George Ellis Dawson, Sr., Lawyer

[source of the following: downloaded 2010 from an online biography of George's son, Mitchell Dawson. http://www.newberry.org/collections/FindingAids/dawson/dawson.html]

Biography of Mitchell Dawson

Chicago lawyer, poet, and author.

Mitchell Dawson was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 13, 1890. He was the son of George Ellis Dawson, a prominent area lawyer, and Eva Manierre Dawson. The Dawson household was filled with music and creative endeavor. His parents met as members of a Beethoven society and his father George kept extensive diaries. His brother Manierre Dawson became an abstract painter of note.

Dawson graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1913. He eventually joined his father's successful law firm and continued to practice law until two years before his death in 1956.

Alongside his legal work, Dawson pursued a career in writing, in which he achieved varying levels of success. It was during a stint in the Army Intelligence Corps during World War I while living on the East Coast that Dawson made the acquaintance of such literary figures as William Carlos Williams and Alfred Kreymborg. He wrote poetry during his twenties and published in many of the important journals of the time including Poetry,The Little Review', and Alfred Kreymborg's Others. In addition, he coedited a short lived journal called TNT with Man Ray and Adolph Wolff. Back in Chicago he became involved in the Chicago Literary Renaissance and befriended many writers and publishers, including Maxwell Bodenheim, Harriet Monroe and Margaret Anderson.

Starting in the 1920s, Dawson began writing an amusing legal advice column called "Advice of Counsel" which appeared in the Chicago Daily News from 1926-1931. He continued to write feature articles on legal issues which were published in such journals as the Saturday Evening Post, Esquire and The New Yorker. This writing is characterized by a wry wit and a clear, simple style. He published only one book in his lifetime, The Magic Firecrackers', in 1949. This highly regarded children's novel grew out of the bedtime stories he told his son Gregory as a child.

Dawson married Rose Hahn in 1921. Rose's sister Emily "Mickey" Hahn became a successful writer during the 1930s due in some small part to Mitchell submitting a few of her letters to The New Yorker.

Mitchell and Rose had three children: Hilary (later Hilary Beckett Schlessiger), Jill (later Jill Metzger), and Gregory. Mitchell Dawson succumbed to Parkinson's Disease in 1956.

Randy Ploog wrote another bio of Mitchell Dawson [downloaded 2010 from http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/lsf/29-1/ploog.html], in which he wrote:

"George E. Dawson, came from a family of blacksmiths and farmers in rural Illinois, but became an educated gentleman who spoke and read six languages. With an undergraduate and a graduate degree in classics from the University of Michigan, he taught high school until he could afford a two-year sojourn through Europe. In Rome he enrolled in a course on Roman law at the Collegio Romano. After his return, while principal of Washington High School in Chicago, he read the law in his spare time and passed the Illinois Bar in 1881. Four years later, he married Eva Manierre, the daughter of a prominent Chicago family. Her father, Edward Manierre, was a successful merchant who had served as Alderman of the First Ward and as City Treasurer for three consecutive terms. Her uncle, John Manierre, was a highly respected judge. Eva was an accomplished pianist, having studied in Vienna for two years. George and Eva met through their participation in an amateur choral society.[footnote here to: 'George E. Dawson, Autobiography of George E. Dawson (unpublished manuscript)'] George appreciated the arts as an avocation but emphatically rejected them as a vocation, especially for his sons.4 Given his own accomplishments, George undoubtedly had high professional expectations for his sons and was delighted when Mitchell followed him into the law."

