description of some of her early childhood experiences during the Civil War. Corrections for some obvious errors are shown in parentheses:
"Before the Civil War, a Pampan was born and celebrated her birthday on Saturday. Mrs. C.C. Dodson, 504 N. Ward St., a little woman with a zest for visiting with people, in spite of having to move about in a wheel chair due to breaking her hip in 1947, was born at Fayetteville, Arkansas on March 27, 1859.
She remembers the Battle of Pea Ridge near Fayetteville, which took place about fifteen miles from where she lived. Although only six years old at the time, she said, "I could hear the guns popping just like popcorn in a skillet."
Mrs. Dodson has lived in Texas almost as long as she has lived in the states of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Her mother died when she was only four years old. (Cynthia was about two years old when her twin sister and brother were born in 1861. Her mother died during or shortly after their birth.) She went to live with her maternal grandparents at Sedalia, Missouri, for "things were really bad in Arkansas after the Civil War." (Actually her Bell Grandparents lived in Otterville which was a few miles from Sedalia.) Her parents were Mark and Jane Vance, while her grandparent's name was Bell. (Her parent's names were Martin and Jane Ellen Bell Vance.)
It was on February 20, 1878, just before her 20th birthday that Cynthia Vance married John Foster Preston at what is now Henrietta, Texas. They moved back to Arkansas where Mr. Preston farmed until his death in 1887, leaving five children with the baby only a year old. (John died on March 6, 1888.) Mrs. Dodson mentioned that "it is difficult for a woman with five children to make a living for her family. I was a widow for a year when Mr. Dodson and I were married." Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dodson moved to McKinney, Texas where some of their children were born. (They lived in Arkansas about four years after they were married. Here they had two sons. In Texas they lived near Stony Point, Water Ridge, and Altoga.)
During this period at McKinney, the Indians were still coming across the river and killing people in that area. Mr. Dodson farmed near McKinney. In 1918, the Dodsons moved to Achille, Oklahoma, where Mr. Dodson farmed until his death in 1945. (After leaving Altoga, they bought a farm in Yarnaby, Oklahoma. They moved to Achille about 1939/40. George died there in 1944.) Mrs. Dodson then came to live with her daughter's family, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Graham, 504 N. Ward Street.
Looking back to the time when she was a small child during the Civil War, Mrs. Dodson knows that many changes have taken place and many things have happened to her. She has had 11 children, six of whom are still living: Mrs. Ellie McDonald, Yuba, Oklahoma; Mrs. Dora McFerrin, Westminster; and Walter Preston, Yuba, Oklahoma, are the three children still living from her first marriage. J. C. Dodson, W. H. Dodson, both of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Ed Graham, the daughter with whom she lives, are by her second marriage.
She stated, "I never thought I would have so many descendants for I have 47
grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 20 great-great-grandchildren." Mrs. Dodson knows that she had many difficulties in her life, but she has had a very full life. Bright, quick, and alert still, Mrs. Dodson enjoys a good visit!"
-----
Cynthia's first husband was John Foster Preston, the son of John Foster & Christina (Socrider) Preston. The Prestons had moved to MO from OH to escape the cold weather. From MO they moved to Henrietta, Clay Co, TX. Cynthia and John were married in Henrietta on January 25, 1878. Their children, all born in TX, were Sarah Ellen, Smith, Dora, Walter Robert, & Mary Etta. They left TX & moved near Ft. Douglas, in Johnson Co, AR, where they bought a farm. John died from typhoid fever on March 6, 1888, & was buried on their farm.
Her second husband was George Dodson. George, the only child of William Stephen & Mary (Woodward) Dodson, was born in Limestone Valley, Newton Co, AR. They were married in Fort Douglas, Johnson Co, AR on February 20, 1889. They had two children while in AR: James "Jim" Calvin, & his older brother, William "Bill" Henry Thomas Edward.
It was hard to make a living in AR, so they sold the farm & moved to Collin Co, TX, where they lived in various places before buying a farm. They had four more children: Archie, Cora, Millie, & Jessie. From TX they moved to Bryan Co, OK, where they spent the rest of their lives.
The story of Cynthia's life is fascinating. Many of her grandchildren, who have shared remembrances of her, have all expressed a desire to be just like her. They remember her saying, "I'm going to live to be 100, turn to an Ol' gray mare, and live forever."
Her long biography is in "Dodson, One Family's Journey," & "The Family of James and Caroline Bell."
Pampa Daily News (TX)
Wednesday, October 10, 1956
"MRS. C.C. DODSON DIES TUESDAY
Mrs. Cynthia C. Dodson, 97, died in an Amarillo rest home at 10 p.m. yesterday. Mrs. Dodson was born Nov. 19, 1858, in Fayette, Ark. Her home was here with her daughter, Mrs. C.E. Graham, 504 N. Ward.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Graham; Mrs. Dora McFerrin of West Minister, and Mrs. Ellen McDonald of Yuba, Okla., two brothers, W.H. and J.C. both of Ardmore, Oklahoma., a half brother, Walter Preston of Yuba, Okla.; one sister, Mrs. Mindel Robothom of Denver, Colo.
The body is being carried overland today to Durant, Okla. Funeral services will be held at Achille, Okla., and she will be buried by the side of her husband."
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
Children
-
![]()
Sarah Ellen "Ellie" Preston McDonald
1878–1964
-
![]()
Smith Oscar Fritz Preston
1881–1912
-
![]()
Dora Preston McFerrin
1883–1981
-
![]()
Walter Robert Preston
1885–1968
-
![]()
Mary Etta Preston
1887–1902
-
![]()
William Henry Thomas Edward "Bill" Dodson
1889–1965
-
![]()
James Calvin "Jim" Dodson Sr
1892–1961
-
![]()
Archie R Dodson
1895–1898
-
![]()
Cora Bell Dodson Sinor
1897–1947
-
![]()
Millie Melissa Dodson Shindler
1899–1952
-
Jessie Elizabeth Dodson Graham
1902–1992
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
