[Goodspeed's does not mention that he founded the town of Glaize City, Mo., which thrived until about the turn of the 20th century. It was located at the site of his home in Southeastern Camden County. He is buried in the Dodson Cemetery, which is a few yards north of his home there. See the history of Glaize City in the Camden County Historian for more detail.]

The mother was born in 1787, and died November 18, 1847, both she and her husband having been consistent members of the Baptist Church. Five of their ten children are living at the present time: William M., Dr. James N. B., Lucy (Estes), Zilpha (Brockman), and Benjamin D., a farmer and merchant of Richland. James N. B. was the first clerk of Camden County, and is now living, retired from active business life, in Nevada, Mo. Dr. William M. Dodson was almost a man grown when he came to Missouri, and his education was acquired in the common schools of Alabama and Hawkins County, Tenn. He began the study of medicine after coming to Missouri, being under the instruction of his father, and after the latter's death continued his medical studies under his brother James, taking a course of lectures at Lexington, Ky., in the winter of 1836-37. He commenced practicing in the summer of the latter year, at Glaize City, Mo., continuing there until 1847, when he moved to his present location, whe he has practiced the healing art, off and on, up to the present time. He was the only physician in the county for many years, and he was very successful, his practice extended over a circuit of forty-five miles. February 21, 1843, he was married to Mrs. Mildred E. Bagerly, a native of North Carolina, born in 1817. She and her first husband came to Missouri in 1840, and here the latter died in 1842, after which his widow came to Camden County, to take the boat for Kentucky, but here met and married Dr. Dodson, by whom she is the mother of two children: Lucy E., widow of Dr. J. W. Armstrong, and Penelope, wife of Josiah Traw. Dr. and Mrs. Dodson are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Curch, South, of which he has been a member since 1845, and is now a deacon, and he has always kept his home well-supplied with church and medical journals, and has kept thoroughly up with the times. He is a Democrat in politics, and although he has often been urged to run for office, he has invariably refused. During the late war he was appointed chaplain of a company in the Confederate States army, but resigned on account of ill health, and joined his family in Texas, whither he had moved them in 1861. They returned to Missouri in July 1866, where they have since made their home.

from History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri. Indexed Edition. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889 (Rpt. 1974). 899-900.