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George Ellis Dawson, A.M, Chicago, Illinois

Was born June 23, 1847, in the village of Loami, Sangamon Co., Ill. When about five years of age he removed with his father to Jacksonville, Ill., where he attended school regularly until '59, when he went to live upon a farm near New Berlin, a village on the Wabash R. R. about half way between Jacksonville and Springfield. In the fall of '61, removed to Springfield where he worked a couple of years in his father's plow and blacksmith shop. He was graduated in the class of '64, in Springfield High School. Worked the following year in the Provost Marshall's office for the eighth district of Illinois. From September, '65, to September, '66, Dawson prepared for entering upon the classical course at the university, not having theretofore studied Latin and Greek. Entered the University of Michigan with class of '70 in September, '66. In college he was one of the editors of the Oracle, one of the speakers at second Sophomore exhibition, a member of the Alpha Nu, and the Philozetian, a member of the University Glee Club, and president of his class in the Senior year. In the fall of '70, he accepted the position of principal of the high school at Flint, Mich., where he taught but one year. The next year he went to Buffalo, N. Y., as principal of Grammar School No. 4, and continued until March, '72, when he took charge of the department of ancient languages in Buffalo Central High School. He was abroad about two years. Went first to Leipzig where he spent seven months. Studied German language and literature and took lectures on Roman Law given by Prof. Winscheid, a very popular lecturer. In the winter of '75, a number of Michigan University graduates had a reunion there, among whom were Dawson, E. C. Lowell, '68, V. S. Lovell, '70; Underwood, '72; Maple, '72; Bennett, '72; and perhaps one or two others. From Leipzig he went to Gottingen, stopping over at Weimar and at Eisenach, visiting the castle of Wartburg. Dawson went, about Aug. 1, '75, in company with Prof. Walter, of U. of M., to Cassel, across to Dusseldorf, then up the Rhine, stopping at the different places of interest, Cologne, Bonn, Coblenz, Fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, Bingen, Mainz, then on to Frankfort, Carlsrue, Baden, over to Strasburg, back to Freiberg and Berne and then to Geneva. They made a pedestrian tour of six weeks through Switzerland and the Tyrol. Dawson parted from Prof. Walter at Munich and went to Italy and visited the important cities, remaining three months in Rome. In December, '75, he went by way of Mt. Cenis tunnel and Lyons to Paris, where he remained for three months, then to London for a stay of about a month and then to Philadelphia, arriving in time to witness the opening of the Exposition in '76. He spent that summer on a farm and afterwards taught in high school at Springfield, Ill. The next two years he was principal of the high school at Peoria, Ill., and then became principal of Washington School in Chicago for two years.

In June, '81, having read law for some time, he passed the examination for admission to the bar, resigned his position at the Washington School, and commenced the practice of law in Chicago. In November, '82, he entered into partnership with Isaac H. Pedrick of the law class of '70, U. of M., Maltman, of '70, Pedrick's forer partner, having gone West permanently for his health. The firm has continued in the general practice of law up to the present time (1902), occupying the same suite of offoces in the First National Bank Building, Chicago.

In June, 1892, Mr. Dawson was invited by the attorney of the Sanitary District of Chicago to assist in the work of that municipality. The Sanitary District is peculiar in the fact that it is a separate municipality distinct from the City of Chicago, the County of Cook or any of the towns included in the limits of Chicago and yet, as it were, overlying these within its own limits and having independent power of taxation afor its own purposes.

Mr. Dawson had special charge of the legal work connected with the acquirement of the right of way for the great drainage and ship canal whose purpose was to turn the waters of Lake Michigan into the Mississippi River. Over two and one half million dollars worth of land was acquired by the District during Mr. Dawson's connection with it. In the fall of 1894 the attorney of the Sanitary District having been elected County Judge, Mr. Dawson was promoted from the principal assistant and became attorney of the board, which position he retained until January, 1896, when he resumed active work with his firm from which he had not severed his connection. Since 1896 he has continued in general practice.

Mr. Dawson has never held any political office, but from time to time has been drafted into work of a more or less ublic character in connection with committees of organizations formed for public purposes. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Legislative League, whose purpose is to examine into and publish all information that can be obtained touching the qualifications of candidates for the State Legislature. It is a nonpartisan body whose aim will be to make accessible to the voters the businesses, public record, education, etc., of candidates so that voters may make an intelligent choice.

