Just by chance I read your post. I know very little info on my Dodson line. However, I have a Mary Elizabeth Bates married to William Riggs, this was about 1879. I know your wonder in why I would mention this. For some time I have thought that many people you find together later in time you will also find these same people together at an early time. The sister of Mary Elizabeth Bates married a Thomas White, his sons wifes mother was a Dodson. I have found all of these people in Arkansas in the early 1900's, but I have found the Bates, and Whites in PA in the late middle to late 1800. Have you seen anything of the Bates with your lines? JWhite1043@aol.com