COLONEL WILLIAM S DODDS
was born in Warren County, Ohio, August 22, 1808. When a youth he learned the tailor's trade. At the age of twenty-two he began business for himself in Mason, which he carried on for sixteen years. On September 6, 1832, he married Sarah L. Lowe, who was born January 21, 1809. He had a family of three children: E. C., born August 1, 1833; married Lavina F. Keever on December 18, 1860, and had two daughters: Grace Ion, born January 29, 1862, and Maud Alberta, born September 19, 1870, died December 30, 1874, of scarlet fever, after an illness of seventeen days; William Oscar, born August 23, 1837, died August 16, 1864; Adolphus W., born September 27, 1839.
At an early age, Mr. Dodds served in the Ohio militia for a period of some seven years. He entered as Captain, and was promoted to the position of Colonel. The Colonel has been eminently successful in business, the elements of which success were an untiring industry and perseverance, a rigid economy and extreme caution in the expenditure of money. In these virtues he has been an example to the rising generation. He began life with nothing but his hands and an earnest heart, and has accumulated a handsome property. He stands among the best business managers in Warren County. He has always been much given to debate, for which he possesses a special talent.
Also: drawing of "Res. of Col. Wm S. Dodds." ("Combination Atlas Map of Warren Co., OH" by L. H. Everts, 1875, Pg 21 1/4 and Pg 51)

Col. William S. Dodds, retired; P. O. Mason; was born in Turtle Creek Township in 1808, and is a son of Benjamin and Martha (Drake) Dodds. He was born in Franklin Co., Penn. in 1775; she was born in Middlesex Co., N.J., in 1786, and came to Ohio with her mother, Mary (Sutton) Drake; she was married to a Mr. Van Pelt, and a son of this union married Thomas Corwin's sister. Benjamin Dodds came to Ohio in 1799, and permanently located in this county. He was married in 1802 and resided near Lebanon till 1808, when he came to Deerfield Township. Eleven children were born to them, three sons living, viz. Josephus, William S. and Joseph A. Mr. D. died Jan. 10, 1849; Mrs. D. died Feb. 13, 1866. His son, John A., was a member of the State Legislature for three terms. Josephus was a Drum Major of an Ohio regiment and an aged man at the time. Benjamin, father of our subject, was a man of sound judgment and was often appealed to by those in trouble to arbitrate the difficulty. Our subject was reared on the farm till he was 17 years old, at which time from his circumstances he concluded to become a tailor, the decisive point being reached one cold morning, when his cold fingers and the bright glow of fire in the tailor shop helped him to come to the conclusion to apprentice himself to a tailor, for whom he worked four years and nine months as bound boy. At this point in his career, he began business "on his own hook," so to speak, and, by pushing matters, his business as a merchant tailor netted him cash, and nine months after starting, had furnished a house, and, Sept. 6, 1832, was married to Sarah L., daughter of Abraham Lowe, and niece of Judge Lowe; she being the daughter of wealthy parents, had, as a matter of course, offers from wealthier suitors, and certain parties naturally objected to our subject, because he was a poor working young man, and whose only recommendation was health, strength, honesty and industry. These objections were removed by his marriage with this lady, and the time came when he had more wealth than those who opposed him. In his tailoring business he was prosperous and his trade was so extensive he could scarcely attend to it. He kept a store in connection and employed hands to do his work. After sixteen years in this kind of trade, he abandoned it and engaged in merchandising; handling real estate was his next venture, and he bought and sold a great deal of property and was very successful, making considerable money, and is now among the wealthy men of the county and a highly respected citizen. He is now retired from active business pursuits and is enjoying his declining years amid peace and plenty, and he feels that his life has not been altogether uneventful. He belongs to no sect, denomination or creed; this world, his home; his brethren, all mankind. His wife died July 16, 1879, aged 70 years, 5 months, and 20 days; was born Jan. 21, 1809. To Mr. and Mrs. D. were born three children, two living, viz., Courtland and Adolphus. Oscar died Aug. 16, 1864, aged 26 years, 11 months and 23 days. He served some time in the army as an Orderly; was taken sick, was brought home, returned again, was taken, sick, returned again to his home, where he died. ("History of Warren Co., OH" by Beers, Pg 976-7)

Death of Colonel Wm. S. Dodds.
Last Saturday morning Col. Wm. S. Dodds, of Mason, was stricken with paralysis, resulting in his death before night. He was one of the oldest and wealthiest men of Deerfield township, and had lived in Mason for fifty years or more. He was brought up on a farm till 17 years of age when he apprenticed himself to a tailor for whom he worked four years and nine months as a bound boy. After learning the trade he set up in the tailoring business for himself and made money rapidly, his patronage being so extensive he could scarcely attend to it.
He kept a store in connection and employed hands to do his work.
After sixteen years in this business he abandoned it and engaged in merchandising, and then in buying and selling real estate.
He was very successful in all his business transactions and the last years of his life were spent in ease and comfort amid peace and plenty, and in the enjoyment of the respect and esteem of all his neighbors.
His wife died July 16, 1879, in the seventy-first year of her age.
She was the mother of three children only two of whom are now living, Courtland and Adolphus.
The funeral of Mr. Dodds took place at 10 o'clock today.
(Western Star Dec. 2, 1884)

Colonel William S. Dodds.
Born, August 22, 1808; died, November 29, 1884; aged seventy-six years. The sad intelligence has been received here that William S. Dodds, one of the pioneer citizens of Deerfield Township, died, at his home in Mason, on Saturday last, after a brief but severe illness. He was stricken with paralysis about 7 o'clock in the morning, and died at 2 P.M. Deceased was widely known in this county, having been for many years an active business man, and, by his habits of business tact and energy, secured to himself a considerable amount of property. Leaving the farm at the age of seventeen, he began business as a tailor. It is said of him that in this business he was very prosperous. He was married September 6, 1832, to Miss Sarah L., a daughter of Abraham Lowe, and a niece of Judge Lowe. Sixteen years later he engaged in merchandising, and still later in life he devoted his energies to handling real estate, in all of which he was very successful. He retired from business several years ago, having attained a handsome competence for his declining years. His wife died July 6, 1879, aged seventy years and five months. Mr. Dodds' family consisted of three sons - Oscar, Courtland and Adolphus, the last two of whom are still living. The funeral services were held on Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Henley, of Cincinnati. (Lebanon Gazette Dec. 6, 1884)

Pictures of the family marker and inscriptions for William S. Dodds, his wife, and son, William O. Dodds are posted in memorial for his wife, Sarah (Lowe) Dodds.