William H.H. Dickinson

USGENWEB Montana Archives
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

William H.H. Dickinson came to Montana in 1865, and is 
now a well-known and prominent businessman of Missoula.

The Dickinson's came from England to this country and 
settled in New Jersey at an early day. Mr. Dickinson's 
father, Jeremiah F. Dickinson, was born in Salem, New 
Jersey, May 15, 1795. He married Harriet Sapp, a native 
of his own town, born June 26, 1801, their marriage 
occurring July 5, 1819. In 1823 they left New Jersey to 
seek a home in Ohio, which was then on the frontier, 
went first to Marietta and thence to Salem. He had 
previous to this time been employed as a bricklayer, 
but after settling in Salem turned his attention to 
mercantile pursuits. His wife died in 1854, in the 
fifty third year of her age and he lived to be eighty-three. 
They had a family of seven children, four daughters and 
three sons, and all but one are living.

The subject of our sketch, is the youngest in the 
family. He was born in Salem Ohio, October 23, 1840. 
That was during the Harrison campaign and as Mr. 
Dickinson's father was an ardent admirer of General 
Harrison, he gave his son the name of William Henry 
Harrison Dickinson. Reared in Ohio at the time when 
the slavery question so greatly excited the 
country, he grew up to be a hater of slavery and 
oppression, and held himself ready to aid in ridding 
the Union of this great curse. When the rebellion was 
inaugurated he was among the first to enlist for the 
war. Indeed, so enthusiastic was he about entering the 
ranks that he paid his own way to Kansas to enlist 
under Colonel Montgomery and Lt. Coppie, one of John 
Brown's men. The date of his enlistment was July 30, 
1861, his company being Company C,Third Kansas 
Volunteer Infantry. He as with the forces that 
operated on the frontier in Kansas, Missouri, 
Arkansas and among the Indian nations. During his 
service, which covered a period of three years and 
one month, he participatedin nineteen engagements, 
and in all that time was only hit once, and then 
with a spent ball. He was mustered out in August 
21, 1864.

After the war, Mr. Dickinson returned to his home in 
Ohio and in 1865 went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he 
was in the employ of the Government. While thus employed 
he made three trips to Montana, the first one being in 
the spring of 1865. May 31, 1869 he started up the 
Missouri on the steamer Sully, to settle in Montana. 
When they arrived at Fort Peck they ran into low water 
and the boat could go no further. Some of the passengers 
proceeded on foot, whilesome remained at the Fort until 
teams could be procured from Fort Benton, 500 miles 
above--Mr. Dickinson remained. 

At this time the Indians were so hostile and kept in the 
vicinity of the fort, so that when the men left the fort 
they did it at the risk of their lives. September 13, Mr. 
Dickinson started before daylight and go for some distance 
and find some game. Accordingly, with his rifle, he started 
out at three o'clock in the morning. After spending the 
early part of the day in pursuit of game, he started back 
to the fort, but before he reached it he was attacked by
four Indians on horseback, the result being that one of 
them was killed, but Dickinson was shot in the cheek. 

On his arrival at the fort he found men and teams had 
come for the other passengers and freight. He arrived 
in Bitter Root Valley, October 23, 1869.

In 1870 Mr. Dickinson opened the first photograph 
business in Missoula and to him also belongs the 
distinction of having established the first photograph 
business in western Montana. In 1872 he was commissioned 
Postmaster of Missoula, his salary being $240 per year. 

Mr. Dickinson was married at Corvallis, November 5, 1871 
to Emma C. Slack, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland,
December 4, 1838, daughter of Andrew and Mary Ruff 
Slack of Scotch and German ancestry. They have had 
five children, one of whom died in infancy, and one, 
Lamar, died in his fifth year. Those living are 
Harriet E., Laura E. and William O. Miss Harriet and 
Laura are students at Montana University in Helena.

Mr. Dickinson taught the first school near where 
Hamilton Montana now stands (1869) and his wife, 
then Miss Slack,taught the first school in what is 
now the city of Missoula Montana, the school 
comprising ten students.

USGenWeb Project NOTICE: 
In keeping with our policy of providing free information on 
the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as
long as this message remains on all copied 
material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in 
any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. 

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for 
purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from 
the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.