Viola Ruth Dodson was born on September 3, 1876, to Milton and Susanna Burris Dodson, who owned the Perdido Ranch in Nueces County, Texas.
Her paternal grandparents were Archelaus & Susan Bradley Dodson who came to Texas with Stephen F. Austin's OLD 300 Colonists. Sarah Bradley Dodson was credited with sewing the first Texas tricolor lone star flag flown during the Texas Revolution. Her maternal grandparents, the Sauls, also came to Texas as early as 1824 making her a true daughter of the Republic of Texas.
Ruth grew up on the family's South Texas El Perdido Ranch with ranch hands who only spoke Spanish. Only her parents spoke English. Ruth said of herself, "I was bilingual from infancy, and have a natural interest in people from the standpoint of folk". She had a bright, inquiring mind and was interested in many subjects, but was particularly interested in the Mexican culture and folklore. She became interested in the faith healings of Don Pedrito Jaramillo, and in 1935, Ruth published a collection of stories that covered more than four decades of his healings. The book, Don Pedrito Jaramillo "Curandero" was first published in Spanish & later translated to English. It became a folklore classic and The Library of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia acquired it as a reference book in the History of Medicine Department.
She contributed many articles to Texas magazines and newspapers. J. Frank Dobie, renowned American Folklorist, writer, Newspaper Columnist and Professor at the University of Texas, had been her neighbor on a nearby ranch. Many of her memories, stories, and research became sources of information/ideas for his books. She was an excellent writer & Journalist. Her life story can be found in an entry in the Handbook of Texas.
Having never married, Ruth became the family caretaker, watching over siblings, nieces and nephews, and parents as she was needed. in her younger life, she moved around and lived in several places, but always returned to South Texas. She held many different jobs and was self-educated by her love of books and avid reading.
When her parents grew older, she moved back to the Ranch to care for them. After their death, she lived in Mathis for a while where she was known as the Red Cross of Mathis, due to her tireless work helping those in need in the area. She died in Corpus Christ in 1963 having lived an interesting and productive life, Her life story can be found in an entry in the HANDBOOK OF YEXAS.
Her paternal grandparents were Archelaus & Susan Bradley Dodson who came to Texas with Stephen F. Austin's OLD 300 Colonists. Sarah Bradley Dodson was credited with sewing the first Texas tricolor lone star flag flown during the Texas Revolution. Her maternal grandparents, the Sauls, also came to Texas as early as 1824 making her a true daughter of the Republic of Texas.
Ruth grew up on the family's South Texas El Perdido Ranch with ranch hands who only spoke Spanish. Only her parents spoke English. Ruth said of herself, "I was bilingual from infancy, and have a natural interest in people from the standpoint of folk". She had a bright, inquiring mind and was interested in many subjects, but was particularly interested in the Mexican culture and folklore. She became interested in the faith healings of Don Pedrito Jaramillo, and in 1935, Ruth published a collection of stories that covered more than four decades of his healings. The book, Don Pedrito Jaramillo "Curandero" was first published in Spanish & later translated to English. It became a folklore classic and The Library of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia acquired it as a reference book in the History of Medicine Department.
She contributed many articles to Texas magazines and newspapers. J. Frank Dobie, renowned American Folklorist, writer, Newspaper Columnist and Professor at the University of Texas, had been her neighbor on a nearby ranch. Many of her memories, stories, and research became sources of information/ideas for his books. She was an excellent writer & Journalist. Her life story can be found in an entry in the Handbook of Texas.
Having never married, Ruth became the family caretaker, watching over siblings, nieces and nephews, and parents as she was needed. in her younger life, she moved around and lived in several places, but always returned to South Texas. She held many different jobs and was self-educated by her love of books and avid reading.
When her parents grew older, she moved back to the Ranch to care for them. After their death, she lived in Mathis for a while where she was known as the Red Cross of Mathis, due to her tireless work helping those in need in the area. She died in Corpus Christ in 1963 having lived an interesting and productive life, Her life story can be found in an entry in the HANDBOOK OF YEXAS.