He is also chairman of the Educational Commission appointed by the Civic Foundation of the city to consider and report upon a revision of the school system of the city.

Mr. Dawson is a member of the Chicago Literary Club, the Iroquois Club, the City and State Bar Associations, Le Cercle Litteraire and other societies. He has kept up his acquaintance with the German, French, and Italian languages, and has frequent occasion to use them in his business.

Source: Downloaded July 10, 2013, from the History of the class of '70, Department of literature, science and the arts

By University of Michigan. Class of 1870, page 83, http://books.google.com/books

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"The largest series of the collection contains correspondence, diaries and other materials from Mitchell Dawson's extended family and ancestors going back to the early 1800s. The bulk of the series consists of Mitchell's father George Ellis Dawson's correspondence, diaries, writings, and genealogical research into the Dawson and Manierre families. Of particular interest in George Ellis Dawson's materials is the research he did into a Charles Fourier - inspired socialist community called the Integral Phalanx in Sangamon County, Illinois in which his mother Julia Meacham Dawson had been involved."

The "Mitchell Dawson Papers, 1810-1988," Newberry Library, Chicago. http://mms.newberry.org/html/Dawson.html#series8

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36 896 Dawson, George Ellis - Account Books, 1865-1874

36 897 Dawson, George Ellis - Account Books, 1877-1881

36 898 Dawson, George Ellis - Account Book, 1899-1907

36 899 Dawson, George Ellis - Article, "De Bausset's Blimp" - Correspondence, drafts, research, 1896, 1931

37 900 Dawson, George Ellis - Attorney's Business Docket, 1872-1878

37 901 Dawson, George Ellis - Autobiography - bound, typewritten draft, 1931

37 902 Dawson, George Ellis - Autobiography - alternate draft, ca. 1930

37 903 Dawson, George Ellis - Autobiography - handwritten draft, notes, ca. 1930

38 904 Dawson, George Ellis - Autobiography - partial draft, ca. 1930

38 905 Dawson, George Ellis - Autobiography - Essay Reminiscences, n.d.

38 906 Dawson, George Ellis - Biographical Sketches of College Classmates, 1870

38 907 Dawson, George Ellis - Brothers of the Book - membership, publications, 1912-1917

38 908 Dawson, George Ellis - Business Records - client property loans, 1902-1915

38 909 Dawson, George Ellis - Business Records - estate of Olive H. Short (sister), 1926

38 910 Dawson, George Ellis - Business Records - estate of Stanley Waterloo, 1921

38 911 Dawson, George Ellis - Business Records - miscellaneous property deeds (see also oversize), 1872-1908

38 912 Dawson, George Ellis - Campaign for Judge of Municipal Court - materials, correspondence, 1906, 1908

38 912a Dawson, George Ellis - Career in high school education, clippings, correspondence, certificates, 1871-1881

38 913 Dawson, George Ellis - Chicago Literary Club - yearbook, invitation, 1928-1929, 1935

38 914 Dawson, George Ellis - Columbian Exhibition - invitation, stock certificate, clippings, 1892-1893

39 915 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Andrew, 1870-1875

39 916 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Charles and Julia, 1866-1867

39 917 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Eva Manierre, 1885-1905

39 918 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Eva Manierre, 1906-1928

39 919 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Julia Meacham, 1866-1867

39 920 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Julia Meacham, 1868

39 921 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Julia Meacham, 1896-1870

39 922 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Julia Meacham, 1871-1872

39 923 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Julia Meacham, 1873-1874

39 924 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Julia Meacham, 1875-1922

40 925 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Lovell, 1901-1918, n.d.

40 926 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Mitchell, 1922, 1935

40 927 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Olive, 1872-1875

40 928 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Dawson, Walter, 1876

40 929 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence to Manierre, Kate, 1885- 1906

40 930 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence - Incoming from Duff, Clara M., 1879-1880

40 931 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence - Incoming from Darrow, E. E., 1906-1922

40 932 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence - Incoming - miscellaneous, 1867-1934, n.d.

