Benoni J. Dawson, of the firm of Dawson & Martlens, real estate dealers, Holton, Kans., is a native of Ohio. He was born in Cobumbiana county, December 15, 1852, and is a son of Benoni and Margaret (Polick) Dawson, natives of Virginia. In early life the father was engaged in boating on the Ohio river, but later engaged in farming, which he followed until his death in 1875. The mother passed away in 1864. Benoni J. Dawson, whose name introduces this review, received his education in the public schools of Ohio, and when sixteen years of age, began life for himself. He served an apprenticeship at the plasterer's trade at Beaver Falls, Pa., where he remained until 1870, when he came to Kansas, in February of that year, locating at Wamego. Here he entered the employ of an uncle, who conducted a gun shop, and two years later the uncle died, and Mr. Dawson continued the business for five years. In September, 1875, he entered the employ of the Kansas Pacific Railroad Co., now Union Pacific, as brakeman, and in 1877, was promoted to freight conductor, and in 1881, became passenger conductor. He remained in that capacity on that road, which was then a part of the Union Pacific system, until 1893, when he entered the employ of the Denver, Gulf & Colorado Southern, and resigned this position in 1894. He ran the first passenger train into Belleville, Kans., November 27, 1884, and after retiring from railroading in 1895, he went to Belleville and purchased the Hotel Republic, which he conducted about eighteen months, when he went to Holton, and bought the Teer Hotel, where he remained six years. In 1903, he went to Clay Center and opened the Bonham Hotel, where he also remained six years, when he went to Fairbury, Neb., and in partnership with his son-in-law, Ross E. May, engaged in the plumbing and heating business. He remained there until February, 1910, when he disposed of his interest in the business and returned to Holton, Kans., where he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and in 1911, entered into partnership with Mr. Martlens, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mr. Dawson is also extensively interested in farming and stock raising in Jackson county, and has three farms, which he operates, in Jackson county. He also owns a farm in Logan and one in Grove county. He was married at Wamego, September 23, 1877, to Miss Ada, daughter of Cornelius and Elmira (Rushmore) Cummings, pioneers of Kansas, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of New York. They came from Crawford county, Pennsylvania, to Kansas, in 1869, settling in Shawnee county, and in 1875, removed to Wamego, where the father engaged in the hotel business. Mrs. Dawson was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and received her early education in the public schools, and after coming to Kansas, attended the State Normal School at Emporia. To Mr. and Mrs. Dawson have been born two children: Ina, married Ross E. May, proprietor of the Bonham Hotel, at Clay Center, Kans., and they have one child, Ada Elizabeth; and Jennie, married William F. Keho, engaged in the plumbing and heating business at Superior, Neb. Mrs. Dawson and daughters are members of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Dawson belongs to the Masonic lodge. He is a progressive Republican, and one of the substantial business men of Jackson county.