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22 Mar 1842 - 1 Mar 1908
By Roy S. Dickson 
2015 Coves
Afton, OK 74331
John Martin Dickson was the oldest child of James Alexander Dickson (ca 1820 - ca 1864). His mother was James' first wife Lucinda Nall (1827-1849). John Martin Dickson was born on 22 March 1842 at Mt. Pleasant, Titus Co., TX, although his tombstone shows his date of birth as 22 March 1844. James Alexander Dickson (ca 1820 - ca 1864) was the son of Alexander Dickson (ca 1774 - 1847) of Ashe Co., NC and Tennessee, and wife Elizabeth (Caldwell ?). Alexander Dickson (ca 1774-1847) was the son of Thomas Dickson (bef 1727 - ca 1815) of Wilkes (now Ashe) Co., NC. Lucinda Nall was the daughter of Martin G. Nall (born ca 1805 in Grainger Co., TN) and Cynthia Lick. Martin G. Nall and family came to northeast Texas as part of the Wavell Colony in 1819. This Nall family goes back to Martin Nalle and wife Mary Aldin who were in Essex Co., VA in the late 1600's or early 1700's. The family migrated to Wilkes Co., NC, Grainger Co., TN, and Red River Co., TX.
Following is a biography of John Martin Dickson which is included in A HISTORICAL & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE CATTLE INDUSTRY OF TEXAS AND ADJACENT TERRITORIES a book in the Texas Archives in the Texas State Library at Austin, printed in 1895. The reader is cautioned that several of the dates given in this biography appear to be incorrect. The questionable material is bracketed { }.
"Mr. Dickson was born to James and Lucinda Dickson at Mt. Pleasant, Titus County, Texas, March 22, {1844}. His father was of Scotch-Irish lineage, and was born in Tennessee in {1816}. His mother was the daughter of M. G. Nall, of Red River County, Texas, and was born in 1827, of English ancestry. The parents were married in {1843}, and had three children besides our subject. The father was a farmer and stock raiser in Red River County, and attained a large measure of success in his calling. Being a man of influence and positive convictions, he came into great prominence just before the culmination of the war by warmly espousing the idea of secession. He was one of the first to take up arms, and fought until he was killed in the year 1864."
"As a boy, J. M. Dickson worked upon his father's ranch until the opening days of the war, when, at age 16, he enlisted in the confederate service under S. B. Maxey, of the 9th Texas Infantry. He joined his regiment at Paris, Lamar County, Texas, and fought until the close of the war. James A., a younger brother, and his uncle, John Dickson, had been by his side through the four stirring years of strife, and when the final surrender took place they were at Houston, Texas. He then returned home, and shortly after went to Collin County and purchased a farm, which he lived upon and cultivated for about 9 years, when he sold out at a good profit and went to Dallas."
"The object of his visit to Dallas was a matrimonial one. While there he was married to Miss Elizabeth Mosely, daughter of Lemuel Mosely, the wedding occurring on {April 6, 1874}. With his bride and some capital he went to Llano County with the intention of going into the stock-raising business. Not being fully suited here, he went to Shackelford County, and finding a desirable location at Albany, he established a ranch, and was for twelve years successfully engaged in the stock business here. In 1884 he traded his Shackelford County ranch for ranch property in Throckmorton County. His operations in the latter county proved very successful, and he brought his ranch and herds up to so high a state of perfection that he was enabled to trade them for an excellent property in San Saba County, which comprised a large tract of fertile land in the beautiful San Saba Valley, lying along Wallace Creek, about six miles west of San Saba. This ranch he sold late in 1894, and purchased another fine place three and one-half miles south of San Saba, on the San Saba and Llano road."
"The secret of Mr. Dickson's success has been his good judgement as exercised in trading in both stock and property. He is quick and shrewd in all matters of business, but thoroughly upright, and has the confidence of all who have business transactions with him. Six children have been born of the union: James L., Lulu, William, Maud, Sudie and Annie" (End of Biography.)
