Gilbert, Frank T.  "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and
Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon."
Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A. G. Walling, 1882. p. a13.
 
ABRAHAM C. DICKINSON

     a farmer living four and a half miles south west of Waitsburg, is a native
of Bartholomew county, Indiana, where he was born May 15, 1830. His father,
whose name was Harvey Dickinson, was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1799,
and emigrated to Indiana when a young man, where he married Miss Mary Finley,
the mother of the subject of this sketch. Abraham C. remained at home with his
parents in Bartholomew county until married, February 2, 1854, to Miss Abbie C.
Carter, a native of that county, where she was born, October 27, 1834. In 1855
he removed to Missouri with his family, and was accompanied by his father, the
mother having died in November, 1847. Their residence was in Linn county, while
living in Missouri, where they had a pleasant home, and were surrounded by the
comforts of a moderate fortune. But the war that shook the foundations of our
government swept what they had away in its vortex, and in 1853, he started for
the West, with one yoke of oxen hitched to a small wagon, containing his family
of wife and little ones. Crossing the plains with an ox team, the Walla Walla
country was reached, and he settled on the land claim where he now lives. In the
years that followed, by industry and the exercise of financial ability,
gradually that original homestead claim has been added to,
until now Mr. Dickinson possesses 1000 acres of land, 680 of it being, with that
home in Spring valley. All of the Spring valley ranch is inclosed, and all
cultivated; the home improvements may be seen and best appreciated by reference
to sketch of same accompanying this work. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson, commencing in
Washington Territory with poverty, and six children, one of whom was born on the
plains, have raised a large family, gathered the foundation of a competence in
the near future, and in doing so have developed a capability and judgment in
management that both warrants and deserves success.
     The names and dates of birth of their children are as follows--Mary M.,
September 22, 1855; Emma C., November 16, 1856; Bessie F., November 15, 1858;
Ella L., March 19, 1860; John C. F., January 14, 1862, died March 2, 1866; Cora
B., July 25, 1863; Lydia F., November 17, 1865; Albert S., January 18, 1868;
Annie L., August 30, 1870; Clara B., October 18, 1873, died July 28, 1881;
Lavenia, August 23, 1876. Of these Mary M. is the wife of E. D. Mills, who lives
in Spring valley, and a sketch of their home accompanies this work. Bessie F. is
the wife of Henry Cram, lives in Whitman county, and they own what is known as
the Eureka ferry on Snake river. Ella L. is the wife of Charles O. Cram, who is
a firmer and stockraiser in Whitman county, W. T. Cora B. is the wife of Frank
T. Keiser of Spring valley, who owns a farm in that favored region where all
seem to prosper who are so fortunate as to reside there.

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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.