My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES H. DICKINSON, a retired merchant of Northampton, where for many years he has been an esteemed citizen, is the son of Moses B. and Ruth B. (Osborne) Dickinson and grandson of Medad Dickinson, who for years kept a hotel on East Street, Amherst. Moses B. Dickinson was born in Amherst, and having grown to manhood took up the same kind of business in which his father was engaged, for some time managing a hotel in Cambridgeport, Mass. Thinking to better his prospects, he went West; and there he died in 1827, at the age of thirty. His wife, Ruth B. Osborne, was a native of Windsor, Conn., daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Bissell) Osborne. At her husband’s death she found herself obliged to provide sustenance for herself and only son, the subject of this sketch.

“The widowed Indian, when her lord expires,
Mounts the dread pile and braves the funeral fires.”

The American woman takes her husband’s place in the battle of life and conquers fate. Mrs. Dickinson engaged in the millinery business, starting in a small way, and, being an energetic business woman, soon ranked as one of the leading milliners in Westfield and Northampton. She lived to be ninety years old, a widow over sixty years, and was bright and active to the last.

Charles H. Dickinson attended school until he was fifteen, when he went to work in a drug store. For six years he was employed as a clerk in Amherst and Northampton, and when about twenty-two years of age he went into business with his mother, opening a millinery and fancy goods store in Northampton, which he conducted forty-four years. The enterprise prospered to such an extent that at the end of that time Mr. Dickinson was enabled to retire, and in 1893 he sold the business to Mrs. S. I. Mills. Mr. Dickinson owns three stores and two fine estates, his home residence and the one adjoining.

In 1847 Mr. Charles H. Dickinson was united in marriage to Martha C. Kellogg, who died in 1893, leaving one son, Charles H., Jr., who resides on the adjoining estate, and has a wife and two children, a son and a daughter. Mr. Dickinson was again married in January, 1895, his second wife being Elizabeth S. Willcutt, of Northampton, daughter of Daniel Willcutt. In politics Mr. Dickinson is a Democrat, but he has never sought or held office. Socially, he is a Master Mason, and in religion he follows the teachings of the Congregational church. Though modest and unassuming, he holds a prominent position in the town, and is one of the most esteemed citizens.