Sherman Democrat
July 4, 1976
"Alway American Edition"
Section D, pg.14

SHERMAN DESCENDANTS OF BOSTON'S FORGOTTEN RIDER STILL REMEMBER
Being the descendant of an important American hero can be a trying experience for a history student - especially if the hero was forgotten in the history books.
Such is the lot of Leroy T. Barton and his family who now live in Sherman.
They are descendants of William Dawes, who, along with Paul Revere, warned Americans that the British were coming during the American Revolution.
Barton's mother was a Dawes and a descendant of the Revolutionary figure.
"Revere gets all the credit for warning the Americans, but it was really Dawes who did the work," Barton said.  "Paul Revere was arrested for disturbing the peace soon after he started his emergency ride."
Mrs. Carol Thompson, Barton's graddaughter, said she almost failed a history research paper when she told the Revolutionary story as her family had passed the tales.
"My teacher said, 'That's not the way it happened.  That's not what your history book says'." Mrs. Thompson remembers.
"Sometimes historians misinterpret what happens, or overlook the truth," she said, defending her heritage.  "I'm always getting into arguments with friends on history subjects."
Barton's father is a descendant of early-day nurse Clara Barton.  Friends believe that kinship because Clara Barton is included in most histories.
"I'm proud of my heritage," Barton said.  "But I usually don't go around bragging about it.  If someone asks about Dawes, I tell them the truth."
The Dawes family dedicated a historical marker last year in honor of their ancestor at Cambridge, Mass., a point on the historic route.