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92 Years Old: Voter for 70 Years

J.W. Dotson of 9 Caledonia St, a Civil War veteran and who in his 92nd year, cast his vote again yesterday for president. He takes a keen interest in politics and enjoys a large circle of friends, whom he entertains very interestingly, as he has a remarkable memory, and is an interesting talker.

He has been a voter for over 70 years, and he says this is the most important election in 40 years. He is a member of the Grand Old Party.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (May 27, 1923)

DIED: DOTSON- In Santa Cruz, May 25, John Wesley Dotson aged 94 years, 1 month, 1 day, a native of West Virginia.

Funeral of the deceased will beheld from the Seventh Day Adventist church, Pennsylvania Ave. Tuesday, May 29 at [?]P.M. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend. Interment in SCruz/OMP Cemetery.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (May 29, 1923)

Lives to Good Age of 94 Years

J.W. Dotson passed away at his home, 9 Caledonia St. yesterday aged 94 years and 3 months, father of E.P. Dotson and Mrs. A.G. Kearns, Mrs. F.J. Herrick of Santa Cruz, S.L. Dotson of Montana and I.M. Dotson of South San Francisco, H.D. Dotson of Seattle and a number of grand children and great grand children residing in California, Minnesota, Montana, Washington and Honolulu.

Mr. Dotson was born in West Virginia, and has resided in this county for many years.

He was a Seventh Day Adventist in religious belief, and a member of that church for many years.

He was a veteran of the Civil War.

Santa Cruz Evening News (June 2, 1923)

Funeral Services for J.W. Dotson

Funeral services over the late John Wesley Dotson were held Tuesday afternoon at the Seventh Day Adventist church on Pennsylvania Avenue, and were conducted by Elder L.A. Wilkerson, assisted by Rev. C. D Wellman.

The esteem in which he was held was manifested by the numerous and beautiful flora offerings.

The favorite hymns of the deceased, "Some Sweet Day", "Nearer My God to Thee", and "Rock of Ages" were beautifully rendered by H.A. Cooper and Ethel Fletcher King.

The pallbearers were D.E. Wellman, C.A. Clark, A. Berg, C.N. Noble, A.N. Tuttle and Mr. Bourg.

In West Virginia, the year 1829, he was born, and married to Amy B. Pool, September 14, 1870.

To this union were born fourteen children, six of whom are living, four sons and two daughters, E.P. Dotson, Mrs. A.G. Kerns, Mrs. F.J. Herrick of Santa Cruz, R.M. Dotson of San Francisco, S.L. Dotson of Montana, H.E. Dotson of Seattle, a number of grand children and great grand children and great-great grand children.

Dr. Dotson enlisted in the Civil War at the age of 32. He served three years, at the end of which he was honorably discharged.

He moved with his family to Minnesota in the early days where he established a home and resided a number of years removing to California, Santa Cruz County, in the year 1891. He was a kind and generous neighbor and leaves many friends, who will mourn his loss.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (June 1, 1923)

Dotson Will Filed With Clerk

E.P. Dotson, through his attorneys, Lucas F. Smith and Stanford Smith, has petitioned for letters of administration in the estate of John W. Dotson, deceased.

The property will not exceed in value $5,000 and is real and personal property, including a house and a lot on Caledonia street, valued at $1800.

The will was executed January 3, 1923, when he was 93 years old, and was in his plain, legible hand writing, every letter being on the line. The witnesses were Stanford Smith and Jessie M. Sells.

He bequeaths to his children in equal shares his property.

Date of Birth: 1829-03-24

Date of Death: 1923-25-05

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Oakwood Memorial Park

Plot: B1/05

Cause of Death: Kid/Uremia

Date of Marriage: 1870/09/14

Spouse: Pool_ Amy B

Occupation: Physician Foot

Religion: Ad

Height: 6'

Local Address: Caledonia 9

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: VA

Father Native of: Emanuel (VA)

Mother Native of: Sayer_ Hanna (VA)

Enlisted: 1861/

Discharged: 1864/

Military Unit: WV_ 6 Inf_ Co E

Military Notes: Not on HDS/SSS Database 04/04

GAR#: N/R

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: SEN 1920/11/03