My Genealogy Hound

WESLEY M. DICKERSON, farmer; P. O. Le Roy; one of the old residents of McLean Co.; born in Empire Township, Feb. 6, 1834. He is the youngest son of Michael Dickerson, who emigrated from Tennessee to Illinois and located in Empire Township in the year 1825 or 1826. The subject of this sketch remained upon the old farm until about 15 years of age, when he hired out at $6 per month as a farm laborer during the summer, and during the winter worked for his board and attended school; he finished his education by attending the University, at Bloomington. He worked as farm laborer four years (the highest wages received was $7 per month), when he, with his brother Caleb, engaged in farming, raising corn which they sold at 10 cents per bushel; he made several trips to Chicago, taking up grain and bringing back salt, groceries, etc., the trips consuming from fifteen to twenty days, during which time they camped out at night. In 1854, he purchased his present place of 140 acres; he also owns twenty-six acres of land in Empire Township. In the spring of 1862, Mr. Dickerson met with an accident by being kicked in the stomach by a horse, which came near proving fatal, and for a long time his life was despaired of, and for a period of two years he was unable to labor upon his farm; during which time he employed several physicians, and visited the mineral springs of the South, which proved of great benefit to him. His marriage with Maranda Chapman was celebrated April 27, 1874; she was born in Madison Co., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1846; two children were the fruit of this union, of whom one is now living, viz., Viney Jane, born Sept. 30, 1876. Mrs. Dickerson was a daughter of William Chapman; he died in Madison Co., Ohio, when Mrs. D. was quite young; the maiden name of his wife was Margaret Chapman; she was born in Ohio; she is now a widow a second time, her last husband losing his life while serving in the army during late rebellion; she, with her father, Zadoc Chapman, are now living in Le Roy.