While some dates in this biography appear to be in error, the biography contains many helpful facts. It is most helpful in tracing the movements of the family.
Another biography of John Martin Dickson is contained in the book OLD TIMERS OF WALLACE CREEK by Jym A. Sloan, San Saba, TX copyrighted 1958, which is in the Texas Room of the Houston Library:
"John Martin Dickason was a native of Titus County, Texas, having been born in that county on March 22, {1843}, and departed this life at the age of 66 years in {1909} at his home at Cherokee, Texas."
"He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War between the C.S.A. and U.S.A. under Sam Bell Maxey in Major Blair's Division at the time the Confederates made the charge May 19, 1863, at the battle of Vicksburg. During his early life he suffered many hardships to which our pioneers were subjected."
"In 1875 John Martin Dickason and Lizzie Mosley-Dickason were united in marriage in {Hunt} County, Texas. They moved to Shackelford County, Texas, in 1878, and from here they moved to Louisiana where they lived six years. Of their many locations none were entirely satisfactory. In 1890 they moved to and settled on Wallace Creek, San Saba County, Texas. Mr. Dickason had swapped land in Throckmorton County, Texas, to John Allen Taylor for the Wallace Creek place. He retired from active business in 1908, selling his Wallace Creek home and buying one in Cherokee, same county. In 1909 death claimed him. Funeral services were conducted by his pastor, the Rev. J. Polk Burke, a Baptist Minister of Cherokee, and his body laid to rest there. He was a farmer - stockman, but directed his attention more to livestock than to farming."
"The wife, Elizabeth Mosley-Dickason, was a native of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, born there April 2, 1859, survives her husband at this date, November, 1945, and lives at Cherokee, in San Saba County."
"Children were four in number, namely: James Dickason; Lulu Dickason, now Mrs. Ben Harkey, lives with her husband on Wallace Creek near the old parental home; Maud Dickason, now Mrs. Arch Young, Annie Mae Dickason, who married Dudley Jester." (End of Biography.)
In 1850, John Martin Dickson is listed in his father's household in Lamar Co., TX, as MARTIN age 7 born in Texas. By this time his father is married to his second wife Sophronia Elisabeth Crosier. In 1860, John Martin Dickson is listed in his father's household in Lamar Co., TX, as J. M. age 16 born in Texas.
In October 1861 John Martin Dickson enlisted at Tollet's Prairie, Lamar Co., TX, in S. B. Maxey's 9th Texas Regular Infantry, Company K, Confederate States Army. He was a private and served to the end of the war.
HIS FIRST WIFE
On 24 May 1863, during the war, John Martin Dickson married his first cousin Nancy Elizabeth Groves in Collin Co., TX. She was the daughter of Edmund Groves (1812-1885) and Zilpha M. Dickson (1818 - 1872). Zilpha was a sister to John Martin's father James Alexander Dickson. Nancy Elizabeth Groves was born 20 October 1850 in Texas. She was not yet 13 years old when they married. Apparently this was a troubled marriage. Nancy filed for divorce, but at the hearing in Collin Co., TX on 27 September 1867, she declined to prosecute and dropped the case.
In the 1870 Census, John Martin Dickson and Nancy E. Groves Dickson are living at Farmersville, Collin Co., TX. Living with them is John's younger brother Lee Roy Dickson.
There were no children by this first marriage which ended in a divorce in Collin Co., TX. Shortly after the divorce, Nancy E. Groves Dickson married B.F. "Frank" Weir in Collin Co., TX.
HIS SECOND WIFE
According to the marriage license on file in the Dallas Co., TX Courthouse, John Martin Dickson married Elizabeth Jane Moseley on 12 March 1875 in Dallas Co., TX. Elizabeth was born on 2 April 1859 in Chickasaw Co., Mississippi, and was the daughter of Lemuel Finchy Moseley who was born in Mississippi in 1812, and Nancy Moseley who was born in Kentucky in 1821. Elizabeth was a Baptist. John and Elizabeth had 6 children, 2 sons and 4 daughters.
