John Van [A]usdall Dawson was born on April 9, 1860, near Torantum, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and passed away in the Immanuel hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, on July 15, 1940, at the age of 80 years, 3 months and 6 days.

He came to Nebraska in 1885 and homesteaded 4½ miles north of Farnam, where he resided until the present time with the exception of 11 years, ten of which were spent in Gothenburg.

Mr. Dawson was married to Miss Ida B. McCabe on July 9th, 1890, at the Bradshaw homestead and lived to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the marriage this year at the home of their daughter, Ruth, in Omaha.

Of their seven children, three sons have preceded him in death [John (Ray), Frank, Baby]. Surviving are his wife, Ida; two sons: Glenn V. of Santa Ana, California and Merle T. of Gothenburg; two daughters: Miss M. Gayle Dawson of Gomoh, India and Mrs. L. L. Harris of Omaha; and four grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers: Frank G. Dawson of Butler, Penn. and E. S. Dawson of Ingham, Neb.

Mr. Dawson was converted in 1926 in a revival meeting in Gothenburg and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He re-consecrated himself to the Lord last October. He was courageous and patient in his suffering and passed beyond peacefully.

Through the years Mr. Dawson was able to help in the development of those things which have made the stable progress of the community possible. He was keenly interested in education, government and in all community developments.

The Golden Jubilee of the founding of Farnam in 1936 found Mr. and Mrs. Dawson the only couple of the old settlers residing on their homestead.

Mr. Dawson will be greatly missed by his family and the many friends he has enjoyed thru the years.

Funeral services were held from the Farnam Methodist church on Wednesday afternoon, with the pastor, Rev Samuel Mitchell, and Rev. E. H. Maynard of Gothenburg officiating. Music was furnished by a male quartet, composed of Dan McNickle, Harvey McNickle, David Banks and Rev. H. W. Anderson. Mrs. Helen Hicks accompanied them on the piano. Interment was in the Farnam cemetery.

Gothenburg Times, 25 July 1940