My Genealogy Hound

HENRY C. DICKERSON, retired farmer; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Hamilton Co., Ill., Aug. 30, 1825; his father, Michael Dickerson, located in McLean Co. in 1829, where he died in 1835; at 21 years of age, Henry C. entered 40 acres of land, and paid for the same with money which he had earned at $5 per month; two years later, he bought 80 more, and a few years later found him the owner of the old homestead and other land to the amount of upward of 700 acres in this county, and 900 acres of land in different parts of Kansas; he has settled on his three married children $9,000. Although not a member of any church, he contributes liberally to their support, having donated some $600 toward the erection of the M. E. Church in Le Roy. He built the Empire Mill and Elevator, one of the best mills in the county, at a cost of upward of $25,000; he has had his full share of misfortunes, having, lost by security debts $15,000, and, in April, 1877, his residence, which he had erected at a cost of $7,500, with $1,500 worth of furniture, was destroyed by fire, upon which there was an insurance of $2,500; during the summer of the same year, he lost nearly $3,000 by the Phoenix Bank at Bloomington, aside from which he has lost largely in smaller amounts. Although Mr. Dickerson has been a resident of McLean Co. for a half of a century, he has traveled largely in the Western States and Territories. His marriage with Leodicy Maxwell was celebrated Oct. 27, 1850; she was born in McLean Co. July 16, 1830; they have five children — Elizabeth J., Corelia, Adelaide, Rose L. and Belle. Mr. D. has driven ox-teams to Chicago with grain, loading back with goods, the trips being from twelve to fifteen days; has also driven hogs to the same market, and cattle and horses to Milwaukee.