Dickinson, Elijah W.

Born: 1835-07-18 Christian County, Kentucky

Died: 1920-12-27 Eureka, Illinois

Flourished: 1835 to 1920 Woodford County, Illinois

Elijah W. Dickinson, educator and farmer, settled in Woodford County with his family as an infant. In his youth he worked on the family farm and received an education in the local schools. In the winter of 1855-1856 he worked as a teacher, then in the autumn of 1856 he enrolled at Eureka College where in 1860 he was the first graduating student. After completing his education, he worked in farming and taught in schools in and around Eureka, as well as serving for two years as professor of mathematics at Eureka College. During the Civil War, Dickinson enlisted as a first lieutenant in Company C of the 139th Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served an hundred day term from June through October 1864. Dickinson married twice and was survived by an adopted son. He was a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and in politics he was a Republican.

A History of Eureka College with Biographical Sketches and Reminiscences (St. Louis: Christian, 1894), 58, 123, 183-84, 296; The Past and Present of Woodford County, Illinois (Chicago: Wm. Le Baron Jr., 1878), 598; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Woodford County, IL, 493; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Woodford County, IL, 185; Illinois, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900, 5 September 1861, Woodford County (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, 2005); Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; The Metamora Herald (IL), 31 December 1920, 1:4; Gravestone, Olio Township Cemetery, Eureka, IL.