West Virginia Governor. He was raised in Cranberry (now Terra Alta), Preston County, apprenticed as a cooper, and also taught school. He later went into the newspaper business in Kingwood as Publisher and Editor of the Preston County Journal, which he owned from 1873 to 1891. Dawson also studied law and became an attorney. He was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1880, serving from 1881 to 1887. From 1891 to 1904 Dawson served as Chairman of the West Virginia Republican party. In 1895, he became Clerk of the state House of Delegates, and served as Kingwood's mayor, and in 1897 he became Secretary of State. In 1904 he was elected Governor, serving from 1905 to 1909. During Dawson's term, state educational, charitable, and correctional institutions were reorganized under the supervision of a state board, but the legislature rejected his proposals for a pure food and drug act, workers' compensation, and public service commission, all of which were later implemented. Barred by the state constitution from seeking reelection, after his term Dawson practiced law in Charleston, and served on the state Debt Commission, Board of Control, and Public Service Commission. Camp Dawson, the West Virginia National Guard's main training site, was named for him.
West Virginia Governor. He was raised in Cranberry (now Terra Alta), Preston County, apprenticed as a cooper, and also taught school. He later went into the newspaper business in Kingwood as Publisher and Editor of the Preston County Journal, which he owned from 1873 to 1891. Dawson also studied law and became an attorney. He was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1880, serving from 1881 to 1887. From 1891 to 1904 Dawson served as Chairman of the West Virginia Republican party. In 1895, he became Clerk of the state House of Delegates, and served as Kingwood's mayor, and in 1897 he became Secretary of State. In 1904 he was elected Governor, serving from 1905 to 1909. During Dawson's term, state educational, charitable, and correctional institutions were reorganized under the supervision of a state board, but the legislature rejected his proposals for a pure food and drug act, workers' compensation, and public service commission, all of which were later implemented. Barred by the state constitution from seeking reelection, after his term Dawson practiced law in Charleston, and served on the state Debt Commission, Board of Control, and Public Service Commission. Camp Dawson, the West Virginia National Guard's main training site, was named for him.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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