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James Dickey (1839-1911)

James Dickey (1839-1911)

The following unidentified newspaper article was in a collection owned by Lowell Town Historian Richard Schmal:

    COMRADE JAMES DICKEY

    Born February 20th, 1839, in the township of Yellowhead, Kankakee, County, Ill., and his home was in that township all his life until 15 years ago he moved to Monticello, Ind. Seven years ago this month he was stricken with paralysis and has been in feeble health ever since, causing him to go south each winter. He sold his home at Monticello last May and concluded to make a permanent home at Huntingdon, Carroll Co., Tenn., and had moved there only two months before his death, which occurred Jan. 30th, 1911. On that day he seemed as well as usual and in unusual high spirits, he was returning home from town with his youngest son, Ben, who was hauling corn, it was necessary to rest his team and his father, who complained of being chilly, walked on ahead, when within 200 rods of his home he sat down at the foot of a tree along the roadside, when found about ten minutes later by Ben he [sat] with an open account book on his knee and a pencil in his hand, which was lifeless; death had been instantaneous. His remains were brought to Momence and laid to rest in the Nichols cemetery.

    He was married three times, his first marriage was Oct. 27, 1859, to Willimina Hatton, and to this union three children were born -- Frank T. Dickey, of Converse, Ind.; Mrs. Britomast Brannon of Adarokee, Montana; and a son who died in infancy. His second marriage was Dec. 1875 to Nettie Ross, who died in Jan. 1876; to this union one child was born but died in infancy. He was married to Elitia Ross, May 10, 1882, who still survives; two sons were born to them: Harry B. Dickey, of Leach, Tenn., and Benjamin Gray Dickey, who lives with his mother at their home in Huntingdon, Tenn.

    He was a member of Co. H. in the 76th Ills. Vol. He became a member of the Momence Masonic Lodge No. . . . [The article ended at this point.]


This unidentified, undated newspaper obituary was found in the Local History files at the Lowell Public Library (LH--Biographies--C-D):
    James Dickey was born February 20, 1839, in the township of Yellowhead, Kankakee Co., Ill., and his home was in that township all his life until 15 years ago he moved to Monticello, Ind. Seven years ago this month he was stricken with paralysis and has been in feeble health ever since, causing him to go south each winter. He sold his home at Monticello last May and concluded to make a permanent home at Hentington, Carrol Co., Tenn., and had moved there only two months before his death, which occurred Jan. 30, 1911. On that day he seemed as well as usual and in unusual high spirits. He was returning home from town with his youngest son, Ben, who was hauling corn; it was necessary to rest his team and his father, who complained of being chilly, walked on ahead, when within 200 rods of his home, he sat down at the foot of a tree along the roadside. When found about ten minutes later by Ben, he sat with an open account book on his knee and a pencil in his hand, which was lifeless; death had been instantaneous. His remains were brought to Momence and laid to rest in the Nichols cemetery.

    He was married three times, his first marriage was October 27, 1859, to Willimina Hatton, and to this union three children were born -- Frank T. Dickey, of Converse Ind.; Mrs. Britomast Brannon, of Absorkee, Montana; and a son who died in infancy. His second marriage was December, 1875, to Nettie Ross, who died in January, 1876*. To this union one child was born but died in infancy. He was married to Elitia Ross, May 10, 1892, who still survives; two sons were born to them, Harry B. Dickey, of Leach, Tenn., and Benjamin Gray Dickey, who lives with his mother at their home in Hentingdon, Tenn.

    He was a member of Co. H in the 76th Ill. Vol. He became a member of the Momence Masonic lodge No 481 in 1869.

    Mr. Dickey was well and favorably known here, having kept a store here for several years, and has many friends here who will mourn his death.

* NOTE: The marriage and death dates for Nettie Ross are typed here as they appear in the article.


Last updated on April 10, 2008.

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