Biography of , DeWitt County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Earliene Kaelin Source: People from the Histories 1882 History AMOS DICK Who is one of the prominent retired farmers of DeWitt County, was born in Muhlenberg county, Kentucky February 18th, 1812, and was the son of Peter and Christina Dick. Mr. DICK's father was a native of North Carolina, and of German and English descent. When he arrived at the age of maturity he went to Kentucky where he afterwards married his wife, Miss Christina SHUT, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and of clear German ancestry: her forefathers having emigrated to America at a very early date. Peter Dick was a farmer, an avocation he followed for nearly a quarter of a century in Kentucky. He then, with a view to better his, condition in life emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Sangamon county, this being in 1829. In the spring of 1831, be moved into what is now Cass county, where he lived until his death, March 1, 1849, aged 68 years. His wife survived him three years, and died December 7tb, 1852, aged 64 years. They raised a family eight children, five boys and three girls, who married and raised families. The subject of this sketch, being the third, was in his seventeenth year when he came to this state. His advantages for receiving an education were limited, but by a close application in after life, he has qualified himself sufficiently to transact most any ordinary business. He was united in marriage January Ist, 1843, to Miss Barith J. COMBS, a native of Kentucky ; she died September 15th, 1862, leaving four children, viz: Thomas J., John K., James A., and Ruth J. Mr. Dick was married the second time October 19th, 1869, to Miss Harriet N. SCOTT, who was born in Sangamon County, Illinois. They have one child, Emma. Mrs. DICK's parents were among the first settlers of that county, having emigrated there in 1819 from Kentucky. The old homestead is a short distance east of where Pleasant Plains in that county now is. Mr. DICK was educated to farm pursuits, and in consequence has made that his life occupation. He started out in the battle of life unaided, and by hard work, good management and economy he has acquired sufficient of this world's goods to live the remainder of his life in comparative ease. He lived in Cass county until 1865. February of that year, he came to Waynesville township, and bought a farm, where he was actively engaged in his chosen vocation, farming and handling stock until quite recently. He gave each of his children a farm, thereby enabling them to start in life more full handed than was his lot. He reserved his homestead place near Waynesville, upwards of two hundred acres. In November 1881 he came to Clinton, where he now resides. In politics Mr. Dick has always been a Democrat. In 1877 and 78 he represented his township in the County Board of Supervisors being the Representative of his township when the Midland Railroad Company sued Wavnesville township for $50,000, bonds given by the township, in which suit the company was defeated by failure on part of the company to fulfill their contract. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Dick are members of the Christian Church. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Earliene Kaelin