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Below is a family biography from the book, History of Kentucky, Edition 7 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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W. W. DICKERSON, a prominent and successful lawyer, was born in Grant County, Ky., November 29, 1851, and is the third of four children born to R. A. and S. A. (Collins) Dickerson. R. A. Dickerson was born in Kenton County, Ky., June 16, 1825. He was a very successful merchant at Sherman, Grant Co., Ky., for about two years, and a distiller for about the same length of time, devoting the remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits. He was a Master Mason in good standing, and died September 20, 1871. His father, Archibald, who was a native of Virginia, immigrated to Kentucky, and was one of the early settlers of Kenton County. He flat boated considerably, taking boat loads of grain and provisions to New Orleans. Mrs. S. A. Dickerson, the mother of our subject, was born near Falmouth, Pendleton Co., Ky., and was a daughter of Richard Collins, and a niece of Collins, the Kentucky historian. Richard Collins was born in Virginia, and moved to Kentucky on horseback, settling in Pendleton County. He was a large slave owner, and quite a wealthy man. W. W. Dickerson was raised in Grant County and educated at the best schools in the county. He remained on his father’s farm until 1870, then went to Crittenden, Grant Co., Ky., and commenced to read law under J. M. Collins; he was very attentive, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1872, when he located at Williamstown and commenced pursuing his profession diligently and successfully. In 1874 he was elected county attorney, and acted in that capacity until 1878. In 1885 he represented Grant County in the Legislature, and was re-nominated by the Democrat party to represent the county a second term; was nominated for the Senate July 26 — and therefore resigned nomination for second term for representative, and was elected in August, 1887, to Kentucky Senate for four years. In 1886 he formed a partnership in the law business with A. G. Dejarnette. Mr. Dickerson was married, March 23, 1881, to Miss Cora R. Tunis, of Danville, Boyle Co., Ky., daughter of N. C. and Mary Kerr Tunis. Two children have blessed this union, Mary A. and Richard T. He s a Master Mason in good standing, and is a member of Grant Lodge, No. 85, located in Williamstown. He has represented this lodge four times in the Grand Lodge, and has been Worshipful Master three years. He is also a member of the Centurion Lodge, No. 100, I. O. O. F., and owns a nice residence and three lots in Williamstown. His wife is a strict member of the Presbyterian Church. The secret of Mr. Dickerson’s success, in both public and private life, is his stanch adherence to principle, his energy, accuracy, and thorough performance of every official and social duty. He is held in high esteem at home and by those who know him most intimately throughout the State.

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This family biography is one of 67 biographies included in the Grant County, Kentucky section of the book, The History of Kentucky, Edition 7 published in 1887 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 7

View additional Grant County, Kentucky family biographies here: Grant County, Kentucky Biographies

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