J. B. Dickey, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1851-1852 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	J. B. DICKEY, M. D., was born in Wayne county, Illinois, and 
there grew to manhood's estate, attending at intervals the public 
schools, but at the age of thirteen beginning to earn his own 
livelihood. When a youth he learned the shoemaking business in his 
father's shop, but did not work very long at the trade; devoting the 
greater part of his time to farm labor. His father owned a farm and on 
this the subject spent several years very profitably until entering the 
St. Louis Medical College. He also ran a stationary engine for two or 
three years, in which capacity he earned money sufficient to defray his 
expenses while taking his first course of lectures, after which he 
devoted his vacations to any kind of honorable work he could find to 
do, in this manner paying his way through the medical college. The 
subject received his degree in the month of March, 1882, and the same 
year he went to Winslow, Arizona, where his brother had located some 
time previously, and the two effected a copartnership, soon commanding 
an extensive and lucrative professional business. They did the practice 
for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad (now the Santa Fe), in addition to 
which their field included a wide range of country, a large part 
exceedingly difficult of access. After remaining a little over one year 
in Arizona the Doctor moved his business to Iroquois, South Dakota, in 
1883, where, in addition to practicing his profession, he opened a drug 
store. He conducted this business with encouraging success for about 
fourteen years and then exchanged it for a farm near Iroquois to which 
he removed and which he cultivated for a period of two years in 
connection with his professional work. Later he rented the place and 
returned to town, since which time he has devoted his attention 
exclusively to the healing art, being now the oldest physician in 
Iroquois. Dr. Dickey is a Mason and has held a number of prominent 
official positions in the order, serving four years as master of the 
local lodge to which he belongs, besides representing it at different 
times in the grand lodge. He is identified with the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen and is now state examiner of the same, being also an 
active member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a 
Democrat and as such was elected county commissioner and that, too, 
despite an overwhelming normal Republican majority. After serving three 
years the opposition requested the privilege of re-nominating him, as 
his own party the meanwhile had become imbued with certain populistic 
principles which he could not well indorse. He was triumphantly 
reelected and discharged the duties of the office for a period of seven 
years, in addition to which he served nine years on the school board 
and for three years was a member of the town board of Iroquois.

	Mr. Dickey was married to Miss Lena Wilfer, a native of Germany, 
and they have had four children.