Robert Dickson has been a resident of Carroll county since February 9, 1855. In September, 1854, Mr. Dickson and his wife started for Iowa with horse team. The fall and a portion of the following winter were spent in Guthrie county, near Lonsdale woolen mills. January 12, 1855, he pre-empted 160 acres where he now (1911) resides - eighty acres of timber and eighty of prairie. One year later he went and proved up the same. His first house was a rude log cabin 10 x 12 feet, covered with lumber brought from Guthrie county. The floor was laid loose on ice. In 1867 he erected his present residence, which is 24 x 32 feet in size, and is well furnished. The farm contains 640 acres of land, and it is one of the finest farms in Glidden township. He and his son are extensively engaged i farming and stock-raising. He has a grove of trees, of his planting, ten acres, and an orchard of fifteen acres. Mr. Dickson owns 240 acres of improved land in Russell county, Kansas.

Robert Dickson served on the Board of Supervisors in 1870, and, was appointed to the office of county treasurer to fill the unexpired term of James White (year unknown).

Robert Dickson was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, April 7, 1830, son of Amos Dickson, a native of Mason county, Virginia, who at the age of eighteen left his native state in company of his father, and located in Vermillion county. His wife, mother of Robert, Miss Rachel Pettis, was born in Murray county, Tennessee. Her father was a soldier in the War of 1812. Robert Dickson was the oldest of a family of nine children. When he was twelve years old, the family removed to Champaign county, same state. His early life was passed on the farm and in attending the common schools of his native state. June 4, 1854, he was married to Miss Sarah L. McGinnis, who was born in Ripley county, Indiana, and a daughter of Ed. B. and Nancy (Allen) McGinnis. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson have four children: David, who lives in Kansas; Anna E. Corcoran, of Colorado; Luella R. Merritt, of Carroll county, and Robert Y., who was born December 4, 1862, on the old homestead where he was reared.