Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 816
RICHARD DICKINSON

Richard DICKINSON, one of the successful farmers residing in Union Township, whose farm is on section 6, is another one of the little band who wended their way to Harrison County, arriving October, 1863, when he located on the farm on which he now lives, consisting of a half section of land, all in one body, for which he exchanged a farm in Michigan, unsight and unseen. At the time he made the trade, there were about one hundred acres of the farm under cultivation. The remainder was timber and wild prairie land. He has given his sons some of his original tract, but having purchased other land still possesses about the same amount as was his original farm.

When he came to this county, the nearest railroad was at Iowa City, about two hundred and fifty miles distant. The mail was carried across the state by stage from Fort Dodge to Council Bluffs, making the round trip once a week, our subject's postoffice being at Harris Grove with William DAKAN as Postmaster, while their nearest trading point was Council Bluffs, a distance of thirty miles. Even at that early day, the family had callers, but owing to their dusky complexion, and semi-savage look, they were not very welcome visitors. However, these Indians were quite friendly and seldom committed any depredations.

Our subject was born in the State of Ohio, July 22, 1812. His father was Gaos DICKINSON, and his mother Mary DICKINSON, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, repectively, and they were the parents of five children, of whom our subject was the third. The children were named as follows: Ruth, deceased; Elizabeth, Richard, Daniel, deceased; and John. Our subject lived with his parents in Ohio until he was eighteen years of age. When he felt the young blood of ambition coursing through his veins, he embarked upon life's sea for himself, first going to Pennsylvania, where he engaged with a man who was taking a drove of horses West, and when they got as far as Bedfor, the horses were sold, and he then hired to another man and went to Philadelphia, where he had the smallpox, which he took in the natural way. He remained at a country tavern for about six weeks, when he recovered and went to Harrisburg, where he hired in a livery barn, remaining there about eight months, and then drifted back into the Buckeye Sttate, where he was in the employ of one man for six consecutive years, working in a barn and driving a stage. From there he returned to the home of his parents, whre he remained two years. He then rented a farm, which he worked one season, and then went to Bellefontaine and engaged in the meat market business, which he followed for ten years, at the end of which time he sold out and removed to Michigan and purchased eight acres of partly improved land, to which he subsequently added forty acres. This farm was all cleared up and well improved. He traded this for his farm in Harrison County as above related.

Mr. DICKINSON was united in marriage October 5, 1837; to Saphrona HULL, daughter of Elijah and Sarah HULL, natives of Pennsylvania, by whom twelve children were born�Joseph, John, Daniel, William, Isaac, Elizabeth, Hannah, Lucinda, Lydia, Amanda and Saphrona.

Mr. And Mrs. DICKINSON are the parents of four children�William H., born June 29, 1841; James W., September 27, 1845; Amanda V., December 13, 1847; Isaiah, October 29, 1851. These children are all married and living near their parents, except James, who lives in Elkhart, Ind.

Politically, our subject is a supporter of the Democratic party. He started in life with no means, save his own strong arms, and with but a limited education, and has seen much of pioneer hardships, but is now in possession of a comfortable home, in one of the best parts of Harrison County.

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