William Dickinson
 

by Terry Wantz


William Dickinson was born Nov. 29, 1819 at Litchfield, Connecticut. He was the son of Philip and Phebe (Hutchinson) Dickinson. William moved from Connecticut when he was 10 years old with his parents to Trumbull Co., Ohio. Here he worked on their farm for eleven years. He then returned to his native state, Connecticut, and married Caroline Hart, the daughter of Elias and Hannah (Harrison) Hart. While living in Sharon, Connecticut their seven children were born. Walter (1845), Wallace 1st (1847-1847), Wallace 2nd (Aug. 12, 1848- he died before 1860), Phebe Hannah (1849), Mary Elizabeth (Oct. 12, 1850), Elias (1852/53), and Charles (1854). William was engaged for several years in Connecticut in the manufacturing of charcoal.

William must have came to Newaygo Co., Michigan early in the year of 1855.  He applied for a "Patent for Land" of 80 acres on March 7, 1855. On March 10, 1857 he applied for another Patent of 240 acres of land in Sections 22, 23 and 26 of what is now Everett Township. He received the Title to the land on Aug. 23, 1875 and resold the land to Everett Douglass. After he applied for his Land Patent, he must have returned to Fowler, Trumbull Co., Ohio and settled on a farm where his wife, Caroline, died on Aug. 10, 1857.

William's second wife was Miss Sarah Barnes, daughter of Elijah and Diantha (Drake) Barnes, whom he married on Nov. 7, 1857. They had a son, Willie (Sept. 16, 1858-July 22, 1862), a daughter, Ida Mae (June 8, 1859), and a son, Chester (Sept. 16, 1860-June 22, 1876). All were born in Trumbull Co., Ohio.

On August 23, 1861, William enrolled in Co. K, 41st Regiment of Ohio Infantry Volunteers. He served in the Army of Cumberland, commanded by General Bull and General Nelson. He was wounded in the battle of Corinth and came home in July on a leave of absence. He was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio on July 24, 1862.

Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson and their family came to Newaygo County in the spring of 1863, settling in Denver Township where he purchased 80 acres of land near what later became the settlement of Aetna. By 1880 he had purchased 120 acres in the northwest section 36 of Denver Township. By 1900 he only had 80 acres. He held the office of Highway Commissioner several years and in politics he was a Greenbacker. The rest of his children were born in Denver Township. George (Aug. 11, 1863), Sherman (March 14, 1865-Aug. 13, 1866), Frank, (July 14, 1867), Gertrude (Feb. 14, 1869), Alice (Sept. 4, 1877), John (Jan. 20, 1873), William (Tige) (Sept. 1, 1875), Orla (Sept 1, 1877) and Philip (May 12, 1879).

William died on Nov. 12, 1901 in Denver Township, Newaygo Co., MI. Sarah lived until June 29, 1908. They are both buried along with three of their sons (Elias, Chester and Sherman) in the Bull Cemetery, Denver Township, Newaygo Co., MI

 

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