Dodson (Mrs. Wm - 1892) - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

New Ross, Dec. 16—Mrs. William Dodson departed this life at her home, three miles northeast of here, Wednesday. We might say her life was a romance. Before the late war, she married a prosperous farmer by the name of William McCowan, and when the war came he enlisted and went to the front. He failing to return after several years had elapsed, his wife, supposing him dead, married a man by the name of Dodson. They lived together several years, then separated, and in 1884 McCowan returned, almost blind and generally broken down. As he could not work he was sent to the poor house and as he went he remarked, “It is hard to leave my own farm where I was raised.” He will now take possession of the farm again. -s

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Friday, 16 December 1892

New Ross -- Mrs. Dodson, who lives three miles northeast of here, died Wednesday. Interment will be at Providence Cemetery. -s

Source: Indianapolis News Sat 17 Dec 1892 p 6

John McCowan, a Montgomery County farmer when the war of the rebellion broke out, joined the Union Army, leaving behind a young wife and fine farm. Years went on and he was never heard of and in 1873, impressed with the belief that McCowan was dead, Mrs. McCowan married Wm. Dodson with whom she lived contentedly.  In 1884, McCowan suddenly reappeared, enfeebled by disease, and almost blind and penniless. He refused to make any explanation concerning his long absence and Mrs. Dodson refused to recognize him, claiming he was an impostor. He was then taken in by the authorities and consigned to the alms-house. Day before yesterday Mrs. Dodson died. During the years intervening since McCowan returned she had not spoken to him or shown any interest in his presence but upon her death it was found that she had bequeathed her property to him, and that it was sufficient to care for him comfortably during the remainder of his life. Mrs. Dodson was a proud, high-spirited woman and it is the belief that her pride was sorely wounded when her first husband returned in such a demoralized condition and refused to disclose where he had been. The thought was aggravated by the face she was living as the lawful wife of a man whom she had illegally married. - kbz