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 DICKINSON. DITSON. 1/5 among educational reports, on account of their pedagogical value. He has exerted a large influence upon the teachers of the country through his public addresses be- fore educational associations, and through his management as principal and instructor of the pedagogical department of the Chau- tauqua University. Mr. Dickinson was married in Westfield, in March, 1S56, to Arexine G., daugh- ter of David and Mary (Bacon) Parsons, North Yarmouth, Maine. Miss Parsons was a graduate of Bradford Female Semi- nary, and a successful teacher. Two chil- dren were added to the family, a son, John Worthington, and a daughter, Susan Allen. The former is a graduate of Harvard Col- lege, and a successful manufacturer. The latter is the companion of her mother in their family home, Newtonville, in the city of Newton. Mr. Dickinson, now in the prime of life, is laboring with great devotion to promote the interests of popular education, and to keep the public schools of Massachusetts in the front rank of excellence. DICKINSON, Marquis Fayette, Jr., eldest son of Marquis F. and Hannah (Wil- liams) Dickinson, was born in Amherst, Hampshire county, January 16, 1S40. He received his early education at the common schools of his native town, Am- herst and Monson academies, and VVilliston Seminary, Easthampton, from which he graduated in the class of 1858. He entered Amherst College in the same year, gradu- ating therefrom in 1862, having one of the three highest of the commencement ap- pointments. After teaching classics in Williston Semi- nary for three years, i862-'65, he studied law with Wells & Soule, Springfield, at the Harvard law school, i866-'67, and with Hon. George S. Hillard, of Boston. He was assistant United States attorney from 1869 to '71. He then became a member of the law firm of Hillard, Hyde & Dickin- son, the style subsequently changing to the present well-known firm of Hyde, Dickin- son (&: Howe. Mr. Dickinson was married at Easthamp- ton, November 23, 1864, to Cecilia R, adopted daughter of Samuel and Emily (Graves) Williston. Of his three children only one is living, Charles, — Williston and Florence having deceased. He has an adopted daughter, Jennie Couden Dickin- son, daughter of his deceased sister. Mr. Dickinson was a member of the com- mon council, Boston, in 1871 and '72, hold- ing the office of president of that body during the latter year. He was a trustee of the Boston public library in 1871 ; has been a trustee of Williston Seminary since [872, and one of the overseers of the charity fund of Amherst College since 1S77. MARQUIS F. DICKINSON. He was a lecturer on law as applied to rural affairs in the Massachusetts Agricul- tural College, 1871-77, and author of " Legislation on the Hours of Labor " (187 1) and " Amherst Centennial Address " (1876). DITSON, OLIVER, son of Joseph and Lucy (Pierce) Ditson, was born in Boston, October 20, 181 1, nearly opposite the resi- dence of Paul Revere. He died December 21, 1 888, in the city of his birth, being buried from Trinity church, the Rev. Phillips Brooks officiating. His parents were of Scotch extraction, their ancestors, soon after the landing of the Pilgrims, having been driven from Scotland by religious persecution. His father was one of a firm of ship owners, and the son knew no hardship till the failure of his father's firm. Graduat- ing with a good record from the North End public school, he found employment in Parker's book and music store. Later on he left this place for a time to learn the printer's trade. This he did with Isaac Butts and afterward with Alfred Mudge.