In calling attention to the gentleman whose name prefaces this record, we find that he is the son of one of the earliest residents of Jo Daviess County and was born in Rice Township, Dec. 25, 1846. The school system of that day was very imperfectly developed and his opportunities for education were therefore limited. Nature, however, has endowed him with a large degree of common sense and the habit of observation, together with those qualities which have made of him an honest man and a good citizen. The fact that he is highly spoken of by his neighbors is sufficient indication of his standing.

The father of our subject was Robert Kirker Dick, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and born near the city of Belfast, where he lived until a youth of eighteen years. He then decided to emigrate to America, and, crossing the Atlantic, settled in Philadel-phia as early as 1828. He sojourned there a period of seven years, was married in the meantime, then decided to seek his fortune in the great West. He first set out to a smelting-camp called Buncomb, in Wisconsin, but shortly afterward came to this county and settled in Rice Township purchasing the land from which he constructed a good homestead. Upon this he spent the remainder of his life, which terminated Dec. 27, 1888, and upon this farm, brought to its present state through the labors of years and the out-lay of thousands of dollars, we find the subject of this notice.

Mrs. Margaret (Marshall) Dick, the mother of our subject was also a native of County Antrim, Ireland, where she lived until she was twenty years of age. She then emigrated to America and, settling in Philadelphia, was married two years later to Robert K. Dick. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living. The eldest daughter, Ann J., is the wife of James R. Spear, a farmer of Hanover Township. John E., married Miss Agnes Hanna, of Jo Daviess County, they now live in Scott County, Kan.; he operates as a lumber and coal-dealer and also owns a farm. Elizabeth L. was first married to James Wilson who died and then she became the wife of James May, a farmer of Hanover Township; William H. married Miss Sarah Barr, of Jo Daviess County, Ill. They now live at Liberty, Gage Co., Neb., where he is engaged in the lumber trade.

The father of our subject, after coming to Galena, was employed in the smelting works until he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, the latter of which he there-after followed until resting from his earthly labors. Robert, Jr., our subject, was married Feb.15, 1877, to Miss Rachel, daughter of John and Mary (Long) Calvert, who was born in Hanover Township, this county, Jan. 3, 1854. She received a very good education, but being in delicate health much of the time, her studies on this account were often inter-rupted. Our subject after his marriage commenced farming in Hanover Township, where he lived three years; then moved to Washington Township, where he carried on farming one year. He next changed his residence to Pawnee County, Neb., where he sojourned three years, then returned to Hanover Township, living there another three years and finally took up his abode once more at the old homestead, which he still occupies. This comprises 400 acres of good land the greater part of which is under a good state of cultivation. Since the death of the father he has purchased the interest of the other heirs and is keeping up the reputation of the estate in a praiseworthy manner.

To Mr. and Mrs. Dick there have been born three children, all daughters: Jessie Abertha, Margaret Ann and Mary Luella. Our subject, politically, is a solid Republican, while he and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the United Presbyterian Church. Quiet and unostentatious in his habits, Mr. Dick cares very little for political preferment, being content to devote his attention to his farming interests and his family.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889), p. 322