The Dickey Family beginning in Londonderry, NH

Londonderry Celebration June 10, 1869, 150th Anniversary, by John B. Clarke, 1870. Old Nutfield.

Pg. 115, Born of honarable parentage, January 19, 1766, early ingaged in trade, and was long a leading merchant in the West Parish in Londonderry. He served as town clerk three years, representative three years, and selectman eleven. In 1819 he removed to New York, taking with him seven sons and three daughters, all of whom are living and occupying positons of affluence and high respectatability. (This is Londonderry,N.H.)

From American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men with Portrait Illustrations on Steel, Volumes I-II:

Name: Hon. Charles Dickey of Marshall [Michigan], was born in Londonderry, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, April 3, 1813. His grandfather was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was one of the Scotch colonists who settled in New Hampshire in 1727. His maternal grandfather was, for many years, at the head of a large linen manufactory, at Dracut, near Lowell, Massachusetts. His parents, John and Rhoda (Varnum) Dickey, had fourteen children, of whom Charles is the twelfth. Of this large number, ten lived until the youngest was fifty-seven years old. Their father was engaged in mercantile and manufacturing pursuits. In 1818 he removed to York, Livingston County, New York, where he carried on a farm, ashery, and distillery. He died in 1837. Charles Dickey was educated at Moscow Academy, Livingston County, and, upon graduating, received the highest award, - Hawe's Twelve Lectures to Young Men. When quite young, he was engaged, for Messrs. Patterson & Dickey, in selling fanning-mills; and, upon leaving school, commenced their manufacture and sale in Ontario County. He remained there two years, and in Yates County one year, when he gave up the business and emigrated to Michigan. He settled in Marshall in March, 1836. In November of that year, he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, by Governor Mason, and ordered to enroll the militia of Calhoun County. In 1842 he became Sheriff of the county; and, for four years, discharged the duties of that office with great acceptance. In 1848 he was elected State Senator, and held the position four years. Six years after, he was chosen Representative; and was Speaker pro tempore of the House during his entire term, with the exception of four weeks, when he was Speaker de facto. In 1861 he was appointed United States Marshal, by President Lincoln, and held the office the six ensuing years. He has twice been Mayor of the city. October 13, 1873, he was appointed Probate Judge of Calhoun County, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Hon. Eden F. Henderson. At the close of the term, he was chosen to the same office, which he still continues to hold.

Judge Dickey was the first man of his party who was elected to any prominent position in Marshall. He has been in some public office since 1836, when he emigrated to Michigan. This circumstance reflects the highest honor upon him, and not a little upon his appreciative constituency. His official obligations have always been discharged with scrupulous fidelity, and his record will stand the test of the most searching investigation. He has been married four times, and has had nine children,--six sons and three daughters. Three of his sons were in the late war; one was killed in the battle of Gettysburg. Judge Dickey is over six feet in height, and is admirably proportioned. His character is irreproachable, and his manners refined, showing him to be a thorough gentleman.

EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

Vol II, pg 282-285

ROSS WILKINS DICKEY

Ross Wilkins Dickey, who was for many years identified with the coffee trade of the country and for a considerable period prior to his death was in charge of the sales of the Chase & Sanborn coffee house of Chicago, for the Northwest, was a lifelong resident of the Mississippi valley, his birth having occurred in Marshall, Michigan, May 2, 1869, his parents being Charles and Angeline (Moore) Dickey. The father was born in London�derry, New Hampshire, April 3, 1813, and was a son of John Dickey, a direct descendant of one of the first colonists of that state, to which he removed from Londonderry, Ireland. The mother of Charles Dickey was Rhoda Varnum, who came from Dracut, Massachusetts. When Charles Dickey was but four years of age his parents removed to Livingston county, New York, where he resided until his seventeenth year, when he took up the business of selling fanning mills. In March, 1836, he removed to Marshall, Michigan, where he at once made arrangements "to raise the wind by the manufacture of the same line of implements and fanning mills," in which business he continuously en�gaged until 1861. He also devoted a part of his attention to wool buying on the com�mission basis and in 1838 he made purchase of the first of that staple sold for money In southern Michigan. In politics in early life Colonel Dickey, as he was commonly called, was a whig and in 1844 was chosen sheriff of Calhoun county, Michigan, being the first whig elected in the county to any office and the only one at that election, the remainder of the ticket being defeated by a strong democratic majority. In 1846 Mr. Dickey was reelected and from 1849 until 1853 he served in the senate of Michigan during four regular and one special sessions. In 1858 he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature and in 1859 served as speaker pro tempore, while during the illness of speaker H. A. Shaw he was speaker de facto. He was also chairman of the house committee on ways and means. Colonel Dickey was among the first to organize the county and state agricultural societies and was president of the latter in 1858-9 He also served as a member of the executive committee from its organization in 1845 until his death. In 1861 he was appointed United States marshal for the district of Michigan, by President Lincoln, in whose bodyguard of marshals he served at both the first and second inaugurals. It was during his term that the state was divided into two districts and in 1865 he was reappointed to the eastern district but was removed after the death of Lincoln, by President Johnson in his general change of administra�tion. At the dedication of the soldiers' cemetery at Gettysburg he was in charge of the division of governors in the procession. On this occasion President Lincoln uttered the most famous speech of his life, which has never been equalled in conciseness and compre�hensiveness by any American citizen, ending in the words "that a government of the people, for the people and by the people shall not perish from the earth." That Colonel Dickey should have the opportunity and the honor of taking part in the dedication was singularly touching, for there in a plain numbered grave lay a son, Gilbert, who fell in the terrible battle of Gettysburg while in command of the Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry. In 1873 Colonel Dickey was appointed by Governor Bagley, judge of probate for Calhoun county, Michigan, and was elected to the office in 1876. His death occurred January 13, 1879, and on the 3d of February of that year Judge Wells of Kalamazoo thus addressed the State Pioneer Association, of which Judge Dickey was an active member: "Some men die and are forgotten, their influence having been within a limited circle, but not so with the deceased. In the administration of all public and private trusts he was recognized as possessed of qualities of the heart and mind invaluable to the community in which he lived. As a legislator he seemed to consult the great interests of the people and the people, realizing this, again and again commended his actions. As the executive officer of an important court he was always efficient in the proper discharge of his duties. He was widely known for his careful exercise of judgment in the administration of the law, in caring for and protecting the interests of the widow and orphan. He had an extended acquaintance with men in every portion of Michigan, in every walk of life and from the most distinguished to the humblest all with one accord gave to him the name of an honest man, possessed of Christian virtues. For our own improvement let us treasure his memory and profit by his example."

Ross Wilkins Dickey, a son of Judge Dickey, was educated in the public schools of Marshall, Michigan, to the age of fourteen years, when he began to provide for his own support by working in the office at the coal docks at Marquette, Michigan. When sixteen years of age he went to Chicago, where he engaged in clerking and later became manager of a cigar and tobacco store. He remained in that city for several years, during which period he became a charter member of the famous old Marquette Club. Afterward he entered the employ of Hanly & Kinsella, coffee merchants, of St. Louis, in the capacity of salesman, representing that house in southern territory and for them he sold the first carload of green coffee ever sent into the state of Texas. Later he became associated with the New Orleans Coffee Company, selling to the retail trade, his business covering many of the southern states. After a few years he was with the Chase & Sanborn Coffee Company of Chicago and was given charge of the northwest field, which he managed to the time of his death. He was always congenial, possessing a kindly nature and, more�over, he displayed splendid ability as a salesman. His geniality, his uniform courtesy and his deference for the opinions and for the rights of others made him uniformly a favorite, not only among business associates but among all with whom he came into contact He had no difficulty in retaining the friendships which he won and by reason of his pleasing personality, as well as his understanding of the trade, he was able to build up a large business for his house in the Northwest.

In 1898 Mr. Dickey was united in marriage to Miss Irma Brown, a daughter of Charles W. Brown of Milwaukee. They owned a fine home on Lake Minnetonka, which was the old Keller homestead on Carmen bay. Mr. Dickey was fond of hunting and spent several weeks every fall and summer in hunting and fishing. He-was extremely charitable, ever ready to extend a helping hand and there are many who have reason to revere his memory because of his generous assistance. He passed away January 21, 1917, and his death was the occasion of deep regret to all with whom he had been brought into contact. He had been a member of the Quarter Century Club and also of the Commercial Travelers of Minneapolis and in these, as in other relations, he was most highly esteemed. His life ever measured up to advanced standards of manhood and citizenship, while his forcefulness and resourcefulness ever found expression in his successful business career.

A.P.DICKEY---"-In 1846 another man A.P. Dickey , opened another Fanning mill company. His mills eventually won awards at exhibitions in Philidelphia and Paris. They separated the grain from the chaff and graded the grain at up to four hundred bushels per hour." From "Grassroots of Racine County" copyright 1978: Second Printing 1979...Limited Edition 1000 copies--Library of Congress Catalog Card no. 78-63573
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COL. A.P. DICKEY-DOD-1880

Surname: Dickey

This obituary appeared in the Racine Advocate; October 1880;Racine County, Racine, Wisconsin. Headline Reads: COL. A. P. DICKEY---"Saturday evening a good and thorough gentleman passed away in the person of COL. A. P. DICKEY, known by all Racine for his kind heart and sterling qualities. He was prominent in business, and his memory will ever be prominent in minds of many who knew him. All knew him to appreciate his friendship there is probably not one who had his ill will. His immediate death was caused by a stroke of paralysis, the like of which he had been subject to for some years. he is mourned in all sincerity by his relatives, friends, employees and numourous acquaintances.

Mr. Dickey was born in Londonderry, N.H., March 24, 1817, and when three years of age removed with his parents to Livingston Co., Western New York, residing in the town of York; comparatively limited educational advantages were afforded then to those of the present time, hence all the education obtained was through the winter months in and during the period prceding the year 1834 in a district school. He left school at the age of 17 years and began to work out the problem of life. United the activity and strength of an energetic youth with the hardihood begotton of parentage of Scotch and English decent, he entered upon his labors, first engaging in the sale of fanning mills for his brothers. His remarkable success speedily earned for him a partnership with one of his brothers, Gilman Dickey, than a resident of Price Hill, N.Y. where the business was sucessfully carried on for twelve years. While residing in the above named place; he was chosen Colonel of the 164th New York State Militia, a position which he held with honor for six years. In 1845 he came to this city (Racine) Here with an enlarged field for activity , he entetered into the task of building up a name and fortune, adopting the manufacture of fanning mills. by attending closely to business he had earned an enviablle succes. He leaves a wife, 2 sons and 3 daughters, and large number of relatives and friends to mourn his loss.

The funeral took place from the house on Main Street Tuesday afternoon, and was attended by an unusually large number of people."
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JOHN P. DICKEY, President of the Cherokee State Bank, and dealer in lumber and coal, is the subject of this biographical sketch. In 1874 J. P. Dickey with Dubuque parties established themselves in the lumber and coal trade at Cherokee, and since that time he has been closely connected with every public interest of the town and county. He is a native of Livingston County, New York, born August 20, 1838, and is the youngest son of John P. and Elizabeth (Weller) Dickey. His father was a merchant and farmer in Western New York, having settled there in 1818. He was born in Londonderry County, New Hampshire, in 1796, the son of John Dickey, of Scotch-Irish descent. Elizabeth Weller, the mother of our subject, removed from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Livingston County, New York, where she and her husband lived the remainder of their days. He died in 1875, and she in 1845. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom grew to maturity. John P. is the youngest of the family.

He was first sent to the common school, and later he entered Genesee Seminary, where he spent three terms. After leaving his studies he went to Wisconsin, where he was engaged in the sale of fanning-mills for a period of two years. Thence he went to Delaware County, Iowa, where he framed very successfully for nine years. In the spring of 1874 he came to Cherokee County and entered into the lumber business in company with Dubuque parties. Mr. Dickey was married in 1863 to Miss Keziah Stilwell, a native of Genesee County, New York, and a daughter of Hiram Stilwell. Mr. and Mrs. Dickey are the parents of three sons: James H., engaged in the lumber business at Storm Lake; Roy W., who has charge of the Cherokee yards, and John W., at Evanston College. In October, 1888, Mr. Dickey organized the Cherokee State Bank, of which he is president, E. D. Huxford being the cashier. they do a general banking business, and have one of the finest bank buildings in Northwestern Iowa. The firm of J. P. Dickey & Co. have three lumber yards�one at Cherokee, one at Storm Lake, and another at Aurelia. In his political belief Mr. Dickey is a Republican, and has frequently been called to fill local offices. He was instrumental in the erection of the large public school building, and has been a member of the School Board, in which he has taken a great interest. He has also served as a councilman for the city. He belongs to the Congregational Church, of which he is one of the deacons. HIs wife is also a member of the same denomination. Mr. Dickey is a man of excellent judgement and of noble public spirit. While he has been liberal in his contributions to all public enterprises, he has amassed a comfortable competence.

