 |
|
 |
|
DAVID D. DICKSON, who has partially retired, although he still resides on his fine farm of two hundred and twenty-six acres, now operated by his son, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, April 15, 1834, and is a son of David and Mary (Mullen) Dickson, both natives of Ireland. His father followed the trade of saddler, though he owned a farm and raised good horses. David D. Dickson managed his father's farm several years before coming to America in 1868. His mother died when he was two years old, and his father, who was married twice afterwards, died in 1872, in Ireland, at an advanced age. David Dickson is the youngest of nine children. One sister, a widow, lives at Burlington, Iowa. Two other sisters, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Hagan, came to Benton county soon after I860; David made his home with them and worked for them two years. One brother died in Nebraska, and the oldest brother died some years since in Indiana.
David D. Dickson was reared and educated in his native country, and when he came to Boston, in 1868, he owned but a few dollars after paying his passage. He worked in a brickyard until coming to Iowa in the fall of that year. He located just south of Atkins, where for two years he worked for a brother-in-law. Afterwards he bought one hundred and sixty acres, part of which is now the site of the German Lutheran church. He purchased the land, which was then unimproved, for eighteen dollars per acre, and in 1892 sold out for sixty-five dollars per acre. He purchased his present farm for forty dollars per acre; he has a three thousand dollar residence, and suitable outbuildings, and has put in more than a mile of tiling. This is one of the finest farms in the county, in the quality and condition of the soil, and the improvements. He has followed general farming and raising stock, having several fine bred Belgian horses. While living in Ireland he was what is known as an Orangeman, and in religious belief is a Presbyterian. Politically he is a Democrat, and has filled various township offices.
In 1873 Mr. Dickson married, in Benton county, Iowa, Sarah Johnson, who was born and reared in Coshocton county, Ohio, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Black) Johnson, who came to Benton county soon after 1850, and settled in Fremont township. Mrs. Dickson died on the home farm in Eden township, July 1, 1903, aged fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson became parents of four sons and two daughters. Iner D., a farmer in Canton township, married Cora Weir and has two children, Ralph and Mary; Edith M., is the wife of C. A. Wickman, a farmer of Fremont township; Vivian, is unmarried and living at home; Joseph J., living three miles south of Vinton, married Nellie, daughter of George Fry, of Vinton, and has one son, Howard; John C., died in 1907, at the age of twenty-one years; and Roy E., unmarried, operates the home farm, leasing it on shares.
 |