THE CHILDREN OF John Martin and Elizabeth Jane Moseley Dickson
The children of John Martin and Elizabeth Jane Moseley Dickson were:
1. James Lemuel "Jim" Dickson was born 10 December 1878 at Albany, Shackelford Co., TX. He married first Alice Taylor and they had a son:
James Martin Dickson was born on 7 January 1913 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA. His wife's name was Virginia and was called "Pat". They were residents of Fullerton, CA in 1987, and had one son.
James Lemuel "Jim" Dickson's second wife was named "Sybil". He was a resident of Los Angeles and Santa Ana, CA for many years. He died on 17 January 1960 and is buried at Fairhaven Cemetery, Santa Ana, Orange Co., CA.
2. Lula Estelle Dickson was born 9 April 1881 at Albany, Shackelford Co., TX. On 13 October 1895 she married Benjamin Franklin Harkey, a member of the pioneer San Saba County Harkey Family. She died on 21 December 1960 in San Saba Co., TX. She is buried with her husband at the Hanna Cemetery, Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. Lula Estelle Dickson and Benjamin Franklin Harkey had 5 children:
Velma Clyde Harkey was born on 20 February 1898 in San Saba Co., TX. She married first to a Mr. Neeper, and they had one child. Velma Clyde Harkey married second Walter Ohse who was born on 29 August 1888 and died on 30 October 1986. He is buried at Hanna Cemetery, at Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. They had one daughter. In 1987, Velma Clyde Harkey Ohse lived with her daughter and son-in-law Harry H. and Virginia Brown in Houston, TX.
The second child died as an infant before the 1910 census.
Martin Esli Harkey (1900-1937), was married to Maggie May Ishman and they had four daughters and one son. Martin Esli Harkey is buried at Hanna Cemetery, Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX.
Florese Harkey was born 20 January 1906 in San Saba Co., TX, died 29 Mar 1942, and is buried at Hanna Cemetery, Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. She was married to Floyd Blossman. They had two sons and one daughter.
Boot Dickson "B. D." Harkey was born 6 July 1908 in San Saba Co., TX, died 14 November 1984, and is buried at Hanna Cemetery, Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. He married Mamie Coffman, and they had no children.
3. William Dickson was alive in 1895, but died at age 2 months.
4. Maude Leona Dickson was born 16 August 1886 at Camel, Throckmorton Co., TX, died 24 April 1947, and is buried at Hanna Cemetery, Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. She married first to J. B. "Ben" Richards (ca 1876- ) on 23 September 1903 in Llano Co., TX. They had four children:
Lilliam May Richards was born 2 September 1904 in San Saba Co., TX. She married a Mr. Evans and they had two children.
Jesse James Richards was born 26 August 1906 at Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX, died 25 October 1949, and is buried at Hanna Cemetery, Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. He was married and had one daughter. He was a Staff Sergeant in World War II.
Clarence M. Richards was born 16 August 1908 at Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX, died 29 August 1937 and is buried at the Hanna Cemetery, Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. He had no children.
Alene Richards was married and had a son named Richard.
On 21 October 1929 Maude married second to Arch Young in San Saba Co., TX. Arch Young was born 5 February 1896, died 29 July 1967, and is buried at the Hanna Cemetery, Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. Arch Young's tombstone indicates that he was Private in Texas 316 Company MTC World War I.
