• Born: 7 May 1886, Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA ^{1 2 4 5 6}
• Marriage (1): Versa Elizabeth NELSON about 1914 in prob Clay County, Illinois, USA ^{1 2 3}
• Marriage (2): Verna UNK on 4 October 1936 in prob Illinois, USA
• Marriage (3): Irene A. CARNEY on 22 December 1907 in Jefferson County, Illinois, USA
• Died: 22 November 1937, Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA at age 51 ⁴
• Buried: 23 November 1937, Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA ⁴

   Other names for Luther were Luther DODSON,¹ Luther M. DODSON,² Luther Melton DODSON ^{3 4} and Luthor M. DODSON.⁵

  General Notes

Luther Milton DODSON was born 07 May 1886 in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA. He was the son of Solomon Dodson and his wife Elizabeth Dodson. (Solomon and Elizabeth were likely cousins of some sort, although Solomon was born in White County, Tennesse and Elizabeth was born in Jefferson County, Illinois.)

In 1907, Luther married Irene A. Carney in Jefferson County, Illinois. Irene was the daughter of Joseph Carney and Louise Hoffmann. The marriage did not last. Later, Irene married Benjamin Thomas Thurston. She died in Saint Louis in 1950.

About 1917 Luther married Versa Elizabeth Nelson, probably in Clay City, Clay County, Illinois. They lost several children in infancy (Alberta May was only 3 months old when she died; Roy Harold was just barely over 3 years old; and there was also an unnamed infant boy that was stillborn in 1925). There were two living children in the 1930 census, a daughter, Dorothy, and a son, Ivan.

Sometime  in the 1930s, Luther and Versa divorced. Luther next married a Vera (or Verna) Hatfield on 04 October 1936.

Luther was listed as a day laborer in the 1900 census in Jefferson County, before he married his first wife. By 1918 in Clay City (according to his WWI draft card), he worked as a trackman for the B&O Railroad Company. But by the 1920 census in Clay City, he was listed as a laborer again. By 1930, in Mount Vernon, he worked for a car manufacturing company doing "fitting up." When he died on 22 Nov 1937 at the age of 51, his occupation was listed as "riveter."

Luther was buried in Hopewell Cemetery in Mount Vernon on 23 Nov 1937.

~~~~~~~~

Luther Melton Dodson

     Luther Melton Dodson, lifetime resident of this city, died at four o'clock this morning at his home, 1016 Perkins Avenue.
     Mr. Dodson was born May 7, 1886 in Mt. Vernon.  He was united in marriage with Vera M. Hatfield Oct. 4, 1936, his widow surviving.  He was the son of Solomon and Elizabeth Dodson, both of whom preceded him in death.
     At the time of his death, he was employed as a riveter in the steel plant of the Mt. Vernon Car Manufacturing Co.
     Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at Myers Chapel, conducted by Rev. Linnie McDonald and interment will be made in Hopewell Cemetery.
     The body will remain at Myers Chapel until the funeral hour.  Friends may call there at any time up to the funeral hour.
     Besides his widow, he is survived by one son, Ivan of Mt. Vernon; one daughter, Mrs. Dortha Fern May of Mt. Vernon; and one grandchild.

—  Unknown newspaper, dated 22 November 1937

~~~~~~~~~~~

  Burial Notes

Hopewell Cemetery

  Recorded Events in His Life

• He worked as a day laborer on 2 June 1900 in Shiloh Township, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA. ⁵

• He appeared on the 1900 US Federal Census on 2 June 1900 in Shiloh Township, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA. ⁵
  

Dodson Salaman     Head   W  M   May 1831   69   M  38          Tennessee   Tennessee   Kentucky    Farmer
------ Elizabeth   Wife   W  F   Apr 1845   55   M  38  10  4   Illinois    Kentucky    Tennessee
------ James       Son    W  M   Jan 1882   18   S              Illinois    Tennessee   Illinois    Day Laborer
------ Luthor M    Son    W  M   May 1886   14   S              Illinois    Tennessee   Illinois    Day Labor

• He had a residence on 12 September 1918 in Clay City, Clay County, Illinois, USA. ⁶ He worked as a trackman for the B & O Railroad Company.

• He worked as a laborer on 13 January 1920 in Clay City, Clay County, Illinois, USA. ¹

• He appeared on the 1920 US Federal Census on 13 January 1920 in Clay City, Clay County, Illinois, USA. ¹
  

Dodson, Luther   Head   M   W   33      M   Illinois   Tennessee   Illinois   Laborer
------, Versie   Wife   F   W   21      M   Illinois   Illinois    Illinois   None
------, Roy      Son    M   W   10/12   S   Illinois   Illinois    Illinois   None

• He worked as an an employee of a car manufacturing company doing "fitting up" on 30 April 1930 in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA. ²

• He appeared on the 1930 US Federal Census on 30 April 1930 in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA. ²
  

Dodson Luther M.   Head*       M  W   43   M   30   Illinois  Tennessee   Illinois   Fitting up / Car Mfg. Co
------ Versil C.   Wife        F  W   32   M   19   Illinois  Illinois    Illinois   none
------ Dorthy      Daughter    F  W   10   S        Illinois  Illinois    Illinois   none
------ Viann M.    Son         M  W    7   S        Illinois  Illinois    Illinois   none
Cluck Adam         Boarder**   M  W   48   Wd  20   Illinois  Illinois    Illinois   Laborer / Car shops
        *Rents ($5), no radio, does not live on a farm, not in school, able to read and write
       **Owns ($400), no radio, does not live on a farm, not in school, able to read and write

• He worked as a riveter before 22 November 1937 in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA. ⁴

Luther married Versa Elizabeth NELSON, daughter of John H. NELSON and Elizabeth MAGLONE, about 1914 in prob Clay County, Illinois, USA.^{1 2 3} The marriage ended in divorce before October 1936. (Versa Elizabeth NELSON was born on 28 February 1898 in Clay City, Clay County, Illinois, USA,^{1 2 7 8} died on 3 April 1956 in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA and was buried on 5 April 1956 in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA.)

Luther next married Verna UNK on 4 October 1936 in prob Illinois, USA. (Verna UNK was born about 1900 in Illinois, USA ⁹.)

Luther next married Irene A. CARNEY on 22 December 1907 in Jefferson County, Illinois, USA. (Irene A. CARNEY was born on 6 August 1891 in Missouri, USA and died on 25 November 1950 in Saint Louis, Saint Louis City, Missouri, USA.)