Robert Dickson, of Glidden Township, has been a resident of Carroll County since February 9, 1855. He was born in Vermillion County, Illinois, April 7, 1830, son of Amos Dickson, a native of Mason County, Kentucky, who at the age of eighteen left his native State in company with his father, and located in Vermillion County. His wife, Miss Rachel Pettis, was born in Murray County, Tennessee. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. The Pettis family were residents of Vermillion County for some time previous to the marriage of the daughter. The parents reared a family of nine children, Robert being the oldest. When he was twelve years of age the family removed to Champaign County, same State. His early life was passed on the farm and in attending the common schools of his native State. June 4, 1854, he was married to Miss Sarah L. McGinnis, who was born in Ripley County, Indiana, and a daughter of Ed. B. and Nancy (Allen) McGinnis, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Logan County, Kentucky. In September, 1854, Mr. Dickson and his wife started for Iowa with horse team. The fall and a portion of the following winter were spent in Guthrie County, near Lonsdale woolen mills. January 12, 1855, he pre-empted 160 acres where he now resides—eighty acres of timber and eighty of prairie. One year later he went and proved up the same. His first house was a rude log cabin 10 x 12 feet, covered with lumber brought from Guthrie County. The floor was laid loose on ice. In 1867 he erected his present residence, which is 24 x 32 feet is size, and is well furnished. The farm contains 640 acres of land, and it is one of the finest farms in Glidden Township. Mr. Dickson owns 240 acres of improved land in Russell County, Kansas. He was appointed to the office of country treasurer to fill the unexpired term of James White; has served many years as justice of the peace, and in 1869 was elected county supervisor. Politically he was formerly a Democrat, but has been a Republican since 1860. He is a strong believer in the rights of the colored man, and voted to give him the right of suffrage. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Baptist church. He and his son are extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has a grove of trees, of his planting, ten acres, and an orchard of fifteen acres. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson have four children—David, who lives in Kansas; Anna E. Corcoran, of Colorado; Luella R. Merritt , of Carroll County, and Robert Y., who was born December 1, 1862, on the old homestead where he was reared.

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