PACRAWFO-L Archives

From: "Sandra Schroeder" <>
Subject: [PACRAWFO-L] Dickson Bio & other surnames - Part 1
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 08:38:26 -0400

A REMARKABLE LIFE
------
THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF JOSEPH
DICKSON, FROM THE CRADLE
TO THE GRAVE
------

Life in the Infant Settlement--Hardships
of the Early Pioneers--Indian At-
tacks--Boating--A Soldier in
the War of 1812--His Sur-
render at Last to the
Grim Destroyer
------

Joseph Dickson died at his home on North Street, in Meadville, Pa., April
3d, 1888, at the advanced age of 98 years, 1 month and 21 days. Having
been a resident of Meadville and vicinity ninty four years, nearly the
entire century, and having been intimately acquainted with all the first
settlers, it makes his life and recollections of great interest at the
present time.

He was the father of eight sons and five daughters, twelve of whom lived
to manhood and womanhood. The twelve children were alive at the mother's
death, which occurred March 27th, 1862. At the time of death he had six
children, sixteen grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren; his
children--Mrs. E. B. Comstock and Joseph H., of Meadville, Mrs. G. W.
Ready, of Painesville, O., and Mary M., Arch, S. and Jane A. Dickson,
inmates of the home in which their aged parent for so many years enjoyed
the society of young and old.

Mr. Dickson united with the Presbyterian church in 1822, and was a ruling
elder for fifty-six years. When nearing his 90th birthday it was decided
at a church meeting that the event should be duly celebrated at the church.
A sketch of his life, prepared and read by Rev. T. D. Logan on that
occasion, part of which is here introduced, the information having been
obtained from the venerble man's own lips:

"Mr. Joseph Dickson came to Meadville at a very early age. With the
exception of about a year and a half he had been a resident of this city or
its vicinity. Prior to the War of the Revolution the entire region moth of
the Ohio River and west of the Allegheny was a disputed territory, claimed
by both the French and English; and after the French had been driven out,
the occupation was still disputed by the savages. As a consequence of
these conflicts, the settlements were few, previous to the last decade of
the eighteenth century. About the year 1787 the first settlers found their
way to the valley of French creek, of Venango river, as it ought to be
called, but did not make any settlement until the following year. Owing to
the hostile attitude of the Indians, they were soon compelled to leave, but
they returned in 1790, determined to remain at all hazards. For their
protection they built a block-house and stockade near the bank of the
creek, on land now occupied by James E. McFarland, on Warer street, near
the corner of North street. The town was laid out at an early date, and
settlers began to arrive; but it was not till after the defeat of the
Indians by General Wayne, in 1794, that a peacable settlement was found
possible. It was during this period of danger that the father of Mr.
Dickson, with his family, came to Meadville.

Transcribed from the Centennial Edition of the Daily Tribune-Republican
of Saturday morning, May 12th, 1888
p. 91 thru 96
Tribune Publishing Company, Printers, Publishers, and Binders
Meadville, Pennsylvania

Sandy Roche Schroeder (SamiWV)

Volunteer for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnraogk/index.ht

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