Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/190

170 travelling through Canada, the father and mother died, leaving eleven children. The eldest, a sister, determined on keeping the brothers and sisters together. They finished their journey, and settled in Lanark county, Canada West. Mr. Dick's studies were pursued under grave disadvantages, but he succeeded and was graduated at Hamilton college, Clinton, N. Y., in 1841. He devoted himself to teaching, lecturing, and missionary work for sev- eral years, and in 1854 established the " Gospel Tribune," in Toronto, C. W. In 1856 he invented a newspaper mailing-machine, the capacity of which, under successive improvements, was in- creased to 20,000 labels in a day of ten hours, pasted and attached by one operator to wrappers or papers. This invention is now in universal use.

DICK, Samuel, b. in New Jersey ; d. there in November, 1812. lie received a classical educa- tion, studied medicine, and practised his profes- sion. He was a delegate from New Jersey in the Continental congress in 178o-'4.

DICKENS, Augustus N., English journalist, b. in Landport, near Portsmouth, England, in 1826 ; d. in Chicago, 111., 4 Oct., 1866. He was a brother of Charles Dickens, the novelist, and the original " Boz," this being the pet name given to him by his family. He was for some time a correspondent of the London " News." Emigrating to the United States, he purchased land at Amboy, on the Illinois Central railway, and engaged in mercantile pur- suits, but failed. Subsequently he removed to Chi- cago with his family and became a corresponding clerk in the land-office of the Illinois Central rail- wav, a place which he held till his death.

DICKERSON, James Stokes, clergyman, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 6 July, 1825 ; d. in Chicago in March, 1876. He was graduated at Madison uni- versity in 1848, and in 1850 became associated with Dr. Martin B. Anderson in the publication of the New York " Recorder." After several years spent in this relation and in the service of the American Baptist publication society, he became proprietor and editor of the Philadeli)hia " Christian Chroni- cle." While thus engaged he began preaching, and in March, 1861, accepted the pastorate of the 2d Baptist church in Wilmington, Del. He sub- sequently served as pastor in Pittsburg, Pa., and in Boston, Mass., till failing health obliged him to retire from the pulpit, and, removing in 1875 to Chicago, he became joint pi"oprietor and editor of the '• Standard," a Baptist weekly paper. He re- ceived the honorary degree of D. D.

DICKERSON, Mahlon, statesman, b. in Han- over, N. J., 17 April, 1770; d. in Suckasunny, Morris co., N. J., 5 Oct., 1853. He was graduated at Princeton in 1789, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1793, and practised with success in Philadelphia. In 1805-'8 he, was quartermaster- general of Pennsylvania, and in 1808-'10 recorder of the city court of Philadelphia. He returned to New Jersey, became judge of the supreme court and chancellor, and was elected a member of the legislature in 1811-'13. In 1815 he was elected gov- ernor of New Jersey, and at the close of his term was sent to the U. S. senate. He was repeatedlv re- elected, serving from 1 Dec, 1817, till 2 March, 1833. President Jackson appointed him, on 30 June, 1834, secretary of the navy, in which post he was con- tinued by President Van Buren, serving till 30 June, 1838, when he was succeeded by James K. Paulding. He subsequently served for a few months on the bench of the U. S. district court for the dis- trict of New Jersey, and was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1844. In 1846-'8 he was president of the American institute. He was largely interested in the mining and manufacture of iron in Morris county, and, although a state- rights democrat, advocated the protective tariff in congress. He pub- lished " Speeches in Congress, 1826- '46."— His brother, Philemon, b. in Morris county, N. J., in 1788; d. in Paterson, N. J., 10 Dec, 1862, received a liberal education, studied law, and practised in Pater- son. He served a term in congress in 1833-'5, and was re-elected, but re- signed in 1836 to accept the gover- norship of New Jersey. In 1838 he was again elected to congress ; but his election, as well as that of the other representatives from New Jersey except one, was contested, and he did not take his seat till 10 March, 1840, serving till the following March. He was afterward judge of the United States district court in New Jersey.

DICKERSON, William Fisher, A. M. E. bishop, b. m Woodbury, N. J., 18 Jan. 1844; d. in Columbia, S. C, in December, 1884. He was grad- uated at Lincoln university in 1870, and in 1876 appointed to represent his church at the general conference of the African Methodist Episcopal de- nomination. In 1880 he was elected thirteenth bishop, and given charge of the work in South Carolina and Georgia. He founded Allen univer- sity, Columbia, S. C, in" 1880, of which he was president for four years. In 1881 he was a delegate to the oecumenical council in London, and travelled through France and Switzerland. He received the degree of D. D. from Wilberforce university in 1878.

DICKEY, Ebenezer, clergyman, b. near Oxford, Pa., 12 March, 1772; cf in Oxford, Pa., 31 May, 1831. He was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1792, was settled over the churches of Oxford and Octoraro, and remained pastor of the Oxford church till his death. In 1822, with Dr. George Junkin and most of the associate Reformed clergy and their churches, he entered the Presbyterian connection. Princeton gave him tlie degree of D. D. in 1823. He published a " Tract to Parents," a pamphlet entitled " Plea for Christian Communion," and wrote for the "Christian Advocate" a series of letters on "Travels in Europe for Health in 1820" that were widely read. — His son, John Miller, b. in Oxford, Pa., is Dec, 1806; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 21 March, 1878, was graduated at Dickinson college in 1824, and at Princeton theological seminary in 1827. In 1828 he was employed in missionary labor in northeastern Pennsylvania, and the following year in Florida and southern Georgia. In 1830 he was installed pastor at Newcastle, Del., and after his father's death assumed charge of the church at Oxford, Pa., and that of Up])er West Nottingham. He conducted the Oxford female seminary for fifteen years in addition to his pastoral duties. In 1856 he resigned his pastorate. He took the principal part in establishing the Ashmun institute (afterward Lincoln university) at Oxford, and was president of the board of trustees from 1854 till his death. He was also a