DICKINSON, Lester J.
DICKINSON, MORTON, CALL
Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/22/2002 at 21:50:19
This biography is taken from page 144 of the 1913 edition of the History of Kossuth County:
LESTER J. DICKINSON -- It is a generally accepted opinion that the professional man is never a successful business man, but the life record of Lester J. Dickinson stands to the contrary, for while he is one of the well known and capable lawyers of Algona, he is also an active factor in the conduct of various business enterprises, his sound judgment proving a strong factor in their success. He was born in Derby, Iowa, October 29, 1873, and is a son of Levi D. and Willemine (Morton) Dickinson. The father came to Iowa in 1846 and throughout his life followed the occupation of farming save when the country was engaged in Civil war. He then responded to the call for troops, enlisting in the Second Iowa Cavalry, with which he remained until after victory had crowned the Union arms. When the war was over he returned to the farm upon which he and his wife are still living.
They reared a family of four children including Lester J. Dickinson who supplemented his early education by study in the Danbury (Iowa) high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1892. He then entered Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, Iowa, and was graduated in 1898 with the B. S. degree. All this served as an excellent foundation upon which to build the superstructure of his professional career. He took up a law course in the University of Iowa and graduated in 1899 with the degree of LL. B. He was then admitted to the bar and came to Algona, where he formed a partnership under the firm style of Harrington & Dickinson. This connection has been maintained since the 1st of July, 1899, and the firm enjoys an enviable reputation by reason of the broad knowledge and the ability of its members as trial lawyers and as counselors. Mr. Dickinson prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care and is seldom if ever at fault in the application of a legal principle. He holds to a high standard of professional ethics and is widely recognized as an able minister in the temple of justice. Aside from this he has become recognized as a business man whose discrimination is keen and whose judgment is sound. His cooperation is therefore eagerly sought in business matters and he is now a director of the First National Bank, of Algona, a director of the Algona Brick & Tile Works, treasurer of the Algona Manufacturing Company and treasurer of the Algona Auto Machinery Company -- enterprises which are proving valuable features in the business activity of the city.
On the 21st of August, 1901, Mr. Dickinson was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle C. Call, a daughter of Ambrose A. Call, one of the pioneers of Kossuth county. They have two children: Levi Call, born June 7, 1905; and Ruth Alice, May 22, 1907.
Mr. Dickinson is not identified with any fraternal orders but is a member of the Congregational church and is interested in its plans for the moral progress of the community. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he was chairman of the county central committee in 1901-2. He held the office of city clerk of Algona from the 1st day of May, 1900, until the 1st day of May, 1907, and was county attorney of Kossuth county from January 1, 1907, until January 1, 1911. In all matters of citizenship he is loyal and nothing can swerve him from a course which he believes to be right. His sense of duty and obligation is high and he meets it willingly. His many sterling traits of character have gained for him warm regard, placing him with the valued citizens of Kossuth county.
------------------------------L. J. Dickinson
Republican, of Algona, Kossuth county, Iowa, representative in congress from the Tenth district, composed of Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Crawford, Emmet, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Webster and Winnebago counties, was born in Lucas county, Iowa, October 29, 1873; his early education was received in the Danbury (Iowa) high school, from which he graduated with the class of 1892; attended Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, and grauated in 1898 with the B.S. degree; then took up a law course in the University of Iowa and was graduated in 1899 with the degree of LL. B.; admitted to the bar in 1899, and located at Algona, Iowa, July 1; was married August 21, 1901, to Miss Myrtle Call, two children being born to them, Levi Call and Ruth Alice; served as county attorney of Kossuth county two terms; committeeman Tenth congressional district, republican state central committee, 1914-1918; defeated J.R. Files, democrat, November, 1918 -- Files, 12,969; Dickinson, 23,220; nominated and elected to sixty-seventh congress without democratic opposition; a lifelong republican in politics.-Source: Official Register, State of Iowa 1921-1922, Twenty-Ninth Number, Biographies of Representatives in Congress, pg. 320
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