40 933 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence - Business, 1924-1935

40 934 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence - miscellaneous family, 1877-1935

40 935 Dawson, George Ellis - Correspondence regarding Drainage District Bond, 1934

40 936 Dawson, George Ellis - Death - estate documents, wills, obituaries, 1935-1936

40 937 Dawson, George Ellis - Diary, 1870

40 938 Dawson, George Ellis - Diary, 1887-1889

41 939 Dawson, George Ellis - Diary, 1891-1892

41 940 Dawson, George Ellis - Diary, 1893-1897

41 941 Dawson, George Ellis - Diary, 1898-1906

41 942 Dawson, George Ellis - Diary, 1923

42 943 Dawson, George Ellis - Diary, 1924-Mar. 1926

42 944 Dawson, George Ellis - Diary, Mar. 1926-1930

42 945 Dawson, George Ellis - Diary, 1930-1935

43 946 Dawson, George Ellis - Essay, "A Few Leaves from a Summer's Journal," n.d.

43 947 Dawson, George Ellis - Essay, "How we Solved the Problem," ca. 1907

43 948 Dawson, George Ellis - Farm Journal 1908-1921

43 949 Dawson, George Ellis - Financial - banking documents, 1935

43 950 Dawson, George Ellis - French Exercises - school notebook, ca. 1840s

43 951 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - Buck and Robinson Families, ca. 1924

43 952 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - Dawson Family - correspondence, notes, research, 1932-1934

43 953 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - Dawson Family - research, notes, 1932-1938

43 954 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - Dawson Family History, 1932

43 955 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - Family Record notebook, 1927

43 956 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - Manierre, Robinson, Wisner Families, ca. 1880s-1930s

43 957 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - Meacham Family, 1900-1910

43 958 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - Reports on Military Service of Dawson relatives, 1832-1879

43 959 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - "Short Family History" written by Gifford H. Henry, 1971

43 960 Dawson, George Ellis - Genealogical Research - "The Wisners in American and their Kindred," by G. Franklin Wisner, n.d.

43 961 Dawson, George Ellis - German Translation of "Fata Morgana," n.d.

44 962 Dawson, George Ellis - Integral Phalanx - correspondence, 1906

44 963 Dawson, George Ellis - Integral Phalanx - notes, research (see also over size for "Explanations of the Pledges and Rules of the Integral Phalanx"), ca. 1905-1907

44 964 Dawson, George Ellis - Integral Phalanx - program & text of talk given at Illinois Historical Society, 1907

44 965 Dawson, George Ellis - Integral Phalanx - property deeds, 1845-1848

44 966 Dawson, George Ellis - "Old Books & First Editions" - list compiled, ca. 1934

44 967 Dawson, George Ellis - Peoria Choral Union - Constitution and Union, 1867

44 968 Dawson, George Ellis - Play script - " Razmatazz: An Impossibility in Three Acts," ca. 1901

44 969 Dawson, George Ellis - Poem - " Eva M. Dawson on her Fifty-Ninth Birthday," ca. 1909

44 970 Dawson, George Ellis - Program for Yokio Kolo performance featuring George E. Dawson, n.d.

44 971 Dawson, George Ellis - Reading List - notebook, 1874

44 972 Dawson, George Ellis - Reviews of Operas Attended - notebook, 1874

44 973 Dawson, George Ellis - Travel - notes, receipts, 1874-1875, n.d.

44 974 Dawson, George Ellis - University of Michigan - Class of 1870, history, programs, 1891-1900

44 975 Dawson, George Ellis - Writing - miscellaneous notes, 1886

Source: Downloaded July 11, 2013, a portion of the inventory of Manierre Dawson Papers in the collection of the Newberry Library, Chicago. http://mms.newberry.org/html/Dawson.html#series8

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• Residence: 1930 - New Trier, Cook, Illinois, USA
• Reference: 1930 United States Federal Census - SmartCopy: Sep 13 2016, 12:49:42 UTC