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There are few self-made men deserving of higher commmendation than Mr. Dick. He was thrown upon his own resources early in life, with very limited education; but in meeting him one would hardly suspect this fact, for he is certainly possessed of more than ordinary intelligence, with a fine fund of general information. He might readily pass for a finshed scholar, and is especially expert in mathematics. This education, which he would not exchange for thousands of dollars, was obtained by a course of studies evenings after a hard day's work. There is thus nothing superficial about it, as what he then imbibed he has been able to retain -- inasmuch as that which we labor for arduously, we cannot readily throw aside or part with.
Mr. Dick occupies a well-regulated homestead on section 31, in Ward's Grove Township, embracing 160 acres. In all he is the owner of 270 acres, having thirty in section 29, and eighty acres on section 32 of the same township. He is of Irish birth and parentage, his native place being in County Antrim, Ireland, where he first opened his eyes to the light May 24, 1839. He was reared upon his father's farm, and at an early period in his life was made acquainted with hard work. As a lad he was thoughtful beyon his years, and when reaching the age of fourteen, in 1853, gladly accompanied his father to America. They made their way from Belfast to Liverpool, and at the latter place embarked on a sailing-vessel, "The Constitution, " which, four weeks and one day later, landed them safely at Castle Garden. They sojourned in the metropolis about three weeks, then started for Northern Illinois, settling in Rice Township, this county, where our subject worked by the month on a farm until he was twenty-one. In the spring of 1860 he purchased eighty acres of land in Washington Township, Carroll County. This was raw prairie, and he set about its improvement, breaking the sod and preparing the soil for cultivation. He gradually erected the buildings necessary, was prospered in his labors, and in due time added to his purchase thirty-four acres from E. B. Washburne. In 1865 he began buying grain and stock at Savanna, erected a warehouse, and did an extensive business in this line until 1868. He was then married and turned his attention to farming.
In the fall of the year above mentioned Mr. Dick sold his property in Carroll County, then consisting of 114 acres of improved land, purchased the farm which he now owns, and took possession in the spring of 1870. This was partially improved, butr it was necessary to put up a house and other buildings. He gradually gathered together some of the most improved farm machinery, including Fairbank's Scales, set out forest and fruit trees, and began stock-raising quite extensively. He feeds numbers of cattle each year, graded Short-horns, and about two car loads of swine. He usually keep a dozen head of Norman and Clydesdale horses, and three teams are utilized in the operation of the farm. The farm is watered by two good springs, and includes ten acres of timber.
The marriage of our subject with Mary E. Willson was celebrated near Savanna, Ill., Feb. 6, 1868. Mrs Dick is a very pleasant and attractive lady, and of a good family; her parents were Jacob and Susanna Willson, the father a native of Vermont, and the mother of Southern Illinois. The maternal grandfather, William Lamb, was born in Kentucky whence he emigrated to this county at an early day, and purchased land in Ward's Grove. He improve a farm upon which he labored a number of years, then he retired from active duty and spent his last days with his sons at Hanover. He died in November 1880, and his remains were laid to rest at Morseville. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The father of Mrs. Dick learned the cooper's trade in early manhood, and came to this county during the period of its early settlement. He carried on coopering in Hanover, but died whild while a comparatively young man, Dec. 25, 1854, at the age of thirty-five years. He also belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother survived her husband until March 28, 1886, and died in Mt. Carroll, this State, at the age of fifty-seven years. She was twice married, and by her first husband became the mother of two children -- Mary E. (Mrs. Dick), and Rachel A.; the latter is deceased. Of her second marriage to Mr. Bennett there was also born two daughters -- Laura V. (Mrs. Horn of Chicago), and Ella V. who died whe about fie years old.
Mrs. Mary E. Dick was born in Hanover, this county, Feb. 4, 1851. She received a common school education, and spent her youthfull years under the parental roof. She is the mother of five children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Rachel J. died when seventeen years four months and eightteen days old. The survivors are: Cora E., Olive V., Oscar C., and Joseph R. The Dick family have one of the pleasantest homes in the township, and are looked up to by its people. Our subject, politically, is a stanch Republican, and although he has been solicited to accept office has no ambitions in that direction. In religious matter, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Willow, of which he has been a Trustee for a period of eight years and Steward fourteen years. He has contributed liberally to the support of the society, and assisted materially in the erection of the church edifice. Socially, he belongs to Plum River Lodge No. 554, A. F. & A. M.
The parents of our subject were Campbell and Letitia (McClure) Dick; the father a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and the mother born in County Down, Ireland. The paternal grandfather, Edmundson Dick, owned a farm in his native Ireland hwere he spent his entire life, dying in 1851 at the age of 83 years. He was a stanch Presbyterian of the old schoold, as also was the maternal grandfather, John McClure. The latter also carried on agriculture, and was the possessor of a good property. He was a prominent man in his community, an Elder in the Church, and died in 1850.
The father of our subject was reared on a farm, but when approaching manhood learned the trad of shoemaker, although he never followed it. He received an excellent education, and engaged in farming in his native county until the fall of 1853, when he emigrated to America. Coming directly to this county he located in Rice Township, where he carried on farming until his death in the fall of 1856, at the age of sixty years. The mother spent her last years with her son in Greene County, Iowa, where her death took place June 3, 1888, at the age of seventy-eight years. She was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. The parental household included six children: Mary is married and lives on a farm in Florida; Susan is a resident of Knox County, Neb.; Robert, of our sketch, was the third child; Letitia and Bessie died at ages thirty-eight and thiry-two respectively; Edmundson is farming in Greene County, Iowa.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)
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