5. Susan Rebecca "Sue" Dickson was born 21 May 1890 in Throckmorton Co., TX. She married Roy Very Shafer on 5 March 1918 at Waco, McLennan Co., TX. They were residents of California for many years. Roy Very Shafer was born 4 December 1893 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA, and died on 27 December 1981 at Santa Ana, Orange Co., CA. "Sue" died on 23 January 1983 at Orange, Orange Co., CA. They are both buried at Fairhaven Cemetery, Santa Ana, Orange Co., CA. Roy and "Sue" Dickson Shafer had two children:
Shafer Dickson was born on 7 April 1924 at Santa Ana, Orange Co., CA. He married Lois Frances Masters who was born on 8 September 1923 at Rocanville, Saskatchewan, Canada. They were residents of Corona Del Mar, CA in 1987, and had one son and one daughter.
Charlotte Jane Shafer was born 22 December 1925 and died on 3 August 1960. She was married first to Ernest C. Skwara who was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Force in World War II and was killed in action. Charlotte married second to Paul A. Lemarie. She had no children.
"Sue" Dickson Shafer was a National Committee Woman to the Democratic Party, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1932, pledged to support her cousin John Nance Garner for the party's presidential nomination. John Nance Garner had been Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Vice-President for two terms, and ran unsuccessfully against Roosevelt for the party's nomination for president in 1932.
6. Annie May Dickson was born 22 August 1893 at Wallace Creek, San Saba Co., TX, and died 27 May 1972. She married Dudley Wooten Jester on 28 August 1912 in San Saba Co., TX. Dudley Wooten Jester was born 31 July 1892 at Valley Springs, Llano Co., TX and died 22 January 1977 at Llano Co., TX. They are both buried at Llano Cemetery, Llano, Llano Co., TX. She was a resident of Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX in 1952. Annie May Dickson and Dudley Wooten Jester had six children:
Stephen Jester born ca 1918, died a child.
Elizabeth Jane Jester born 8 April 1918 at Newton, Newton Co., TX. She married Richard Sloan Taylor 9 March 1940 at Richland Springs, San Saba Co., TX, and they had three sons and two daughters. They lived at Brownwood, TX. Richard Sloan Taylor was born 9 May 1916 at the T. A. Sloan Ranch, San Saba Co., TX. He was a veteran, and died 9 December 1996.
Joe Mack Jester married Laura Lucille Bode and had three sons and two daughters. They lived at Austin, TX.
Sue Dickson Jester was born 14 March 1923 at Groesbeck, Limestone Co., TX. She married Lawrence E. Mullins 11 July 1942 at Houston, Harris Co., TX and had two sons. Lawrence E. Mullins was born at Keystone, WV, and the family lived at Ashtabula, OH.
June Jester was born 14 July 1934 at Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX, married James D. Lindsey on 21 December 1953 at Comanche, Comanche Co., TX, and had three sons. They lived at Grand Prairie, TX.
Julia Ann "Judy" Jester was born 15 August 1936 at Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. She was a school teacher, and never married.
MORE ON JOHN MARTIN and ELIZABETH JANE DICKSON
John Martin Dickson died on 1 March 1908 at Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX, and is buried at the Hanna Cemetery, in Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX. His tombstone gives his date of birth as 22 March 1844 (which is believed to be incorrect), and contains the inscription "A PRECIOUS ONE FROM US HAS GONE, A VOICE WE LOVE IS STILLED, A PLACE IS EMPTY IN OUR HOME, THAT NEVER WILL BE FILLED." Elizabeth Jane filed for a Texas Confederate Veterans Pension on 31 July 1930, and on 16 April 1952 she entered the Texas Confederate Veterans Home in Austin, TX where she died on 30 July 1952. She was buried next to her husband at the Hanna Cemetery, Cherokee, San Saba Co., TX by the Howell-Doran Funeral Home. Also buried in the family area in this cemetery, are Ben F. and Lula E. Dickson Harkey, as well as two of their children Florese Harkey Blossman and Martin E. Harkey.
John Martin Dickson was known as "Mart" Dickson. It is said that he had the unusual habit of putting his hat on for going to the dinner table rather than taking his hat off!
©Ron Brothers and Roy S. Dickson, 1999, All Rights Reserved.
May 25, 1999
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