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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1893.  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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ROBERT DICKINSON is remembered by many of the early residents as one of the energetic and successful pioneer agriculturists of Berrien County, Mich. He was of English nativity, and was reared and educated in the home of his childhood. Attaining to maturity and appreciating the broader opportunities of America, he emigrated to the United States, and journeying to the then far West located in St. Joseph, Mich. In his new home he soon obtained employment at his trade, and for some time was engaged in sawing ship-timbers. Within a comparatively brief period he purchased a fine homestead of two hundred and fifty acres and devoted himself to its cultivation and improvement. A man of good habits and excellent judgment, he made his way steadily upward and acquired a comfortable competence. Our subject was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was ever ready to aid in the support and enterprises of that religious denomination. A kind friend and neighbor, he was mourned by the entire community of the township when, after many years of honored usefulness, he passed to his rest.

Within the limits of Berrien County, Robert Dickinson was united in marriage with Mrs. Susannah Edinborough, widow of William Edinborough, an early citizen of the State. Five children blessed the hearts and home of the parents. Joseph, the eldest-born, died in his native county, leaving a family; Eliza became the wife of Charles H. Farnum; Susan died in youth; Sarah and Arthur complete the family circle. The latter, now an extensive and successful fruit-grower, was born in Berrien County in 1847, and received a good education in the schools of the district. He grew up to manhood self-reliant, and was well adapted to assume the cares of life when, in 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss May, daughter of S. R. Hughes, of Duluth, Minn.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dickinson are the parents of three children, two daughters and one son: Agnes Ruth, Olive Marjorie and Donald A., all promising and intelligent children. The son of our subject, like his father a tiller of the soil, owns sixty acres of well-cultivated land in Benton Township and also has twenty acres in Hagar Township, about half of which is devoted to berries. Politically, Mr. Dickinson is a Republican, and, keeping himself well posted on the current events of the day, is numbered among the substantial and liberal-spirited citizens of his locality. He and his accomplished wife are prominent factors in the social life and benevolent work of their neighborhood and enjoy the regard of a large circle of acquaintances.

Mrs. Dickinson was born near Detroit, and her father, S. R. Hughes, was a man of note in the early days of the State. By birth an Alsatian, he received a thorough education in Germany, and emigrating while in the vigor of hope, health and strength to America, was foremost in the promotion of the needed improvements and rapid advancement of his new home. Mr. Hughes was one of the leaders in the project to secure a canal from St. Joseph to Benton Harbor, Mich., and later — identified with railroad interests — was for some years the efficient President of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad. A man of executive ability, he materially aided in the development of the Northwest, and through persistent effort assisted in opening to settlement large tracts of hitherto unimproved land.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published in 1893. 

View additional Berrien County, Michigan family biographies here: Berrien County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Berrien County, Michigan here: Berrien County Michigan Map

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