The following is dedicated to the memory of MARJORIE "MARJ" LOUISE DOPSON, A
 GREAT-GREAT GRANDAUGHTER OF ROBERT DOPSON. THROUGH WHOSE HARD WORK IN
 INTERVIEWING FAMILY MEMBERS & RECORDING FAMILY GENEALOGY DATA OVER THE YEARS
 IS DIRECTLY RESPONCIBLE FOR WHAT FOLLOWS:


PROLOG

	I certainly hope you the reader enjoy what follows.  Several areas
 have changed significantly since it was first put to paper August 1998.
  Don't judge your ancestors for mistakes made.  Their times and trials in
 most cases were harder than ours---certainly circumstances of living would
 impact on their decisions or how they would decide on issues later on in
 life.  This sometimes makes it hard on one generation, especially the
 younger, to understand why their parents did what they did and why they
 think the way they do.  I know I felt this way concerning my parents as I
 grew up and I know my kids think so of me---but, you know, the older I get
 the more I find my thinking on issues in most cases isn't any different than
 that of my parents, maybe I'm getting more mature with my age, who knows? 

	In the time I've been putting together this Chronicle, my mind set
 has gone through a change from one just collecting data into one of intense
 interest as though reading a really exciting and good book.  At the time of
 this writing the story isn't finished.  It not only lacks a beginning (who
 was the first Dobson in America), but, also an end- - -which will never
 really come since this, I hope is a living book, one that one of us will
 continue to add on to as the years roll by.

	Early life in Colonial America was extremely difficult.  The
 original colonies were the beginning of the frontier- - -they were the
 frontier.  The mountains were rugged, the forests deep and bewildering and
 sometimes the locals were right down unfriendly, leading to some real hair
 rising situations.  Mortality rate among newborns up to ten years of age was
 20%.  From ten years to twenty years the mortality rate was 5 %.  Common
 childhood diseases such as chickenpox, measles, mumps and often the
 so-called common cold attributed to 85% of most childhood deaths of children
 less than 5 years.  Life then was no picnic, other that cold winter nights,
 this death rate of children probably impacted more on large family numbers
 reaching to 10-15 children born then any other factor, since no one had a
 clue how many children would survive to adulthood.

THE BOOK OF DOBSON/DOPSON

	Our Family Name of Dopson is a form of the name Dobson and has been
 interchanged freely in practically all-same name clans.   It is traceable
 back to Ireland and England.  The particular Dobson/Dopsons that initially
 settled the American British Colonies came via Ireland, not sure how long
 they were there- - -could have been for more than one generation, if so
 technically speaking the American settlers were Irish not British.  The
 Dobsons/Dopsons that settled in Australia were of the original penal stock;
 very likely the ones that settled in Ireland were also, since Briton used
 Ireland for a while to purge its prisons.  Dobson/Dopson literally means son
 of Dobby.  Dobby is in turn is a diminutive, pet-version of the popular
 personal name Robert.   In other words Robert/Dobby are the same.
   Robertson/Dobson/Dopson mean "Son of- - -Dobby/Robert".  Robert is of
 Anglo-Saxon origin, and means "Bright-Fame" and dates back to the fourteenth century.

	 One interesting name is "Newton", it keeps repeating itself as a
 middle name throughout our Dobson/Dopson family line, and the connecting
 link may rest with that name.  Our Great Great Grandfather Robert Dobson
 gave it to his third son, Henry Newton Dobson/Dopson.  Henry Newton Dopson
 gave it to his only son of record of his first marriage, William Newton
 Dopson and again to his seventh child by his second marriage, Charles Newton
 Dopson.  Newton has been used as a middle name downward since.  A middle
 name was generally given to honor the memory of a paternal/maternal parent
 or other relative.  There is a lock that this key fits yet to be found.

       	At present our oldest known patriarch is Robert Dobson.  Our oldest
 matriarch is Rebecca Connor.  You will note that I have said Dobson, not
 Dopson. I think as this story unwinds you will agree that the original
 surname was Dobson.   At least that is the way Robert spelled in more than
 one Federal Census.  Two of his children carried on that spelling as seen in
 follow Federal Census.   Our story about our ancestors changes a little bit
 from Federal Census To Federal Census and has some twist and turns when
 other documents come to light.  Certainly, we might say there are
 contradictions, which will challenge us to establish the truth of these
 issues.   We have to remember that literacy was a big issue with these
 people.  Again census records have a built error likely hood with ages.
  Most census were taken during the summer early fall months, i.e. June, July,
 August and sometimes September.  When someone reports his/her age it was
 supposed to be of his or her last birthday.  But, if the person will be
 experiencing a birthday shortly thereafter the census date they may give
 that age thus advancing themselves.  So when a person says they are 25 it is
 approached that that was the age on their last birthday.  Now since census
 was take during the mid-term months, say June, and the person says they
 where 25 we know that they must have had there 25th birthday from the July
 the year before to May of the year of the census.  So if the census was take
 in 1900 we would say the year of birth was 1874 -1875.  So,---when looking
 at different census reports every ten years it is not unusual for the
 approximate year of birth for a person to fluctuate + 2 years.  Another
 error that crops in is the birth state of a parent, esp. if that parent
 passes-on when the person is an early age.

