In this entry, Mr. Burl writes about the blacksmith shops that were in Owingsville and specifically mentions “Cap” Dawson. In his book, The History of Bath County, John Adair Richards also mentions Cap Dawson.
From the journals:
Have you ever watched a blacksmith prepare a shoe for shoeing a horse? All of our Bath County towns had these shops. A typical blacksmith had an anvil, a forge and bellow, hammers, cutters, barrel of water, and nails. The “Smithy’s” shop often was crude with a dirt floor.
Before the automobile took its toll on the blacksmith shops in the late twenties, there were three shops in Owingsville. Do you recall the name of “Cap” Dawson, Wes Harris, and Jim Reed? “Cap” was the smith for a shop located where Western Auto* now operates. Later, “Cap” operated a shop where the E.L. and A.T. Byron building now stands on the corner of Henry and Oberlein Streets (not “Oberline” as is currently on the sign).
Young boys often frequented these shops as spectators enjoying the works of the blacksmiths. Often there was excitement when an unruly horse acted up. Blacksmiths would on occasion accept other jobs such as repairing hinges, repairing metal parts of farm wagons, etc.
*Western Auto was located where Family Discount Drugs now stands. If you look on the map below, you’ll see a blacksmith shop in that location.
From the Journals of William Burl Kincaid, Jr. 