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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.   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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PROF. JAMES DICKSON, PH. D., ex county superintendent of public schools and late professor of Pittsburgh Academy, post office Clinton, was born in Findlay township Allegheny county, Pa., Sept. 29, 1834, a son of Joseph and Mary (Moody) Dickson, of Cecil county, Md., and Washington county, Pa., respectively. Joseph was a carpenter, and a son of John and Catherine (Moody) Dickson, the latter a native of Ireland. John Dickson was a native of Cecil county, Md., and a son of John and Nancy (Thompson) Dickson, who were born and married in Ireland, and came to Maryland prior to the Revolution. They had but one child, John, Jr. Joseph Dickson came to Allegheny county when a young man, and reared a family of five daughters and one son. The latter, the subject of this biography, received his early education at the public schools, and at thirteen began the study of Latin with George Jardine, a graduate of Belfast College, Ireland. Later he entered the academy at Murdocksville, Washington county, Pa., and was graduated at Mount Union College, near Alliance, Ohio. During that time he also taught in the public schools of Allegheny and Washington counties. In 1865 he associated with James A. Dunbar and established the Linnaean Academy and Normal Seminary at Clinton, which, for want of suitable buildings, was removed in 1867 to Mansfield, Pa. In 1869 he and Mr. Dunbar were elected principals of the Cannonsburg Academy, Washington county, Pa., and in 1872 Prof. Dickson was elected principal of the Sewickley (Pa.) Academy. In 1865 he was elected county superintendent of public schools of Allegheny county, served six years and refused a re-election. At the solicitation of the leading citizens of Allegheny City and Pittsburgh, and realizing the importance of a high-grade academy, he associated with him Prof. J. W. Caldwell, A. M., LL. B., and organized the Pittsburgh Academy Nov. 1, 1880. Owing to ill health, Prof. Dickson was compelled to resign in 1883 and remove to his farm in Findlay township, where he has since resided. He was united in marriage, July 2, 1866, at Creagerstown, Md., to Martha C. Zimmerman, A. M., a graduate of Mount Union College, class of 1862, and daughter of John and Miranda (Myers) Zimmerman. She taught in Illinois and Maryland prior to her marriage, and since that event has been closely associated with her husband as an assistant teacher. They have one child, Joseph Z., born at Mansfield, Pa., Feb. 3, 1868; he attended school in Washington county, Pa., and was admitted as a student to the Western University of Pennsylvania. Prof, and Mrs. Dickson are members of the U. P. Church.

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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.

View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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