Notes for HIRAM RAY DICKSON: (Source Shirley Ward)

In the federal census of 1870 in Reynolds Co., MO is found: Hiram Dixon, 46, farmer, NC; Temperance, 41, keeping house, TN; Ewell, 20; Julie, 11; Louisa, 8; Thomas, 2; Elizabeth Fitzgerald, 17; William Fitzgerald, 15; George Fitzgerald,13; and James, 9. Value of real estate $4000, personal property $300.

In the federal census of 1880 in Reynolds Co., MO is found: Hiram Dixon, 56, farmer; Temperance, 49; Tennessee, 17; Thomas S., 13; Temperance L., 11; Eugenia, 7; George Fitzgerald, 22, step-son; Anna Fitzgerald, 19, step-daughter; and John Smith, 15, brother-in-law.

In A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region, published by Goodspeed Brothers of Chicago, 1894 is the following: "H.R. Dickson. It seems impossible to think that where there are now magnificent fields of corn and thrifty farms, less than half a century ago was a wilderness inhabited by wild animals and savages. Still stranger is it to think that we have in our midst one of those old settlers who spent his best energies in subduing the wilderness and bringing it to the state of perfection apparent to all...........

William and Frances (Cross) Dickson parents......Twelve children were given them: H.R. (subject), Nancy E., Temperance A., Thomas M., Mary A., William D., John W., Sarah J., Malinda C., Rebecca E., John C., and Amanda J. Temperance, Mary and John W. are deceased, but the remainder are living and are well respected citizens, following in the footsteps of their father whose honesty, uprightness and integrity were well known. Our subject passed his early life in Tennessee, and, owing to circumstances, received but a limited education. When twenty years of age he married Miss Nancy A. Smith, daughter of Daniel Smith, who was a native of Kentucky, but who died in the county a number of years ago. His wife died in Kentucky, and he came to this county in 1856, dying here in 1875. To Mr. and Mrs. Dickson were born eight children, three of whom are living: Gilbert, Ewell, and Julia A. The boys are wealthy farmer of the State of Washington. Julia A. is the wife of Frank Dinkins, a farmer of this county. Mrs. Dickson passed away in 1862, and Mr. Dickson took for his second wife, Temperance Fitzgerald, a native of North Carolina. Seven children were born to this union, viz: Tennessee L., who is the wife of William Wimpie sic (Willis Wimpy), a farmer of this county; Thomas S., a man of a family, lives on the home place; Temperance L. married Dr. Frank Ellis, and is living in the nation; Eugenia N., at home, and the remainder died young. Our subject came from Tennessee to this state in 1853 and located where he now lives in Dickson Valley, named after him, he being the first man to settle there. He was the first man to enter land in Reynolds County under the graduation law. For four years he was Assessor of the county, and for twelve years he was Justice of the Peace. He has now a farm of 800 acres, and is one of the wealthiest men in the county. In politics he has ever been a strong Republican and a man interested in the growth and upbuilding of the country. He is a member of the Barnesville (Ellington) Masonic Lodge. During the war he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Missouri Infantry and served from July 12, 1862 until June 10, 1863. He was a good soldier. Mr. Dickson is chairman of the County Central Committee.

Burial: February 1898, Dickson Cem. on family farm, Reynolds Co., MO

Burial: January 1862, Dickson Cem. on family farm, Reynolds Co., MO

Notes for TEMPERANCE LOUISE BRADSHAW FITZGERALD: Notes from Shirley Ward.

The following a a reprint of a letter received by this compiler in 1957 from Ola Bowers in Ellington, MO.

September 4, 1957

Dear Shirley,

Grandmother Dickson was borned in North Carolina about 1832. Her name was Temperance Louise Bradshaw, her mother was French, father Irish. The Bradshaws moved from North Carolina to Tennessee. When she was 14 years old they crossed the Cumberland Mountains through the Cumberland Gap in a wagon, settled in Tennessee, where she was married to Alfred Fitzgerald about 1851. There were four children: Elizabeth, Frank, George and Annie. Alfred moved from Tennessee to Missouri and came by floating down the Ohio River to Cairo in a houseboat stopping at river towns to sell merchandise they carried on the boat. They sold the boat at Memphis, Tennessee, and came by wagon to Howell County, MO. There Alfred died of typhoid or summer fever it was called at the time. He died in June and Annie was borned in August of that Year, 1860.

Grandmother sold her possessions in Howell County and started back to her people in Tennessee. She hired a man to take her to Ironton, Mo. There she expected to get on a train, but the War between the States was on and the man got scared of Price's Army, which was near Ironton and put Grandmother out in a log cabin at Barnesville, now Ellington, and went back to Howell County.

Grandfather Dickson, whose wife had died a few weeks before and had left him with four children went after her and they were married. Tennessee Louisa, your mother sic(grandmother) was the first of their children. Sherman and a twin sister were second, the twin girl died. Temperance Laura was next and then a little girl Grandpa named Ulysses S. Grant Dickson. She died at four years. And then Eugenia was the last child.

Uncle Sherman Dickson is alive yet. He lives in Elma, Washington; and Aunt Genie Evans is still living in St. Louis, Mo. All the rest are dead. All of them have children except Aunt Genie, who has about lost her memory. Any other question you would like to ask I will answer if I can. I hope this will help to grow your family tree.

Sincerely,

Ola Bowers

Burial: December 1906, Dickson Cem. on family farm, Reynolds Co., MO