Nancy Jane "Aunt Nan" (Whaley) Dosing c. 1949
Hello everyone, welcome back to the blog! In today's article, I want to share with you the life of a very interesting and beloved local woman with quite the unique story. Nicknamed "Aunt Nan" by the community, Nancy left an immense impact on her hometown of Flat River, Missouri. A loving and funny maternal figure to many, Nancy's life and memories are a view into an era of the Lead Belt that is only otherwise captured in the occasional black and white photo. Perhaps the most interesting element of Nancy's story, is that she was the widow of a Civil War soldier, and was the only known local woman to be receiving a Civil War pension that long after the war. Nancy received her late husband's pension until her death in 1958, nearly a century after the start of the Civil War.
Nancy Jane (Whaley) Dosing, younger
On July 17th, 1870, Flat River couple George and Gillilah (Cobb) Whaley welcomed a baby girl into their family. They would call her Nancy Jane, and raise her in the small farming community in which they had settled. As a child, Nancy lived in a log home, referred to as the Walton house, which sat on the corner of what is now West Main Street and Coffman Street in Flat River, now a part of the city of Park Hills. George Whaley was a farmer, and we know he cultivated corn. In addition to crops, the Whaley family also raised cattle, sourcing their own milk and butter. Click here to read an article about Aunt Nan and her memories from the Lead Belt News written in 1949.
John Dosing Sr.
In 1902, Nancy Jane Whaley married a man named John Dosing Sr., who was twenty-six years her elder. He was a widower, father, and stepfather. John was born on April 14th, 1844 in Schmelz, Germany, though relocated to the United States as an infant along with his parents. Here he served in the American Civil War as a member of the Union Army, with the 49th Illinois Infantry, Company G. Although being German born, John was known for his patriotism and was proud to fight for the cause. Dosing entered the service as a Private and exited as a Sergeant. He spent the rest of his career in the local lead mines, as well as being an active member of the community, local churches, and lodges. Like Aunt Nan, John was given the nickname "Uncle John".
Together, Nancy and John Dosing raised his children, and also adopted Nancy's niece, Alma. All children were treated as their own, and although Nancy never had any biological children, she became a wonderful and treasured mother. John Dosing Sr. passed away on October 15th, 1918 of an illness he had been battling for about three weeks. At the time of his passing, John was 74, leaving Nancy as a widow at only 48 years old. Nancy would never remarry, living out the remainder of her life, another forty years, in the home she once shared with her husband.
It was during these years that Aunt Nan became the figure we remember so well today. Although the only human living in the home, Nancy surely was not without company. Aunt Nan was a known animal lover, having multiple pet birds, and a dog named Prince. Some neighbors may have wished the noisy birds away, but Nancy vowed to keep and care for them, and the neighbors who loved Nancy so, simply learned to cope with the chatter. Nancy could often be seen walking the main drag in Flat River, doing her shopping. Even as she aged, she remained busy, enjoying her daily tasks. Aunt Nan fancied listening to the radio, old-style cooking, and visitors. Until her death, a portrait of her late husband hung on the wall for her to admire. By the 1950s, Nancy Jane Dosing was the only known woman in the area still receiving a pension for being the widow of the Civil War soldier.
Nancy Jane Dosing passed away on September 15th, 1958 at the age of 88. The Dosings are buried in the Knights of Pythias Cemetery in Park Hills, Missouri (Flat River area). Their story is an interesting one and I do hope you enjoyed hearing it. Thank you for joining me on the blog and I hope you'll join me again in the future.
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