DICKERSON, Henry - Putnam

HENRY DICKERSON, retired farmer, resides on section 27, Jackson Township, where he owns 160 acres of land. He was born in Monroe County, Kentucky, August 8, 1816, a son of John R. and Mary {Grider} Dickerson, who were born near Harper's Ferry, in Maryland, of Welsh ancestry. The father moved to Putnam County in 1828 and settled on Raccoon Creek, subsequently moving to Franklin Township, where he died August 22, 1869, aged eighty-nine years, two months and seventeen days. The mother died July 17 1861, aged seventy-four years. They were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom lived till maturity and three still survive. He entered 160 acres of Government land, and went to work to clear it and built a log cabin. He experienced all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. Wolves, deer and wild turkeys were in abundance, and there were some bears and plenty of Indians, but he had but one white neighbor nearer than four miles. Henry was reared on a farm, and has always followed the occupation of a farmer. He was married February 10, 1841, to Emily d. Case, who was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, March 25, 1824, daughter of Moore and Mary {Keith} Case, pioneers of this county. The father died December 12, 1852, and the mother now lives with Mrs. Dickerson, and although eighty-four years of age, is still active, attending to her bees, of which she has thirteen stands. Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson have had eleven children, all of whom lived till maturity except one, and six are still living --Moore C., the present assessor of the township, married Martha Lee, and has one child -- Anna M.; Mary died unmarried September 8, 1871; Rebecca married James K. Sheckles and has four children -- Henry L., Charles B., Blanche, and Ona; Eliza J. married John W. Lee, and died June 13, 1873, leaving two children -- Atametus J. and Emma F.; John H. lived in Jackson Township; Emily J. died June 15 1876, unmarried; William L. is also a resident of Jackson Township; Martha E. married James F. Watkins, and has two children; and Effie I. Hiram C. died in the army May 24, 1863, and one died in infancy. Mr. Dickerson has served as justice of the peace three years and has also been school director, inspector of elections and supervisor. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist and his wife of the Methodist Church.