An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, page 245-246

JAMES W. DICKSON is an example of one who has seen sorrow and much of the hard
side of life in his younger years, but who, in spite of all adversity and trying
times, has fought his own way to a successful position in the community today
and has won from the shy maid of fortune a goodly competence which is a justly
bestowed reward for his industry and faithfulness. He resides about a mile south
from Endersly postoffice where he owns two hundred acres of choice land, which
produces an abundance of general crops each year. He uses half for pasture and
hail for crops. In addition to handling his farm, Mr. Dickson does considerable
freighting and teaming and is well known all through the country. Wherever he is
known he has friends as his walk has been such as to win the esteem of good
people.      

James W. Dickson was born in England, on December 16, 1856. When three months of
age, his parents embarked for the United States and while on the voyage, the
father was lost over-board, and our subject does not even know his Christian
name. The mother died soon after landing in Illinois, while James was still an
infant. Then he was taken by a brother of his mother, who lived in the province
of Quebec, Canada, and with this man he remained until thirteen. During those
years of service, he had things rather severe, and his education was sadly
neglected by the man who should have looked after it. However, young Dickson was
made of the stuff that would not down and at the age mentioned stepped forth
from this position to start in life for himself. He then applied himself at all
opportunities and learned readily and stored his mind with a good fund of
knowledge for life's battle. He went from Canada to New York upon leaving his
uncle and from that day to this, he has always supported himself. He worked in
the lumber woods and on the farms and in May, 1878, landed in Oregon City. He
was in various places in the Willamette valley for three years and then came to
Wasco county. After this he spent a year in sawmilling on Puget sound and late
in the eighties he took his present place as a homestead. He added a railroad
forty by purchase and since then has bestowed his labors here with the happy
result that he has a choice place. On January 2, 1888, Mr. Dickson married Miss
Mary Fligg, the wedding occurring at the home of the bride's sister. Her father
is George Fligg and he is mentioned elsewhere in this volume with the other
members of his family. Mr. Dickson had one brother, William, who was killed in
the battle of Fredericksburg, in the Rebellion. Four children have been born to
our subject's household, Wilbur, Ernest, Ruth and Delbert. Mrs. Dickson is a
member of the Christian church. Mr. Dickson is a Republican, chairman of the
school board and a member of the A.F.&A.M.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.