Reuben G. Dickerson
Reuben G. Dickerson, who is a leading citizen of Orange Township. where he has his valuable and well-improved farm of 99½ acres under a fine state of cultivation, was born July 3, 1843, in Orange Township, Delaware County, Ohio, and is a son of Lewis and Cynthia (Noble) Dickerson.
The Dickerson family is of English extraction and it was founded in New Jersey by Lewis Dickerson. the great-grandfather of Reuben G. His son. also Lewis, became the grandfather, and the third Lewis was the father of Reuben G. Dickerson. Lewis Dickerson (3) was born in Tompkins County. New York, November 6, 1810, and in 1832 he came to Sandusky, Ohio, and from there, in 1833, to Orange Township. Delaware County. With the exception of one year later spent in New York, and two years of residence at Cardington, Lewis Dickerson lived continuously to his death on the present home farm to which he came in 1856. He died December 15, 1883.
On October 9, 1836, Lewis Dickerson was married to Cynthia Noble, who died October 20, 1898. She was born near Powell, in Liberty Township, Delaware County. Ohio. June 20. 1822, and was a daughter of James and Salomy (Graves) Noble. The Graves family came to Licking County from Connecticut among the pioneer settlers. There were two sons born to Lewis Dickerson and wife: James H. and Reuben G. Both sons proved themselves brave men and loyal soldiers. James H. Dickerson enlisted in the Federal army from the State of New York, in 1861, becoming a member of Company D, Seventy-fifth Regiment. New York Volunteer Infantry. He accompanied his comrades to Santa Rosa Island, Florida, where he remained for a time at the navy yard and was then sent to Louisiana and after the capture of New Orleans, by Admiral Farragut, he was under the command of General Benjamin Butler until General Banks assumed command. Later he took part in the Red River campaign and was at Alexandria, Pleasant Hill and the siege of Port Hudson. After the fall of this stronghold his corps joined Franklin's Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and they fought the battle of Cedar Creek, where he also served under General Sheridan. When he finally received his honorable discharge, he had already served fifty-eight days over his term of enlistment. Although he escaped serious injury, he had had two horses shot from under him. After the close of his military service he went to New York, where he was married to Laura Fuller, after which he returned to Delaware County and took up his residence at Lewis Center, where he died May 4. 1903.
Reuben G. Dickerson obtained his education in the district schools. He remained on his father's farm until 18 years of age. when he offered his patriotic services in defense of his country. On August 2, 1861. he enlisted at Delaware, Ohio, in Company A, Second Battery, United States Infantry, under Captain Eystier, and was mustered in at Camp Thomas, then went to Lebanon, Kentucky, and from there, on February 14. 1862, the First and Second Battalions started on a march to Mill Springs, where they engaged in battle, after which they returned to Bardstown, where Mr. Dickerson was left in a hospital. where he remained for six weeks. He rejoined his regiment April 12. 1862, at Pittsburg Landing, then went on to the approaching battle of Corinth, and after the siege and evacuation of that city, and his regiment was detailed to guard the line of the M. & C. Railroad, he was discharged, on account of physical disability, August 13, 1862. Mr. Dickerson gave himself a few months in which to recuperate, and then re-enlisted, on June 20. 1863, entering Companv M. first Regiment. Heavy Artillery. He was stationed at Fort Whittlesley, opposite Cincinnati, until February, 1864, when the battery was sent to Nicholasville, Kentucky, marched from there to Point Burnside near Somerset, and then crossed the mountains to Knoxville, Tennessee, conveying the baggage on the backs of pack mules. Mr. Dickerson. with his comrades, did guard and garrison duty along the line of the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, until November, 1864, when they entered the northeastern part of Tennessee in order to cut off General Lee's retreat through Tennessee Gap. The First Artillery took part in numerous skirmishes with General Joseph Wheeler. On July 25, 1865, Mr. Dickerson was a second time honorably discharged from his country's military bonds, at Knoxville, Tennessee, when the regiment was mustered out.
Mr. Dickerson returned to Ohio and for one year followed farming on the homestead and continued to be variously engaged until 1872. when he began railroad work on what was then the C, C, C. & I. line, but is now the Big Four Railroad. He worked seven years as foreman and fireman on a construction train and for 12 years he was employed by the line as an engineer. He continued railroading until July. 1890, when he settled down to farming. He has greatly improved his property since settling on it, erecting a handsome residence and adding to the appearance and convenience of the other buildings. He carries on a general agricultural line. For about six years he has been engaged quite extensively also in contracting and has built a number of the excellent turnpike roads in this section.
On December 9, 1868, Mr. Dickerson was married to Amelia W. Lewis, who is a member of a very prominent family of Delaware County. Her father, the late William T. Lewis, was horn in New Jersev. in February, 1811, and died at Lewis Center. Delaware County, in 1876. He married Sarah Fowler, who was born also in New Jersev. January 3, 1822. and died in Ohio, April 20, 1900 They came to Delaware County in 1843 settled on farming land which later became the site of the village of Lewis Center, which was named in honor of William T. Lewis. He was the first postmaster and the leading man of affairs in the town for many years, and donated a number of the public buildings to the place, including the public school and the Methodist Episcopal Church and parsonage. In 1849 he went to California, by the overland route, and returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama, remaining in the far West until 1851 and while there was engaged in mining. The children of William T. Lewis and wife were: Eliza J., who married George Henderson, of Springfield; Mary P., who married Alexander S. Hempstead, residing in Columbus; Amelia; Sarah E., who married Lewis Carter, residing at Columbus; Augusta N., who married E. I. Prentice of Mississippi, died in Paulding County. Ohio; Anna C, who married Dr. R. C. Alexander, residing at Springfield; Katherine N., who died unmarried; and Josie R.. who married W. H. Taft, residing at Columbus.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson have had four children, two sons and two daughters, namely : Lewis H., who died aged one year and ten months; Charles, who died aged eleven years and ten months; Sarah Elizabeth, who married A. L. Grove, and they have three children, Ruby, Okey and Robert; and Ruby Catherine, who married Edwin Joslin. They have three children, Ruth. Charles and Richard. In politics, Mr. Dickerson is a Republican and he has served as justice of the peace, as a member of the School Board and in other offices and is his party's candidate in the coming campaign for the office of county commissioner. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow and a Mason, a member of Hiram Lodge, Chapter and Council at Delaware. Formerly he was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He is a valued comrade of George P. Torrance Post. Grand Army oi the Republic, at Delaware.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908