Columbia-Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....DICKSON, Duval unknown - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 29, 2005, 5:15 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. DUVAL DICKSON, station agent of the D., L. & W. R. R., also agent for the United States Express Company at Berwick, one of the popular and energetic business men of that town, was born in Northumberland County, Pa., and is a son of Rev. James and Jeanette (Duval) Dickson, grandson of Archibald and Elizabeth (Waite) Dickson, and great-grandson of Archibald Dickson. Archibald Dickson, Sr., was a native of Kelso, Roxburyshire, Scotland, and during his boyhood learned the trade of a shoemaker, and, attaining manhood, engaged in the shoe business, following that line of business the rest of his active days. He was the father of four children, namely: Robert; Jane; Elizabeth; and Archibald. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson each lived to the age of seventy years. Archibald Dickson, Jr., the grandfather of our subject, was born in Kelso, Roxburyshire, Scotland, and from his father he learned the trade of a shoemaker and conducted a shoe store all his life. He was joined in marriage to Elizabeth Waite, also a native of Kelso, and to their union the following children were born: James, the father of our subject; Margaret; Robert; Jessie; John; and three who died in infancy. Mr. Dickson died at the age of fifty years. James Dickson, the father of our subject, received his intellectual training in the Normal School at Glasgow, Scotland, and in 1843 went to the West Indies, where he was engaged in missionary work for ten years. In 1853 Mr. Dickson immigrated to the United States, and located in Philadelphia, and, having prepared himself for the ministry in the meantime, he was ordained to preach on September 13, 1854, in the Fourth Presbyterian Church of that city. While in that city he served as secretary for Albert Burns for several months. Since that time he has preached in the following churches: at Camden, N. J., in 1854; Rausch Gap and Gold Mine, Pa., in 1854-55; Birmingham, Pa., in 1854; Mt. Pleasant, Pa., in 1859; Northumberland, from 1860 to '67; Berwick, Pa., from 1868 to '79: McIntyre, Pa., 1880; Penndale, Slack's Run and Baden, from 1881 to '89; Dayas Mines, in 1890; and did missionary work to 1892. Thus he has spent thirty-eight years and six months in the pulpit, and his salary has been continued at the same rate for the remainder of his lifetime. He is now living in retirement in the town of Berwick, Columbia County. Mr. Dickson has been twice married. He was united to his first wife, Mary Carlisle, a daughter of Warren Carlisle of Brownville, Pa., June 9, 1844, and the following children were born to them: Elizabeth Agnes, born June 29, 1847; Mary Carlisle, born February 1, 1849, who is the wife of C. N. Farrer; Agnes D., born July 8, 1850; Warrand C., born January 7, 1852; and James Irving, born January 1, 1853, and died young. Rev. Mr. Dickson's wife died at the age of twenty-six years, and he subsequently married Jeanette Duval. a daughter of Michael and Eleanor (Hatfield) Duval, both natives of Normandy, France. Michael Duval served under Napoleon the First; he came to the United States and located in Dauphin County, Pa., where he spent the rest of his life, passing away at the age of sixty-six years. His wife died aged seventy years. They were the parents of three children, namely: William E.; Jeanette; and Enoch S. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson reared the following children: William Sterling, born August 18, 1858, is paymaster at The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company and married Lillie Baucher, who bore him two children, Conway and David. William S. formed a second marriage with Martha Helenrich. Alexander Whilden, born December 12, 1859, is a commercial traveler, and married Sally Freece, now deceased, and five children blessed their union, namely: Edna J.; James H.; Freece; Pauline; and Alexander W. Conway, born December 20, 1862, is a preacher in the Methodist Church at Marysville, Pa. James, born October 7, 1865, wedded Annie B. Low, who bore him one child, Myron Low. Archibald, born March 19, 1867, is a stenographer and had charge of the Columbia Business College for five years. Duval Dickson, the subject of this personal history, began business life as a foreman in the lumber yards of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company and remained in the company's employ for three years. In 1885 he began learning telegraphy and was soon appointed operator on the D., L. & W. R. R., and was given charge of the station at Berwick, a position he still holds to the satisfaction of the public, as well as to his superiors. He is also engaged in the wholesale and retail coal business, and is United States Express agent. He is popular and is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens, who know him to be an honest, straightforward business man. Our subject also owns a farm of eighty-five acres located at the foot of Berwick Heights, which is known as the old S. E. Smith property. He has made many improvements and spends many of his leisure hours working upon the farm. Mr. Dickson was wedded to Amelia Long, a daughter of C. C. Long of Danville, Pa., and one child has blessed their home: Clark L., born July 20, 1892. Our subject is a member of the Methodist Church; and is also a member of the Knights of Malta. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb