Person:Lawson Dugger (1)

    The research on Lawson Dugger is from his ggreat grandson Gregg Branum. Lawson Dugger was born December 18, 1851 in Knox County, Kentuck (per his Death Certificate at the Clay CO., IN Health Department.

    On the 1860 Federal Census Lawson and some of his siblings are listed in the home of Silas Richardson, a mulatto living near Amos and Sarah.  Silas's family is listed with Lawson's parents. Why they are listed with Silas is unknown. 

    In 1863 Lawson moved with his parents, siblings and other family first to Monroe CO., Indiana then on to Parke CO.

    Lawson is listed with his father and siblings on the 1870 Federal Census in Bridgeton, Raccoon Twp., Parke County, Indiana.

9th Census of the United States - 1870 Bridgeton, Raccoon Twp., Parke Co, IN Page 148, Dwelling # 22 Dugger Lawson, age 17, Male, White, Works on Farm, born KY

   Lawson is listed with his father and sister on the 1880 Federal Census in Raccoon Twp., Parke County, Indiana. 

10th Census of the United States - 1880 Raccoon Twp.,Parke Co, IN Page 26, E.D. # 183, Dugger Lawson, Son, age 25, Male, White, Works on Farm, born KY, Father born NC, Mother born KY

    Lawson moved with his father, siblings and their families, and other family members in ox-drawn wagons to Kansas. His soon to be wife wife Mattie  (Brown) Wells and son were also along. They came to Reno CO., first then in the spring of 1885 to Edwards CO. Lawson married Mattie Wells February 15, 1885 in Reno CO., Kansas per  "Reno Co., KS Early Marriages Records, 1872-1913". It states Lawson Dugger, 31, and Mrs. Mattie Wells, 22, were married in Reno County on Feb. 15, 1885 in the home of Rev. J.H.McNew who performed the ceremony. In 1887 Lawson and family moved back to Indiana after a large prairie fire swept through Edwards CO. scaring Lawson's wife. Lawson's stepmother Margaret and his sister Drunetta and her family moved back with them. Research by Gregg Branum shows On Sept. 28, 1888, Lawson and Mattie E. Dugger purchased 4.5 acres of land in Parke Co., IN described as the NW corner of the SE quarter of the SE quarter of sect. 31 in twp. 14, Range 6W. This they purchased for $150 from Emanuel G. Ames. Then a year and half later (Feb. 5, 1890) they sold the same property back to E.G. Ames for $150. It is likely Lawson purchased this land to be nearer the mine in which he was working, and sold it back when he found other work.

"The Encyclopedic Directory of Clay County, Indiana" (1896) lists L. Dugger, miner, (Born KY 1849) living on 3rd St in Carbon. He is the owner of his home, and the directory indicates the family moved to Carbon in 1893. He property is valued at $200, he does not list a religion, and is a Republican. Lawson's address, on Third St., would place he and Mattie on the same street as Mattie's father.

Lawson, according to family tradition, was once the town Marshall for Carbon, IN. It also stated he was a signal switch operator for the railroad after suffering a stroke.

   Lawson and family are on the 1900 Federal Census  (north half) Van Buren Township, Clay County, Indiana (Enum. District 22, page 312

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