        To date the oldest Document is the 1860 Federal Census, taken in
 McMimms Co., Tennessee. (Note:  There is a family record contradiction of
 Robert's birth state as being Kentucky instead of North Carolina.
  Presently, for record purposes, we will put greater creditability in the
 census report since it is the result of a personal interview between a
 record taker and the party in question.)  
Facts Shown:	
(1)  The census was dated in July 23 rd . of 1860. 
(2)  The census establishes the surname as Dobson.
(3)  Lists Robert 54 (born about 1806) years old, Farm Labor, born in N. C.,
 lists him as being illiterate, personal property value-$1500.00 .
(4)  Lists Rebecca as 54  (born about 1860 years old, born in S.C., lists
 her as being illiterate.
(5)  It list all four sons;  Robert-16 years (born about 1843-44), Farm
 Labor, Wm. J. (William J.) 14 years(born about 1845-46)- , Henry N.
 (Newton)-12 years (born about 1847-48) and Adolphus-10 years (born about 1849-50).

This census report as well as word of mouth information provided by Mary
 Elizabeth "Weldy" Dopson, the wife of Patrick Dopson, to her daughter
 Marjorie "Dopson" Godsey provided us with all that we knew and could reason
 about Robert Dobson and his family in 1998 when the first book was prepared.

	From Mary Elizabeth "Weldy" Dopson we know that there were two half
 sisters, Mary and Rhoda.  We knew that Rhoda married a Mr. Riddle and that
 Mary married a Mr. Young.  When/where they were born was not known until 2002.   

	In the 1870 Federal Census, taken in Washington Co., Marrs Township,
 Post Office Roy's Mill, Arkansas we learn so many more secrets.
	Facts Shown:	
(1)  The census is dated only month/year.  August 1870.
(2)  The census re-confirms the surname Dobson.
(3)  List Robert as 67 vs. 64 (born about 1803) years old, Farmer, born in
 S. C. vs. N. C.
(4)  Rebecca is gone!!  Since divorce was not that common then, their
 financial state limited in providing a legal separation, would suspect she
 died between after July, 1860-before 1862.
(5)  Robert has taken a new wife-Emeline Matthews, 28 year old (born about
 1842) in Tennessee.
(6)  Listed at home are members of the first family:  Wm. J. Dobson (William
 J.), 21 years, (born about1849), S. C., Newton Dobson (Henry Newton), 20
 years (born about 1850), S. C. & Adolphus Dobson, 18 years old, born about 1852, S. C.
(7)  Children bore by Emaline Dobson:  Columbus Dobson, age 8 year, born
 Tn., (born about 1862), R. A. (Rhoda A.) Dobson, age 5 born Tn (born about
 1865) & Mary Dobson, age 4, born Tn. (born about 1866) .

        Henry Newton Dobson/Dopson moves out of his father's household
 sometime after August 1870 and by 1873.  He marries/met unknown from
 Arkansas, moves to Colorado and has a son born January 3, 1874---named
 William Newton Dopson.  William's birth data establish first time the
 surname Dopson was used.  (California Death Index, 1940-1997 provided
 William Newton Dopson's birth/death data.)**See detailed discussion
 concerning William Newton Dopson following the 1920 Federal Census Dialog.

        In the 1880 Federal Census we find nothing about the Robert Dobson
 family that was mentioned in the 1870 Federal in Washington Co., Ar.
  Robert, Emaline & Columbus Dobson are gone, and suspect some tragedy due to
 the facts that follow.

        The 1880 Federal Census, Lyon, Cherokee Co., Dist. 44, Kansas lists
 the following:  Rhoda Dobson, born about 1866 in Tn., age 14, adopted by
 Head of Household, Elizabeth Riddle, age 71.  The Kansas Federal Census
 Lists Rhoda's father as being born in N. C. and her mother as being born in
 Tn.  Living in the household is Elizabeth's son Benjamin W. Riddle, age 28,
 farmer.  It was known by the family (Mary Elizabeth "Weldy" Dopson) that
 Rhoda married a Mr. Riddle, which most likely came as a result of this
 adoption. **NOTE:  The Arkansas Census records Rhoda's last name as Dobson.

        The 1880 Federal Census, Illinois, Washington Co., Arkansas lists
 the following:  Mary Dobson, born about 1868 in Tn., age 12 (orphan).  The
 Arkansas Federal Census lists Mary's father as being born in N. C. and her
 mother in Tn.  Mary is living in the William and Eliza A. Jones household
 and going to school.  Mary is known to have later by family (Mary Elizabeth
 "Weldy" Dopson) to have married a Mr. Young.  **NOTE:  The Arkansas Census
 records Mary's last name as Dobson.

