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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  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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SAMUEL B. DICKINSON occupies the farm in Granby on which his birth occurred June 1, 1844. He is a descendant of a well-known family of this place. His parents, Eli and Hermione (Barton) Dickinson, were lifelong residents of the town. His father carried on general farming until his death, in September, 1867. His mother survived her husband, dying on the old homestead in 1870. Of the five children born to them three are deceased; namely, Mary, Julia, and Caroline. The two living are: Samuel B., the subject of this sketch; and Caroline, wife of William Lincoln, of Warren, Mass.

Samuel B. Dickinson acquired his education in the schools of the town. At the age of eighteen years, fired with patriotic enthusiasm, he enlisted in Company H, Fifty-second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel Greenleaf, and shared the fortunes of that regiment for a time in the Civil War. Soon after the engagement at Indian Bend he was taken sick, and in consequence was sent to Brashear City, La., then to New Orleans, and finally to his home. On August 14, 1863, he was honorably discharged from the service. Returned to the parental homestead, Mr. Dickinson assisted his father in cultivating the farm, thereby acquiring experience that was of inestimable value to him in after years. When his father died, he assumed the entire management of the property, which then contained one hundred and fifty acres of good land.

On December 7, 1865, Mr. Dickinson was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Nash, a native of Hadley and a daughter of Lorenzo and Pamelia Nash. The father was a native of Hadley, and spent his early life there; while the mother was a native of Granby. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson has been cheered by the birth of three children, as follows: Henry N., a resident of Jamaica Plain, Mass., married to Julia Kimball; Samuel R. and Carrie L., at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Dickinson is a Republican. He served his town as Selectman in the years of 1887 and 1888, and again in the four consecutive years from 1891 to 1895. He belongs to the Charles C. Smith Post, No. 183, Grand Army of the Republic, of South Hadley Falls. Both he and Mrs. Dickinson are members of the Congregational church.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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