Viola Ruth Dodson was born on September 3, 1876, to Milton and Susanna Burris Dodson, who owned the Perdido Ranch in Nueces County, Texas.
Her paternal grandparents were Archelaus & Susan Bradley Dodson who came to Texas with Stephen F. Austin's OLD 300 Colonists. Sarah Bradley Dodson was credited with sewing the first Texas tricolor lone star flag flown during the Texas Revolution. Her maternal grandparents, the Sauls, also came to Texas as early as 1824 making her a true daughter of the Republic of Texas.
Ruth grew up on the family's South Texas El Perdido Ranch with ranch hands who only spoke Spanish. Only her parents spoke English. Ruth said of herself, "I was bilingual from infancy, and have a natural interest in people from the standpoint of folk". She had a bright, inquiring mind and was interested in many subjects, but was particularly interested in the Mexican culture and folklore. She became interested in the faith healings of Don Pedrito Jaramillo, and in 1935, Ruth published a collection of stories that covered more than four decades of his healings. The book, Don Pedrito Jaramillo "Curandero" was first published in Spanish & later translated to English. It became a folklore classic and The Library of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia acquired it as a reference book in the History of Medicine Department.
She contributed many articles to Texas magazines and newspapers. J. Frank Dobie, renowned American Folklorist, writer, Newspaper Columnist and Professor at the University of Texas, had been her neighbor on a nearby ranch. Many of her memories, stories, and research became sources of information/ideas for his books. She was an excellent writer & Journalist. Her life story can be found in an entry in the Handbook of Texas.
Having never married, Ruth became the family caretaker, watching over siblings, nieces and nephews, and parents as she was needed. in her younger life, she moved around and lived in several places, but always returned to South Texas. She held many different jobs and was self-educated by her love of books and avid reading.
When her parents grew older, she moved back to the Ranch to care for them. After their death, she lived in Mathis for a while where she was known as the Red Cross of Mathis, due to her tireless work helping those in need in the area. She died in Corpus Christ in 1963 having lived an interesting and productive life, Her life story can be found in an entry in the HANDBOOK OF YEXAS.
Her paternal grandparents were Archelaus & Susan Bradley Dodson who came to Texas with Stephen F. Austin's OLD 300 Colonists. Sarah Bradley Dodson was credited with sewing the first Texas tricolor lone star flag flown during the Texas Revolution. Her maternal grandparents, the Sauls, also came to Texas as early as 1824 making her a true daughter of the Republic of Texas.
Ruth grew up on the family's South Texas El Perdido Ranch with ranch hands who only spoke Spanish. Only her parents spoke English. Ruth said of herself, "I was bilingual from infancy, and have a natural interest in people from the standpoint of folk". She had a bright, inquiring mind and was interested in many subjects, but was particularly interested in the Mexican culture and folklore. She became interested in the faith healings of Don Pedrito Jaramillo, and in 1935, Ruth published a collection of stories that covered more than four decades of his healings. The book, Don Pedrito Jaramillo "Curandero" was first published in Spanish & later translated to English. It became a folklore classic and The Library of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia acquired it as a reference book in the History of Medicine Department.
She contributed many articles to Texas magazines and newspapers. J. Frank Dobie, renowned American Folklorist, writer, Newspaper Columnist and Professor at the University of Texas, had been her neighbor on a nearby ranch. Many of her memories, stories, and research became sources of information/ideas for his books. She was an excellent writer & Journalist. Her life story can be found in an entry in the Handbook of Texas.
Having never married, Ruth became the family caretaker, watching over siblings, nieces and nephews, and parents as she was needed. in her younger life, she moved around and lived in several places, but always returned to South Texas. She held many different jobs and was self-educated by her love of books and avid reading.
When her parents grew older, she moved back to the Ranch to care for them. After their death, she lived in Mathis for a while where she was known as the Red Cross of Mathis, due to her tireless work helping those in need in the area. She died in Corpus Christ in 1963 having lived an interesting and productive life, Her life story can be found in an entry in the HANDBOOK OF YEXAS.
