The Dawson-Vaughan House in Selma, Dallas County, Alabama was the home of Elodie (Todd) Dawson, Abraham Lincoln’s half sister-in-law, Elodie Breck Todd was the daughter of Robert Smith Todd and Elizabeth L. Humphreys and the wife of Nathaniel Henry Rhodes Dawson (1829-1895).
She was a staunch Confederate supporter. Col. Dawson was once the U. S. Commissioner of Education.
Elodie Breck Todd Dawson
Famous people are buried in Live Oak Cemetery, Selma, Alabama
Elodie and her husband are two of many famous Alabamians buried in Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama.
Below are some photographs of their home taken March 23, 1934 by W. N. Manning and March 11, 1935 by photographer Alex Bush. The house is no longer standing.
Front of house March 23, 1934
Front Doors of Dawson-Vaughan House March 23, 1934
(The doors are now on the Converse House on Tremont street)
Staircase at Dawson-Vaughan Home March 23, 1934
Ceiling Center in front hall March 11, 1935
Rear Hall and Staircase March 11, 1835
Fireplace Front Parlor March 11, 1935
Matching ceiling centers in front and rear parlor March 11, 1935
Fireplace and Mantel in Living room March 23, 1934
Ceiling in living room March 23, 1934
Fireplace in Dining Room March 11, 1935
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Read about:
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What is the address of this house?
704 Tremont Street in Selma, AL
Often-times history would have us to believe that there was little inter-family interaction among African-Americans and Caucasians. This was especially a part of the history of those prominent in our American History. However, this just proves that this was the rule and not the exception. My Gr.Gr.Gr. Grandfather, from Kentucky, fought in the Civil War in Dukes Brigade on the Confederate side. He left his children, Mary and Robert with friends. He shows up in Texas in 1870 and we are his descendants. We are of many hues and representative of many other nations. But, we are FAMILY. Thank you for your information. May GOD bless you.
704 Tremont Street, Selma, Dallas County, AL, here is the current view of the house today
Thank you! I will have to ride by and take a look!
I respectfully would like to correct several errors in this post. The colored picture shown as the Dawson-Vaughan house (June 2013) is not the former Converse home nor the home of Abraham Lincoln’s half-sister-in-law.
White-Force Cottage, 811 Mabry St., Selma, was built in 1859 by Mr. and Mrs. Clement Billingslea White. Mrs. White was the half- sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. A younger sister of Mrs. White, Elodie Todd visited her sister in Selma and met her future husband, Col. N. H. R. Dawson here.
Col. Dawson had three wives, the last of which was Elodie Todd Dawson. Around 1859 Col. Dawson purchased a house located on the NE corner of Tremont and McLeod (current address is 700 Tremont St.) The house was originally constructed in the early 1840’s by E. W. Marks.
The home was later sold to Judge Watkins Vaughan and the interior photos shown were taken during his ownership. In the early 1950’s the Converse family purchased the house and demolished it. Pieces and parts of the house were incorporated into the new structure. Some of those pieces and parts include the front doors, side and over lights around front doors, mantels and flooring. The house was later sold to W. T. Rountree. In early 2009 the house sold to David and Sharon Jackson, the present owners.
The house you are picturing (colored picture June 2013) as the Dawson-Vaughan house is actually known as the McLeod-Cornish house. The house and lot were acquired in 1849 by the McLeod family, the family for whom McLeod Ave. is named. The house sits on the NW corner of Tremont Street and McLeod Avenue. The correct address for this property is 703 Tremont St.
Please note the exterior double chimneys and Italianate brackets in the picture you show as “View of the House June 2013,” whereas the picture you show of the Dawson-Vaughan house, “View of house March 24, 1934,” has interior chimneys and no brackets.
These properties are across Tremont Street from one another.
I trust these comments will be accepted in the spirit they were given, merely to clarify the information. I hope they will help in any research you may be doing.
Thank you so much for the clarification. I’m sorry about the mix-up. I appreciate you taking the time to write and provide correct information. Much of the information came from The Library of Congress which also lists the address as 704 Tremont instead of 700 Tremont and I believe that created the confusion. Did the address change over the years?
Thanks, I’ve removed the color picture
Dear Nancy,
I’m glad you clarified this..I didn’t think it was right…There’s a lot of history in Selma that people are forgetting..that’s a shame….L
I am unsure if the address changed. I know it has been 700 Tremont for most, if not all of my 65 years. However, it certainly could have changed as I know of other instances where numbers and/or street names have changed. At the present time, the house next door to 700 Tremont is 710 Tremont,
not much rhyme or reason but that’s the way it is in many blocks, particularly in the historic districts.
Thank you for your information and clarification. At least, maybe now we have correct information from one who is more familiar with the area. The 704 address was from a photographer in the 1930’s. It could easily have been a typo. Thanks for answering.
beautiful old homes in Selma
Lincolns brother in law was a Confederate officer killed at Chicamuga
I didn’t realize that. Thanks for the info.
General Ben Hardin Helm
What’s a half sister-in-law?
Wife of a half brother
Then it would just be sister in law. She can’t be half of a sister in law…..unless she only married the blood half of his brother!! Lol
Half sister of his wife…. Mary Todd Lincoln. Abe didn’t have half siblings only step siblings
Shannon Macdonald
Cool. Love the house!
i knew those guyz
Can you tour the home?
Peggy….
I lived in Selma for a couple of years. So much history there!!!! It’s really a beautiful town.
[…] Dawson-Vaughan House in Selma, Dallas County, Alabama was the home of Elodie (Todd) Dawson, Abraham Lincoln’s half sister-in-law, Elodie Breck Todd was […]
He had alot of Alabama connections…..keep researching
Half sister in law???
She was the half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln so the half-sister-in-law of Abraham Lincoln. See this link: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34186107
Thanks for explaining.
Yes! Much of the interior survives.9
So she was his wife’s half sister!!!!! Mary Todd Lincoln’s half sister!
Shannon Keller Reeves wonder if the building still exists. Any idea?
No, it no longer exists.
Not sure – Cartledge Weeden Blackwell do you know ?