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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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SAMUEL H. DICKINSON, a highly respected citizen of Hatfield, Hampshire County, Mass., was born in this town, January 28, 1816, son of Solomon and Hannah (Huntington) Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson’s grandfather, Daniel Dickinson, a native and lifelong resident of Hatfield, was an extensive real estate owner and a prosperous and influential citizen. He died at the age of eighty years. He married Lois Dickinson; and she became the mother of five children: Nancy, Rebecca, Daniel, Solomon, and Lois. The mother died at the advanced age of ninety-one years.

Solomon Dickinson was born in a substantial old house which had been fortified and used as a stronghold during the Indian wars, and of which he at length came into possession, later building the new one in which his son Samuel H. was born. Throughout his active life he was energetically and successfully engaged in general farming, making a specialty of stock-raising. He was first a Federalist and then a Whig in politics, and was a Methodist in religion. Solomon Dickinson died in Hatfield, aged seventy-six years. His wife, Hannah T. Huntington, was a daughter of Samuel Huntington, of Norwich, Conn. They reared four children, as follows: Abbie; Samuel H., the subject of this sketch; Philura T., who married G. W. Hubbard; and Harriet, who married D. F. Wells. Mrs. Hannah T. Dickinson died at the age of sixty-eight years.

Samuel H. Dickinson was educated in the schools of Hatfield and at the Greenfield Academy. He resided with his parents as long as they lived, assisting his father in conducting the farm, and eventually succeeded to the possession of the homestead. He afterward purchased the Wells place, the house on which was erected by Dr. Peck in 1840, and has since become the owner of other valuable real estate, including some tenement-houses. Mr. Dickinson is known as one of Hatfield’s most able and successful business men. Although he has now retired from active pursuits, he attends to his investment interests, and, being possessed of a robust constitution, enjoys perfect health. He is unmarried.

Desirous of conferring on his native town a substantial and permanent benefit, and of leaving behind him a lasting remembrance of his father and himself, a few years since, with considerate generosity, he devoted the sum of twelve thousand two hundred dollars to the erection in Hatfield of a library building. The work was begun in 1892, and Memorial Hall was dedicated in 1894. It is a handsome and substantial structure, two stories high, built of brick and terra-cotta, and is fire-proof. The first floor contains a spacious hall, a room for mementos and relics, and the town clerk’s office; while the upper floor is devoted exclusively to the public library, the whole interior being finished in oak. The gift is highly appreciated by the people of Hatfield, who are not chary of gratitude to the kind-hearted donor.

Mr. Dickinson is a strong supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He attends the Congregational church. We are happy to present herewith an excellent portrait of this philanthropic citizen.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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