Husband Dr. John Dickson 1
Born: 24 Apr 1812 - Cecil Co, MD 1
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Died: Abt 1885
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Marriage: 1838 1
Wife May Ann Way 1
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Children
1 F Mary W. Dickson 2
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Spouse: Alexander M. Watson ( - ) 2
2 F Elizabeth S. Dickson 2
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3 M John Shields Dickson, M.D. 2
Born: 11 Apr 1844 - Allegheny, Allegheny Co, PA 2
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Spouse: Sarah H. Caldwell ( - ) 2
Marr: 25 Nov 1872 2
4 F Agnes C. Dickson 2
AKA: Agnes C. Dixon 3 4
Born: 17 Aug 1847 3 4
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Spouse: Thomas J. Graff (1832-1890) 5
Marr: 25 Jun 1863 4 6
5 M Joseph N. Dickson, M.D. 2
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Spouse: Hannah Watson ( - ) 2
6 F Sarah O. Dickson 2
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Spouse: B. H. L. Dabbs (1839- ) 7
7 F Birdie Dickson 2
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Spouse: Herbert Johns ( - ) 2
8 F Laura A. Dickson 2
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Spouse: Edward M. Godfrey ( - ) 2
General Notes: Husband - Dr. John Dickson
Some of his ancestry fought with Wallace and Bruce in Scotland, and this was the cause of the family's removal to America.
Of Scotch-Irish descent, the traditions and history of his family were connected with the records of his native state for more than five generations, and he was reared in that atmosphere of intellectual vigor and devout morality and piety characteristic of the race from which he sprang.
His father and family removed to Clinton, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1821. At the age of sixteen young Dickson taught in the public school at Clinton while engaged in his own studies; for the purpose of reciting he walked to Cannonsburg every Friday evening, and acquired a reputation for his knowledge of the classical course scarcely second to any in the regular classes. The keen eyes of the venerable Rev. Matthew Brown, D. D., early recognized his ability, and he said to Mr. Boyd Emery (pointing to the young student): "There goes the most promising young man I know; if he lives he will make a great name for himself." He began the study of medicine when seventeen years of age, reciting to Dr. Leatherman (at that time a leading physician of Cannonsburg), and subsequently attended lectures at the University of New York, from which institution he received his degree. He was not twenty years old when he began to practice. He located at first in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, where he was well known; and so marked was the favorable impression which his early life and attainments had made upon the entire community, that in spite of the great drawback of youth, he entered at once upon a large and most respectable connection. In 1837, together with Mr. John Shilds, Dr. Dickson made a trip to Europe for the purpose of attending lectures in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland. The two young men then made a pedestrian tour over the route which Goldsmith describes in his "Travels." When the two arrived at Rome, they found the cholera epidemic raging there, and without hesitation the young physician went to work to aid the sufferers.
In 1843 Dr. Dickson removed to Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where he opened an office on the Diamond, afterward on Federal street, and finally on the corner of Penn and Ninth streets, Pittsburgh. He had previously, in 1851, established his residence again in Sewickley. From his entrance upon the work of his profession to the close of his life his ability and attainments commanded as large a clientage as perhaps any physician in that portion of the state. His profession was his idol, and being a great reader of medical works, he was never weary of perfecting his knowledge in medicine and surgery. He kept in close fellowship with the leading physicians of his time, with all of whom he was on friendly terms or in friendly correspondence.
Dr. John Dickson and Dr. McCook, after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, took charge of the two hospital-boats and with their respective staffs went down to transport the wounded to the hospitals. Dr. Dickson's activity during the war closed with his services at Gettysburg, where he was one of the most diligent and respected surgeons.
In the earnest desire to strengthen his own knowledge and encourage the study of medicine, he established, when first settled in Allegheny, a dissecting-room, and had a large class of young men. No new remedy or mechanical invention promising help and healing to the sick and injured escaped his notice, and it is no disparagement to others to say that he had no superior in his day as an anatomist and surgeon. His eye was as bright as the sunlight, his hand as steady as a rock, and his knowledge and courage were at all times equal to any operation, capital ones being performed with distinguished success. Dr. Gross, than whom there was no higher authority, said of him:
He performed the operation of lithotomy, as far as he could learn, more frequently and with better results than any man in Pennsylvania. In 1866 he performed it eleven times, all the subjects recovering. The sciences adjunct to his profession especially he made himself familiar with, and in the judgment of competent per-sons there were few better chemists or botanists in this state. He nodded to the four thousand plants within our floral region as to familiar friends, and called them by their names as he would the members of his own family. In one word, he had set before himself the highest ideal of his profession, and made it the work of his life to realize it in himself, with what splendid success and with what boundless blessing to his fellow-men this whole community can attest. Our sketch of Dr. Dickson as a medical man would be imperfect without recalling two qualities not so common among the successful and distinguished as we could desire, namely, his unfailing promptness and punctuality in all appointments, whether to the high or low, and his friendly and almost fatherly help and kindness to young and struggling members of the profession. His powerful frame, perfect physical health and commanding presence were environed with such an atmosphere of tenderness and gentleness as made the sick-room take on an air of gentleness when he entered and hope when he departed. From the absorbing duties of his life he allowed himself but one relaxation. He was an ardent sportsman, a capital shot and a bold rider. It was not uncommon to hear the baying of his hounds, the herald of his approach on his daily rounds, and to see him sweep by in the glee and excitement of a boy. No doubt his early life amid the splendid hunting-grounds of Maryland laid the foundation of this taste; at any rate it never left him. He was one of the original members of the Kankakee club, and a regular visitant during the season, till age and increasing infirmities forbade any longer such enjoyments.
Dr. Dickson, at the time of his death, was nearly seventy-four years of age, and for nearly fifty-five years had been actively engaged in practice. Except when prevented by illness, he was in his office every day until near his death. Up to the time of his death there were no signs of mental disability to mark that over half a century of most laborious life had passed over him. Amid the cares and hourly demands of his large practice he found time to take a warm and active interest in every matter relating to the general welfare of his profession, and paid the most diligent attention to all new discoveries in his own and kindred sciences, and with such diligence, joined to an exceedingly retentive memory, it was not strange that he should have made a national reputation for his knowledge in all branches of science. Dr. Dickson could name and describe the life, growth and characteristics of the four thousand species of plants found in Pennsylvania, and was equally versed in zoology. He was a passionate sportsman, and during the early days of his practice, when he was compelled to make his visits on horseback through this and the neighboring counties, he was at all times accompanied by his fowling-piece and followed by a pack of thoroughbred hounds. Col. McKelvy, in relating his first meeting with the deceased, in 1834, said he had never seen a more handsome man, under more favorable circumstances. The doctor was especially well known for his never being without resource in any operation. He was an expert in devising instruments for special occasions, and some stories of his surgical feats were among the medical records of the nation.
Dr. John Dickson enjoyed, to a remarkable degree, the affectionate regard of all who knew him. Both socially and professionally he was venerated for his extensive knowledge, his eminent abilities, his long and valuable services, his earnest integrity and the spotless purity of his moral character.