**************************************************************************** File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net. **************************************************************************** Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890 **************************************************************************** The Biography of Rev. William DICKSON Pages 854-855, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin [Surnames: ARNETT, ASHBY, COZAD, DEANE, DICKSON, DUDLEY, FITCH, HAYNEY, MUSSETT] REV. WILLIAM DICKSON. The first maxim among philosophers is, that merit only makes distinction. Judged by this rule, no citizen of this county has a better claim to the respect of mankind than the gentleman above named. He has done much for the good of the county - materially, morally and religiously - and his life furnishes an example worthy the emulation of the rising generation. With but the rudiments of an education in his boyhood, he has by self-effort become a man of broad intelligence; beginning life with no cash capital, he has acquired riches; and from a position of no influence he has become a power in the section in which he lives and labors. Alexander Dickson, the father of our subject, was born in Southern Indiana and in that state married Mary Mussett, a native of Ohio. Soon after their marriage this couple settled in Kentucky, across the river from Cairo, Ill., but after remaining there about a year crossed into Illinois where the husband soon died. The widow subsequently married Joseph Cozad, who, in 1833, came to this county and in 1834 brought his family hither. The journey was made with a two-horse team, household effects, and some stock a part of which died on the way, being brought with the family. A settlement was made in Lewistown Township in what is known as the Bordner neighborhood. The country was new, sparsely settled and almost entirely covered with dense forests wherein deer, wolves, turkeys and wild hogs abounded. A few Indians still roamed over the wilderness and the ruins of their camps were everywhere to be seen. The settlers hunted much and farmed little. The stepfather of our subject was a renter and shifted about for twenty years, finally buying land and settling on section 1, Waterford Township. There he and his wife died, the latter in her eighty-ninth year. Our subject was the only child of his mother by her first marriage, but she bore her second husband five children. Nothing definitely is known concerning the Dickson family prior to the father of our subject, save that some of its members represented Indiana in both houses of Congress in an early day. Our subject was born in Kentucky, opposite Cairo, Ill., April 17, 1826, and accompanied his mother to this county where he attended the pioneer schools, worked in the clearings and on the farm. The schools held here at that time were conducted by subscription and as his family was poor he could attend but little. The temple of learning in which he studied was a log house with paper windows, a wooden door hung on wooden hinges, having a wooden latch with the latch-string hung outside. The furnishing of the building was equally primitive and nothing higher than the Second Reader was taught when he attended. The lad worked at home until he was nineteen years old, when he began farming on shares, dividing his portion - a half - each year with the family. He continued this two years, then having attained his majority, began life for himself. Mr. Dickson was a renter for several years, but finally bought a soldier's claim on one hundred and sixty acres, entered it at Quincy and lived thereon six years. He then sold the property, which he had improved, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Mason County on which he resided two years. At the expiration of that time he sold and returned to this county, where he bought, improved and sold various farms, making money in the transactions. He finally purchased a quarter of section 12, Waterford Township, and erected thereon a commodious frame house, containing twelve rooms, at a cost of $3,000. In that pleasant mansion he resided until 1883, when he moved upon his present farm on section 3, where in 1887 he erected a new dwelling. It is a large, frame edifice of pleasing architectural design, and in its interior arrangements and furnishing will compare favorably with many a city home. Mr. Dickson has bought land from time to time as his means would permit until now he owns over twelve hundred acres, more than half of which is under cultivation and six hundred acres on sections 6 and 8, are pasture land. Mr. Dickson has been twice married, his first marriage rites having been celebrated December 23, 1848. His bride was Miss Nancy J. Arnett, a native of Kentucky, who shared his joys and sorrows until called hence. She left four children - John W., Charles M., David D., and Anna A., now Mrs. Fitch. Mrs. Dickson had accompanied her parents - Cleanthes and Margaret (Deane) Arnett - to this county in the spring of 1837, their home being made in Liverpool Township. The second marriage of our subject was solemnized January 19, 1873, his companion being Miss Mary A. Ashby, who was born in Jefferson County, March 22, 1849. Her father A. J. Ashby, was born in North Carolina and came to this county when the red men were still numerous here. Mr. Ashby is a carpenter, farmer and local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, Charlotte (Dudley) Ashby, was born in Virginia and died in this county at the age of sixty years. The present union of the Rev. Mr. Dickson has resulted in the birth of six children, viz: Minnie, Francis, (deceased), Margie, William, Thomas and Henry. Politically, Mr. Dickson was first a Whig and cast his virgin ballot for Henry Clay. He was a Greenbacker for a time but is now a Republican. He has held various township offices and aided in divers enterprises which would result beneficially to the community. He has been a local preacher in the Methodist Church for the past thirty-five years. He was converted in 1856, when thirty-three years old, and at once became possessed with the idea that he should preach the Gospel. Three months afterward he was licensed to exhort by Milton Hayney, then Elder in this district. Mr. Dickson first preached at Mt. Pleasant Church, east of Lewistown, and has held a dozen or more revival meetings there at which hundreds have been added to the church. He has also held revival meetings at Maple's Mill, in Liverpool Township, with marked success, as well, as in various other parts of the county. He now preaches at the Waterford and Mt. Pleasant churches.