Christopher John DICKERSON (Gen.)

[IMAGE: Gen. Christopher J. Dickerson]
Christopher J. Dickerson
"The History of Hillsdale County, Michigan," Everts & Abbott (Philadelphia: 1879), page 117.

Father: John Heaton DICKERSON
Mother: Margaret HOWDER

Family 1: Louisa Antoinette WELCH

  1.  Mary Frances DICKERSON
  2. +Walter Paul DICKERSON 
                                              ________________________
                          _Nodiah DICKERSON _|
                         |                   |________________________
 _John Heaton DICKERSON _|
|                        |                    ________________________
|                        |_Phoebe HEATON ____|
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|--Christopher John DICKERSON
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|                                             ________________________
|                         _Christian HOWDER _|
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|_Margaret HOWDER _______|
                         |                    _Adam HOUFSTATER _______
                         |_Mary HOUSTATER ___|
                                             |_Elizabeth Katherine //_

Notes

Updated March 13, 2005. Compiled by Howder (www.howderfamily.com) from the following source(s):

(1) 1850 United States Census for Michigan, Hillsdale Co., the Village of Hillsdale: Household 83; December 18, 1850.

Christopher J. Dickerson (listed as "Dickinson") is a resident along with about 20 other lodgers in the hotel owned and operated by his uncle, Adam Howder. He is 22 years old, born in New York, and is a Law Student.

(2) 1860 United States Census for Michigan, Hillsdale Co., Village of Hillsdale (Hillsdale Post Office): Page 19; June 6, 1860.

Christopher J. Dickerson (listed as "Dickinson") is head of household, married to Louisa A. [Welch] Dickerson. He is 31 years old, born in New York and is a Lawyer. He has real estate valued at $5,500 and personal estate valued at $5,000. Children in the household are Fanny and Walter.

(3) National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailor System Search by Soldier Name (database).

Christopher J. Dickerson, Co's F & S, 10th Michigan Infantry. Rank In = Lt. Colonel, Rank Out = Lt. Colonel. Film Number M545 roll 11. During his service and up until he was wounded and captured, the unit served in the siege of Corinth, MS; the siege of Nashville; the Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign, and on to Buzzard's Roost Gap.

(4) 1870 United States Census for Michigan, Hillsdale Co., Third Ward City of Hillsdale (Hillsdale Michigan Post Office): page 20; dwelling 158; family 156; June 13, 1870.

C. J. Dickerson is head of household, married to Louisa [Welch] Dickerson. He is listed as born in Pennsylvania [incorrect], is 41 years old and is a lawyer with real estate valued at $12,000 and personal estate valued at $14,000. He is eligible to vote. Children listed in the household are: Fannie M., and Walter P. There are two servants in the household, Mary Barnes and Travis Thomas.

(5) Michigan State Library, Pioneer Record for Christopher John Dickerson, submitted by Vivian Lyon Moore, Oct. 19, 1949.

Settled in Hillsdale, MI about 1845-1846; buried Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsdale, MI; lawyer; school teacher; Lt. Col. 10th Reg. Mich. Volunteers & Brevet Brig. General; principal of Hillsdale school; prosecuting attorney; school assessor; school trustee; trustee of Hillsdale Village; Judge of Probate; C. J. Dickerson Post of G.A.R. named in his honor.

(6) Sketches of Old Hillsdale, Historical and Genealogical, Volume IV. Vivian Lyon Moore, for the Daughters of the American Revolution library, 1956., pages 85-90.

Similar information as source listed above, plus: had 77 first cousins; came to Hillsdale from Lapeer Co., MI (first staying with his uncle Adam Howder), entered the office of Judge E. H. C. Wilson to study law and admitted to bar in 1851; wounded and captured in Civil War at Buzzard's Roost, Georgia, February 25, 1864; exchanged and appointed Brevet Brigadier General but did not take to field again; Michigan State Commander of G.A.R.; died at home while his wife and daughter were on a trip to Europe; buried Oak Grove Cemetery (Hillsdale) on Sept. 25, 1872.

(7) "The History of Hillsdale County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers." Everts & Abbott (Philadelphia: 1879), via The University of Michigan Digital Library Text Collections, pages 116-117.

"GEN. CHRISTOPHER J. DICKERSON. Among the citizens of Hillsdale who have filled positions of honor and trust, and whom the hand of death has cut down in the midst of a career of distinguished usefulness, was Gen. C. J. Dickerson. Born in Lewiston, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1828, he early re-moved to Michigan, and settled with his parents in a portion of the country which was then an almost unbroken wilderness. His father soon after died, leaving to his tender care his mother and her younger children. While laboring for their support he devoted his leisure to study, and at the age of seventeen engaged in teaching. He afterwards became the principal of the Union School of Hillsdale, and at the same time pursued the study of law in the office of Hon. E. H. C. Wilson, being admitted in 1851, and at once entering upon a lucrative practice. Soon after he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, which office he filled for two successive terms. Shortly after the outbreak of the rebellion, he was commissioned as lieutenant-colonel of the 10th Michigan Infantry, and in the spring of 1862 took the field with his regiment. He was wounded in the service and finally taken prisoner, and after much hardship and suffering exchanged, when he returned home in enfeebled health, and was compelled from that fact to retire from the service. He was then elected judge of probate, and re-elected to the same office in 1868, having by his fidelity to the important duties of his office afforded general satisfaction to his constituents. This position he filled with distinguished success to the day of his death. No more correct estimate of the character of General Dickerson could be obtained than is afforded by the warm expressions of members of the bar at his decease. He is described by one as "a nobleman by nature -- generous in all his impulses, kind, confiding, obliging, and forgiving. Conscious of no wrong in himself, he suspected none in others." Another eminent professional brother pays this tribute to his memory: "Possessed of a warm heard and a fervid and brilliant imagination, he displayed rare eloquence when pleading for right and justice; and while his kindness and conciliatory spirit led him to settle and reconcile disputes when he reasonably could, still when he pressed a trial he displayed untiring energy, unflinching courage, and great power as an advocate. His kindness of heart made him the friend of the poor and oppressed, and they ever found in him a ready advocate, without regard to fee or pecuniary reward. His reward was the consciousness of having done a noble act." Another says: "Never have I known a member of the bar who entertained so little bitterness, so little unkindness toward his opponents, engaged in earnest contention for their clients, as he. He was always genial, always ready to clasp hands after the scenes of debate were over, and overlook any unpleasantness." With such sincere and heartfelt expressions it is easy to form a correct estimate of the character of the subject of this sketch, and these warm expressions seem but a just tribute to his memory. General Dickerson died after a brief and unexpected illness. He married, in 1852, Miss Louisa A. Welch, and enjoyed twenty years of uninterrupted happiness during his married life. Shortly before his severe illness, Mrs. Dickerson with her son and daughter sailed for Europe, to spend two years in travel and study, where the general was to join them at the expiration of a year. When apprised of his illness they immediately retraced their steps, but the swift messenger of death had completed his work ere they reached their home. The only daughter, borne down by the weight of her sorrow, soon followed her father to the grave, and a year later Mrs. Dickerson died after a brief illness. One son survives, and is now residing in Hillsdale."