William Bird Dodson was born September 18, 1853, and died May 23, 1923. On December 25, 1879, he married Lora Frances Hendrix. She was the daughter of H. V. M. Hendrix and Sarah Wesson of Sugar Tree. William Bird was the son of Newton Dodson and his wife Nancy Sugg and the grandson of Elias Dodson who was born March 22, 1786, in Halifax County, Virginia and Maria Marshall. Elias's father was Joshua Dodson who married Ann Chilton daughter of Charles Chilton from Virginia. Joshua served in the Revolutionary War along with his brother Caleb Dodson.

Elias and his wife had 5 children : Elias ( E. J. ), Newton, Marshall, William, and Claiborne. Newton Dodson married Nancy Sugg in Dickson County November 9, 1846 and they lived in Lobelville, Perry County. Newton's children were William Bird, Mary E. D. ( McCullum ), Susannah, Claiborne Bird, Joe D., Lucy Priscilla, Andrew Sugg, and Frances Byron. He married later, Susan Thomas of Sugar Tree. William Bird and his wife had children : Birdie Dodson Garrison, Roy Burton Dodson , Joseph Hendrix Dodson , and Mary Frances Dodson.William Bird served as both a Magistrate and as County Trustee. William Bird is buried in a small cemetery on Camden Road, formerly the Ed Walker property.