Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1070 - 1073

GEORGE DICKINSON, a successful farmer living on his homestead on section 22, Rockford Township, came to Kansas from Iowa in 1871, and located in Sedgwick County. He can justly be considered a pioneer of this section of Kansas, having watched the development of the township and county in which he resides from their infancy. Scarcely a frame house had been built, and the timbered land was the home of deer, antelopes and other game, while herds of buffaloes roamed over the uncultivated prairies. In a residence here of less than a score of years, our subject has seen small hamlets transformed into prosperous cities, and thriving villages and populous townships filling the places once occupied by groves and rolling prairies. In all of this wondrous growth Mr. Dickinson has lent material assistance, and freely devoted time and money to place his adopted county among the leading counties of Kansas. All efforts put forth by him and his coadjutors in that direction have been faithfully aided by Nature, whose beneficence in regard to climate, fertility of soil, mineral deposits and manufacturing capabilities, is unbounded.

             Mr. Dickinson was born in New York, Feb. 17, 1838, being the son of T. G. and Elizabeth (Thorne) Dickinson, both natives of New York and of English ancestry. In early life he left the parental rooftree and sought in the then far West to carve his own fortune. His labors were crowned with success, and he was in two years enabled to take unto himself a helpmate in the person of Miss Elizabeth White, a native of Iowa, to whom he was married Feb. 26, 1868. Mrs. Dickinson is the daughter of Enoch and Esther (Deats) White, natives of Ohio. The mother died when Mrs. Dickinson was but two years old, and her father was again married, to Mrs. Adeline Waller. Mrs. Dickinson was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, Feb. 12, 1848. 

            Three years after marriage our subject came to Kansas, where Mr. Dickinson took up the land which he now owns and occupies. He immediately commenced its improvement, and by his industry, perseverance and good management, has it now under a good state of cultivation, with a comfortable residence, ample barn, and other convenient farm buildings. He has a fine orchard of good bearing fruit trees, and a garden well supplied with the smaller fruits, and, in addition to the raising of farm produce, is largely interested in horses and cattle raising.

             To our subject and wife have been born seven children, viz.: Myrta, born Jan. 10, 1869, married John Chamberlain, a merchant of Mulvane; Fannie, born Nov. 10, 1873, died Sept. 25,1874; Fay, born May 4, 1876; Rose, June 5, 1879; Earl and Merle (twins), born May 17, 1882; Merle died Sept. 10, 1883; Claude, born Feb. 9, 1887. Our subject is a stanch Republican, and takes an active interest in local and general matters, having satisfactorily served as Township Trustee two terms, and for several terms has faithfully performed the duties of Clerk and Treasurer of his district. His estimable wife is a consistent member of the Baptist Church, at Derby.

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