Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 263.
 
H. OLIVER T. DICKENSON

     Prominent in the agricultural circles of Umatilla county is H. Oliver T.
Dickenson, who is operating one hundred and twenty-eight acres of well improved
land near Athena.  He is a native son of Oregon, his birth having occurred in
Roseburg, Douglas county, on the 1st of June, 1872, a son of John B. and Naomi
C. (Banks) Dickenson.  The father was born in Virginia, where he spent his
boyhood and in 1849 went to California in search of gold.  He made that trip
overland with mule teams and underwent many hardships.  He was an active
participant in several of the Indian wars.  Until 1854 he was engaged in mining
in California, but during that year he came to Oregon, locating in Polk county,
where he took a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, improved it,
and there resided for a period of eight years.  Again taking up mining John B.
Dickenson removed to Florence, B. C., and subsequently to Canyonville and Peace
river in Alberta.  At the latter place he operated a pack train outfit.  In 1871
he was united in marriage to Miss Naomi Banks and they homesteaded land near
what is now known as Athena.  The homestead consisted of eighty acres, which he
brought to a high state of cultivation and later proved up on an additional
eighty, operating the land until his death at the age of eighty-one years.
Throughout his life John B. Dickenson was a stanch democrat and he was
fraternally identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  His wife was
born near Little Rock, Arkansas, and her parents brought her across the plains
in 1853, when she was six months old.  Eight months was spent on this journey,
the party following the Oregon Trail, and they were rafted down the Columbia
river by friendly Indians.  The stock was driven around the river and the Banks
family located in Corvallis, Polk county, Oregon, the father taking a donation
claim of six hundred and forty acres, which he improved and on which he resided
for a number of years.  The father of Mrs. Dickenson then removed to Douglas
county and there preempted land, which he operated for some time and
subsequently acquired a homestead of eighty acres near Athena, where he resided
until his death.  The death of Mrs. Banks also occurred on this homestead.  Mr.
Banks was a member of the democratic party and his religious faith was that of
the Methodist Episcopal church.  Mrs. Dickenson is still living making her home
at Athena.  She is now seventy years of age and she is enjoying robust health.
     H. Oliver T. Dickenson, whose name initiates this review, was one of the
children born to this union and he received his education in the county where he
is now residing.  In early life he started upon his farming career, renting some
land, which he operated with a substantial measure of success.  Subsequently, in
partnership with his brother, Sim, Mr. Dickenson purchased the Hugh McArthur
farm of eleven hundred and twenty acres and from 1899 until 1915 they operated
this farm.  In the latter year Mr. Dickenson sold his interest and bought his
present farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres near Athena.  The farm is
well improved and he has built new and substantial outbuildings, which are an
added improvement to the appearance of the place.  Dairy farming and stock
raising are his specialties and there is no phase of these lines of work with
which he is not thoroughly familiar.  In addition to this fine land near Athena,
he owns well improved land in Comer and Peoria.
     In 1907 Mr. Dickenson was united in marriage to Miss Altha Achiller, a
daughter of Eugene and Mary (Harvey) Achiller, and a native of Blaine,
Washington.  Her father was born in Montreal, Canada, and her mother in Ontario.
After their marriage they settled in North Dakota, and later in Washington,
where Mrs. Dickenson was born.  Mr. and Mrs. Dickenson have become the parents
of four children:  M. M., Beatrice, John, and Oliver.
     Politically Mr. Dickenson is a stanch supported of the democratic party, in
the activities of which he takes a prominent part.  His religious faith is that
of the Free Methodist church.  He maintains a great interest in civic and public
affairs and has ever kept in touch with progress along agricultural lines.
     
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2006 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.