Bio of DICKEY, Ross Wilkins (b.1869), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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ROSS WILKINS DICKEY - Vol II, pg 282-285
Ross Wilkins Dickey, who was for many years identified with the coffee trade of
the country and for a considerable period prior to his death was in charge of
the sales of the Chase & Sanborn coffee house of Chicago, for the Northwest, was
a lifelong resident of the Mississippi valley, his birth having occurred in
Marshall, Michigan, May 2, 1869, his parents being Charles and Angeline (Moore)
Dickey. The father was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, April 3, 1813, and
was a son of John Dickey, a direct descendant of one of the first colonists of
that state, to which he removed from Londonderry, Ireland. The mother of Charles
Dickey was Rhoda Varnum, who came from Dracut, Massachusetts. When Charles
Dickey was but four years of age his parents removed to Livingston county, New
York, where he resided until his seventeenth year, when he took up the business
of selling fanning mills. In March, 1836, he removed to Marshall, Michigan,
where he at once made arrangements "to raise the wind by the manufacture of the
same line of implements and fanning mills," in which business he continuously
engaged until 1861. He also devoted a part of his attention to wool buying on
the commission basis and in 1838 he made purchase of the first of that staple
sold for money In southern Michigan. In politics in early life Colonel Dickey,
as he was commonly called, was a whig and in 1844 was chosen sheriff of Calhoun
county, Michigan, being the first whig elected in the county to any office and
the only one at that election, the remainder of the ticket being defeated by a
strong democratic majority. In 1846 Mr. Dickey was reelected and from 1849 until
1853 he served in the senate of Michigan during four regular and one special
sessions. In 1858 he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature and
in 1859 served as speaker pro tempore, while during the illness of speaker H. A.
Shaw he was speaker de facto. He was also chairman of the house committee on
ways and means. Colonel Dickey was among the first to organize the county and
state agricultural societies and was president of the latter in 1858-9 He also
served as a member of the executive committee from its organization in 1845
until his death. In 1861 he was appointed United States marshal for the district
of Michigan, by President Lincoln, in whose bodyguard of marshals he served at
both the first and second inaugurals. It was during his term that the state was
divided into two districts and in 1865 he was reappointed to the eastern
district but was removed after the death of Lincoln, by President Johnson in his
general change of administration. At the dedication of the soldiers' cemetery at
Gettysburg he was in charge of the division of governors in the procession. On
this occasion President Lincoln uttered the most famous speech of his life,
which has never been equalled in conciseness and comprehensiveness by any
American citizen, ending in the words "that a government of the people, for the
people and by the people shall not perish from the earth." That Colonel Dickey
should have the opportunity and the honor of taking part in the dedication was
singularly touching, for there in a plain numbered grave lay a son, Gilbert, who
fell in the terrible battle of Gettysburg while in command of the Twenty-fourth
Michigan Infantry. In 1873 Colonel Dickey was appointed by Governor Bagley,
judge of probate for Calhoun county, Michigan, and was elected to the office in
1876. His death occurred January 13, 1879, and on the 3d of February of that
year Judge Wells of Kalamazoo thus addressed the State Pioneer Association, of
which Judge Dickey was an active member: "Some men die and are forgotten, their
influence having been within a limited circle, but not so with the deceased. In
the administration of all public and private trusts he was recognized as
possessed of qualities of the heart and mind invaluable to the community in
which he lived. As a legislator he seemed to consult the great interests of the
people and the people, realizing this, again and again commended his actions. As
the executive officer of an important court he was always efficient in the
proper discharge of his duties. He was widely known for his careful exercise of
judgment in the administration of the law, in caring for and protecting the
interests of the widow and orphan. He had an extended acquaintance with men in
every portion of Michigan, in every walk of life and from the most distinguished
to the humblest all with one accord gave to him the name of an honest man,
possessed of Christian virtues. For our own improvement let us treasure his
memory and profit by his example."
Ross Wilkins Dickey, a son of Judge Dickey, was educated in the public schools
of Marshall, Michigan, to the age of fourteen years, when he began to provide
for his own support by working in the office at the coal docks at Marquette,
Michigan. When sixteen years of age he went to Chicago, where he engaged in
clerking and later became manager of a cigar and tobacco store. He remained in
that city for several years, during which period he became a charter member of
the famous old Marquette Club. Afterward he entered the employ of Hanly &
Kinsella, coffee merchants, of St. Louis, in the capacity of salesman,
representing that house in southern territory and for them he sold the first
carload of green coffee ever sent into the state of Texas. Later he became
associated with the New Orleans Coffee Company, selling to the retail trade, his
business covering many of the southern states. After a few years he was with the
Chase & Sanborn Coffee Company of Chicago and was given charge of the northwest
field, which he managed to the time of his death. He was always congenial,
possessing a kindly nature and, moreover, he displayed splendid ability as a
salesman. His geniality, his uniform courtesy and his deference for the opinions
and for the rights of others made him uniformly a favorite, not only among
business associates but among all with whom he came into contact He had no
difficulty in retaining the friendships which he won and by reason of his
pleasing personality, as well as his understanding of the trade, he was able to
build up a large business for his house in the Northwest.
In 1898 Mr. Dickey was united in marriage to Miss Irma Brown, a daughter of
Charles W. Brown of Milwaukee. They owned a fine home on Lake Minnetonka, which
was the old Keller homestead on Carmen bay. Mr. Dickey was fond of hunting and
spent several weeks every fall and summer in hunting and fishing. He-was
extremely charitable, ever ready to extend a helping hand and there are many who
have reason to revere his memory because of his generous assistance. He passed
away January 21, 1917, and his death was the occasion of deep regret to all with
whom he had been brought into contact. He had been a member of the Quarter
Century Club and also of the Commercial Travelers of Minneapolis and in these,
as in other relations, he was most highly esteemed. His life ever measured up to
advanced standards of manhood and citizenship, while his forcefulness and
resourcefulness ever found expression in his successful business career.