My Genealogy Hound

JOHN DICK, landscape gardener and Superintendent of Ferncliff Cemetery, has, with hard labor guided by true genius, made this resting place of Springfield’s dead a beautiful and attractive spot, one of the finest examples of a garden cemetery in the State. Mr. Dick is a native of Scotland, and he was born in Ayrshire, January 14, 1834. His father, David Dick, and his grandfather, John Dick, were also natives of that country, and both were practical gardeners, the former spending his entire life in the land of his birth. The father of our subject carried on his calling in Scotland for many years, but finally came to America with his wife and two children, and after residing in Cincinnati a few years, came to Springfield, and in this city passed the remainder of his life, honored and respected by all who knew him, for his integrity and uprightness, that made him all worthy of trust. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Jessie Charles, and she was born in Edinborough, Scotland, and her remains now repose beside those of her husband, in Ferncliff. Their marriage was blessed by the birth of the following six children: John, Agnes, widow of James B. Hay, who resides in Springfield; David, deceased, who lies sleeping his last sleep in Ferncliff; James a resident of Kentucky; George; and James C., who died young.

John Dick, of this biographical review, passed his early years in his native land, receiving the advantages of a sound education in the excellent academy in Kirkcudbright, spending some years there very profitably, and making rapid advancement in his studies. After leaving school he went into training for the vocation which his father and grandfather had followed before him, and for which he seemed to have a special aptitude, due perhaps to heredity. He received a thorough preparation for his work, serving an apprenticeship of seven years at landscape gardening, and then attending the Royal Botanic Gardens, of which Prof. McKnabe was curate, Prof. Balfour, the renowned botanist, being the instructor in that branch of study. Our subject spent two years there, earnestly devoting himself to the acquirement of a practical knowledge of the work that lay before him in his future career in his chosen vocation. At the expiration of that time he came to America, as a fine field in which to exercise his calling remuneratively, and he soon obtained a position as gardener on Long Island, remained there a year, and then went to New Rochelle, N. Y., to remodel an estate. A year was consumed in that work, and he afterward revisited Scotland. A year later he returned to the United States, and was employed in Philadelphia, Pa., at his trade one year. Lexington, Ky., was his next place of residence, and he worked at gardening in that city six years, and from there he went to Cincinnati, where he remained till 1863, and in that year he came to Springfield to take charge of Ferncliff, then a new cemetery which had not yet been platted, and has since been a resident of this city. He brings to his work an original, thoughtful, well-trained mind, and his decided talent has been so developed by education, he being thoroughly grounded in all the natural sciences that have a bearing upon his calling, that as practiced by him with his exquisite taste, is an art. And the citizens of Springfield who are so justly proud of this lovely cemetery, amid whose beauties their beloved dead lie sleeping, consider themselves very fortunate in securing the able services of such a man. His exceptional knowledge of botany and kindred subjects, and the information his acute observational powers have enabled him to glean, and his intelligent acquaintance with books and other matters render him an interesting companion. His character for firmness, kindly thought for others, and for unswerving integrity has made him widely respected in this city, where he has made his home for so many years.

An important event in the life of our subject, and one that has had an important bearing on his weal and comfort, was his marriage, in July 1863, o Miss Catherine Fitzsimmons, a native of Ireland, though of Scotch antecedents. The joys of their wedded life have been partly in the birth of their four children — Charles, James, Jessie and Mary, and the sorrows have been in the death of two of them, Charles and Mary.

“If the Power maketh thus his pastures green,
Maketh thus His quiet waters,
Out of waste his heavens serene,
Ye can trust the mighty Shepherd
Loseth none he ever led;
Somewhere yet a greeting waits thee
On the faces of thy dead.”

W. C. Gannett.

Mrs. (Fitzsimmons) Dick departed this life October 17, 1879, at her home in Springfield, and lies sleeping by the side of her children in Ferncliff. Mr. Dick contracted a second marriage with Margaret Simons, daughter of the Rev. Jacob Simons, of the Lutheran Church, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1800, now deceased. This marriage was celebrated January 15, 1881, and no children have been born of this union.