"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone. Probably published in 1944 by Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, pp. 454-455. Used by permission. [Daviess] DEACON IRA W. DAWSON: This outstanding Church leader was born near Masonville, Daviess County, Kentucky, on October 8, 1853, and was the ninth child of eleven born to Joseph McCann and Elizabeth Miller Dawson. He was reared on a farm and followed that occupation most of his life. He also attended the schools at hand securing a good common school education. As a young man he made a profession of faith and was baptized into the fellowship of the Sugar Grove Church near his home. He united with the Macedonia Church by letter in the year 1881 and in October 1906, was ordained to the office of deacon by this same Church. For about thirty years or more he served as the efficient Choir Director of this Church. The Associational minutes show that he served his Church as a messenger to the Association almost annually from 1885 to 1918. He also served on several important committees during that time. Our subject married Miss Mary Ellen Taylor in the year 1875. Seven children blessed this union of whom about five are still living. His first wife died in 1897 and in the year 1902 he married Miss Mary Emrich. She is still living at present. Mr. Dawson died on May 9, 1918. He was the father of Mr. John Dawson, Chairman of the Daviess County School Board for the past several years, and a deacon of the Dawson Church at Philpot, Kentucky. Mrs. I. O. Emrich, a daughter of Mr. Dawson, has been the pianist at the Macedonia Church for several years, following in the steps of her sister, Mrs. E. J. Brooks, who played the organ at Macedonia Church for almost forty years. Another son, Mr. Miller Dawson, has been a deacon of the Macedonia Church for several years and a teacher in the Sunday School. Mr Dawson was a faithful and consecrated member of his Church and also a loyal supporter of the work of the Association. He represented the Association at the General Association of Kentucky Baptists on three different occasions. Dawson Miller Taylor Emrich Brooks = none http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/dawson.iw.txt