This comes courtesy of Norma Frisch. She found it in The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., February 4, 1921, page 1

Mrs. J.P. Dickey, mother of J.W. Dickey, died in this city pay the age of 82 years on January 30th. Keziah Stilwell was born in Pine Hill, New York and was married to J.P. Dickey in 1862. They moved to Iowa where they made their home for a number of years, moving to Spokane in 1904. Three children were born to them, only one, J.W. Dickey, of White Salmon, surviving. Her husband passed away in Spokane on July 24, 1920.

Mrs. J.P. Dickey had been an invalid for a number of years, suffering from partial paralysis. Two months ago she was mowed to White Salmon by her son so that he might look after her and be by her side. Complications which set in a few weeks ago was the cause of her death.

Besides her son, J.W. Dickey, of this city five grandchildren, survive her. The remains were taken to Spokane for burial.

This is Gilman's grandson-(William Gage his father had same name):W. G. DICKEY was born in Delaware County, Iowa, on October 11, 1870, the son of W. G. and Hattie (Sherman) Dickey, the former a native of New York, the latter a native of Ohio. W. G. Dickey, Sr., was a farmer, lumberman and stockman who came to Iowa in 1859, locating in Dickeyville, Delaware County, Iowa, which town was named after the family since several persons of this name had settled there. W. G. Dickey, Sr., was a Republican in politics and was appointed postmaster at Hazel Green, the post office at Dickeyville. Hazel Green was a small village and here Mr. Dickey died in 1899. His wife was born in 1833, and is still living, making her home with her son, W. G. Dickey. He is the only child born to his parents. His father and mother, however, adopted a little girl, Katie, who is now deceased. W. G. Dickey received his early education in the home schools and in the high school at Maxwell, Iowa, afterward becoming a student in Drake University at Des Moines. After leaving school, he spent one year in the show business as an advance agent, after which he was connected with the St. Paul & Kansas CityGrain Company, operating a station for a period of one year. Subsequently, Mr. Dickey became an agent of the Terry Shows, being a No. 2 agent for two years with an Uncle Tom�s Cabin company. He then became general agent for the Terry Shows and served in this capacity until 1903, when he became a partner in the business, the firm being known as Dickey & Terry. Another company which produced �Ten Nights in a Barroom� was organized, and this company was called Dickey, Jones & Terry. Uncle Tom�s Cabin has been produced continuously for twenty-six years. The show was organized, originally, by people who lived at Little Sioux � O. Q. Setchell and Fred Terry, who were brothers-in-law. The show was first produced at Lexington, Illinois, February 19,1890. The winter quarters are at Little Sioux, Iowa. It is a tent show in the summer and exhibits at all towns through the winter. W. G. Dickey was married first to ELIZABETH CLAUSEN, and to this union one child was born, Gwendoline, who is the wife of C. M. Mason, of Cambridge, Iowa. Mr. Dickey was married the second time to Mrs. CORINNE CHUNN. As one of the unique figures in the life of Harrison County, and as one who has attained a unique success, W. G. Dickey is a man who is eminently entitled to representation in the annals of his county. He has become well known through his association with shows bearing his name, but aside from his professional reputation, he is a wide-awake citizen, a keen student of human nature, who has experienced phases of life that fall within the range of few men�s careers.

PATTERSON, George Washington, (brother of William Patterson and uncle of Augustus Frank), a Representative from New York; born in Londonderry, Rockingham County, N.H., November 11, 1799; completed preparatory studies, and was graduated from Pinkerton Academy; moved to New York and settled in Genesee County in 1818; engaged in the manufacture of fanning mills; settled in Leicester, N.Y., in 1825 and engaged in agricultural pursuits and the manufacture of farming implements; commissioner of highways of Leicester; justice of the peace; member of the State assembly 1832, 1833, and 1835-1840, and served as speaker in 1839 and 1840; basin commissioner at Albany in 1839 and 1840; moved to Westfield, N.Y., in 1841 to take charge of the Chautauqua land office; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1846; elected Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1848; chairman of the harbor commission at New York 1855-1857; quarantine commissioner of the port of New York in 1859; supervisor and president of the board of education for many years; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1856 and 1860; elected as a Republican to the Forty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1877-March 3, 1879); was not a candidate for renomination in 1878; died in Westfield, Chautauqua County, N.Y., October 15, 1879; interment in Westfield Cemetery.