Henry Dickinson, b. 27 Nov 1832

SCARBOROUGH, CHAFER, MARSHALL, MCARTHUR

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/21/2004 at 11:02:05

This name represents one of the most wealthy and prominent men of Iowa Township, a gentleman of the highest character and standing, socially and financially, and one who has been remarkably prosperous in his chosen vocation, that of farming and stock-raising. He owns a fine body of land, 600 acres in extent, and has one of the most valuable homesteads in Jackson County located on section 2 in Iowa Township. He makes a specialty of English draft horses, Short-horn and Polled-Angus cattle and Poland-China Swine. He was at one time considerably interested in Leicester sheep, but found that cattle and horses were more profitable in this region.

Mr. Dickinson is a liberal, whole-souled man, and one universally popular. He has exerted no small influence among the farming interests of this region, as whatever he undertakes is accomplished in the most thorough and skillful manner, and he has sensibly aimed to excel, believing that farming is as much of a science as any other occupation which can be entered upon. This accounts for his phenomenal success. His land has been brought to the most thorough cultivation. The dwelling is tasteful and commodious, while the barns, shed and other outbuildings are amply adapted to the purposes for which they were intended. Mr. Dickinson avails himself of the latest improved machinery in the cultivation of the soil, and the result is bountiful harvests and those of excellent quality.

The southern portion of this county has been largely settled by English-born citizens, and among them is Mr. Dickinson whose birth took place in Lincolnshire, Nov. 27, 1832. His father, William Dickinson, was a native of Yorkshire, England, and born in 1799. He emigrated with his family to the United States in the fall of 1842, when Henry, our subject was a lad of ten years. They spent their first winter at Alton, Ill., and came to this county the spring following, landing in Sabula, April 16. The father secured a tract of land comprising several hundred acres on section 2 in Iowa Township, near that which his son Henry now owns and occupies. Iowa was then a Territory, and the elder Dickinson secured his land directly from Uncle Sam. Upon this he lived and labored until his death, which occurred April 12, 1874.

Mrs. Elizabeth (Scarborough) Dickinson, the mother of our subject, was also a native of Lincolnshire, England, and is still living at the old homestead, being nearly seventy-nine years old. The parental family included five children, four of whom were born in England, namely: William, Henry, Mary and John. Isaac, the youngest, was born in Iowa Township, this county. The majority of them live in Dakota. Henry, like his brothers, remained with his parents and assisted in the development of the new farm until ready to establish a home of his own. Upon the day following his twenty-seventh birthday he was married Nov. 28, 1859, to Miss Jane E., daughter of Joseph and Harriett (Marshall) Chafer. Mrs. Dickinson was born Nov. 28, 1839, and was reared to womanhood under the parental roof, receiving a common-school education and becoming familiar with all useful household duties. Of her union with our subject there have been borne nine children, seven of whom are living, namely: Herbert W., Joseph H., Charles W., Harriet E., John W., Eva J., and Alfred. Bessie and Lucy died when four and nine years old respectively. Herbert married Miss Mary McArthur, lives in Plymouth County, this State, and is the father of one child, a son, Henry Allen. Joseph Chafer, the father of Mrs. Dickinson, died at his home Nov. 22, 1882. The mother is still living, making her home with her son Alfred in Iowa Township and is now seventy-three years old.

Mr. Dickinson was at one time the owner of 900 acres of land in this county. His extensive interests demand the most of his time and attention, and he consequently has avoided the cares and responsibilities of office, although he has served as Township Trustee a period of twelve years in succession. In political matters he sides with the Republican party. He identified himself with the Masonic fraternity about 1879, and is a member in good standing of the lodge at Sabula. No man can point to a dishonorable deed that he has done during his long and useful career, and in his attachment to America and its institutions, he is fully as loyal as the native-born citizens, in fact he knows no other home or nationality as he came to these shores before his impressions of life had been fully formed, and practically has "grown up with the country."

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)