My Genealogy Hound

JAMES M. DIMMICK is a successful farmer residing in Logan township, Franklin county. He is a native of Schuyler county, Ill., and is one of a family of nine children born to Ebenezer and Margaret (Phillips) Dimmick, the former of whom was a New Yorker by birth, and the latter a native of Ohio. The father was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1803. When a young man he moved to Ohio, where he married, and in 1834 went to Illinois, settling in Schuyler county, where he subsequently lived and died. He was a man of diversified pursuits and extensive interests. Starting as a farmer, he became a merchant and in later years officiated as a class leader. He established the town of Pleasant View, in Schuyler county, was the first merchant of the place, and the first postmaster, which office he held from 1861 to 1882. He was always a prominent citizen of his community and a leader in religious matters, having been an active member of the church for sixty-eight years, and his house was always open to the pioneer preacher. He was twice married and the father of nine children — all, however, by the first marriage.

The subject of this notice was reared in his native county, growing up on the farm, and receiving an ordinary common-school education. At the age of eighteen he entered the Union army, enlisting May 24, 1861, in Company G, Sixteenth Illinois volunteer infantry, was ordered at once to the front and served with the armies of the Southwest. He served mostly with the army of the Cumberland, and took part in all the engagements participated in by that army. He served out the term of his enlistment and was mustered out at Chattanooga, Tenn., in May, 1864, when he returned home. By an accident, he received a severe injury to one eye, and was once sick in a hospital, but with these exceptions he came off unscathed, doing a soldier’s duty during his entire term of service. After returning to Illinois he engaged for a few years in farming, and then went to saw-milling, and followed this till 1873, when he moved to Nebraska, and settled in Franklin county, in August, 1873. He filed a homestead claim at that date on the southeast quarter of section 6, township 3, range 14 west. In 1877 he located a timber claim in the same section, making him three hundred and twenty acres. He began with a wagon and team, his household goods, one pig and a few chickens, and, as may well be imagined, he had for the first few years a hard time of it. He lost a few crops in consequence of the grasshopper invasions and drought, but on the whole, did well and has prospered in recent years. He is regarded now as one of the most successful farmers of his township, and the order and neatness of everything on his farm gives evidence of the industry, system and good management that prevail there.

Mr. Dimmick has from the beginning been identified with the best interests of his locality, and has taken an active part in the affairs of his township, he has been township treasurer two terms, and at all times a member of the school board in one capacity or another. He belongs to the Grange and the Alliance and in politics is a republican. He is an active member of the Methodist church and a strong supporter of all church organizations.

He married Annie E. Hamilton, a daughter of James T. and Malinda Hamilton, natives of Virginia and emigrants to Illinois at an early day. Mrs. Dimmick’s parents are still living, being residents of the newly made State of Washington, and Mr. and Mrs. Dimmick have seven children, all girls — Nettie J., Malinda, Margaret, Enola, Emmarette, Theodosia and Mary A.