        The 1880 Federal Census, Kings Prairie Township, Barry Co., Mo. we
 find: Henry Newton Dopson's family listed.  Note:  No mention of William
 Newton Dopson, son by first spouse.  For some reason there has been a change
 in the birth location that Henry Newton gives for himself and his brothers.
 In addition we find him officially going by his middle name of Newton or by
 a nickname of Newt.

Newton Dopson, age 29, Head of Household, born in Tn.
Eliza (Louisa Eliza Brixey), age 27, born in Mo.
William Dopson, age 35, brother, born in Tn.
Dolph, age 29, brother, born in Tn.

        The 1900 Federal Census, Butterfield Township, Barry Co., Mo. we
 find:  The Henry Newton Family pretty much as we have known it.

Newton Dopson, age 50, born (first the recorder has put down Tenn. Then "X"
 it out and wrote S.C.
Eliza, age 47, born in Mo.
Columbia, age 19, born in Mo.
Pat, age 18, born in Mo.
Katie, age 16, born in Mo.
Robert, age 12, born in Mo.
Mattie, age 10, born in Mo.
Charlie, age 9, born in Mo.
John, age 7, born in Mo.

        The 1900 Federal Census, Barry Co. Mo. lists:

William Dopson, age 55, Head of Household, born Tn. & Dolph, age 49, brother, born Tn.

        In the 1920 Federal Census, Twin Groves Township, Jasper Co., Mo. he
 is listed as Newton H. Dopson.  He is the only one in the household; he
 lists his State of Birth as Tn. and both of his parents being born in N. C.  

        William Newton Dopson & daughter Bebe June Dopson:  What is known
 comes from the Charles Newton Dopson side of the family via Naomi Ruth
 Dopson and Pauline Elizabeth "Dopson" Alastra.

        In 1998 Naomi Dopson sent me several pictures of the Dopson family
 from Idaho to include in the forth coming Dopson Family Book.  In these
 photos was a picture of Bebe June Dopson.  On the back of the picture was
 written Bebe June Dopson, 13 years old.  Later she found a listing in her
 mother's old address directory for a William Dopson at 2 E. Flora St.,
 Stockton, Ca..  Inscribed under the address," Bebe June his girl was 13
 years the 8th of March 1939, born in Twin Falls, Id. ".  In addition, the
 remarks concerning the address had been crossed through with an "X" with the
 word Deceased written over it. Naomi queried her older sister Pauline
 concerning who was William Dopson?  Pauline's reply was, "William came to
 visit us one time with Granddad  (Henry Newton Dopson).  He was introduced
 as Dad's 1/2 brother.  This visit probably took place sometime around 1920-1923.

 	As of August 2003-Certain addition facts came about with the
 releasing of new information concerning the opening of records of the 1930
 Federal Census and corresponding California Death Index, 1940-1997.  The
 driving force here was looking for a listing for Bebe June Dopson, a very
 unusual first/middle name combination.  Using this new data we found the following:

	In the 1930 Federal Census, Clatsop Co., Oregon. We find the a
 listing for Bebe June Dopson:

William N. Dopson, age 54, Head of Household, born about 1876, Colorado,
 father born Mo. (wrong), mother born Ar.
Margaret R., age 42, spouse, born about 1888, Missouri.
Bebe June, age 4, daughter, born about 1926, Id.

        The California Death Index lists:  Dopson, William Newton, Male,
 born 1/3/1874, died 8/8/1947, born Colorado, Death Place: San Francisco,
 Ca., S.S.N. 572-18-5174

	We are currently looking for the Descendants of Rhoda and Mary
 Dobson.  In addition, we are also looking for Bebe June Dopson---very likely
 she is still living.

On May 20, 2004 received an e-mail from:----- Original Message ----- 
From: Don McKinney 
To: Mike Dopson 
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 12:07 AM
Subject: Robert Dobson
- - - - -My wife is a descendent of Mary Elizabeth Dobson.  Columbus, Mary
 and Rhoda were the children of Robert Dobson/Emeline Matthews.- - - - Mary
 was an orphan by 1880 and I have no info regarding what happened to her
 parents.  I do have some info on Rhoda and Mary Elizabeth.  If still
 researching, would be interested in exchanging data on the Dobson's.-----

As of May 21, 2004, we have resolved Rhoda and Mary Dobson and still are
 looking for Bebe June Dopson.


        AS MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE 1930 FEDERAL CENSUS HAS NOW BEEN
 MADE PUBLIC, SO ANYONE BORN FROM 1930 OR EARLIER WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE
 FOLLOWING TEXT.    THEREFORE, YOU WILL FIND ALL IMLER DESCENDANTS LISTED
 HERE THAT WERE BORN IN THE YEAR 1930 OR EARLIER AND IMLERS BORN AFTER 1930
 THAT ARE KNOWN TO BE DECEASED.