from History of Washington County
Joshua Dickerson, Justice of the peace in South Franklin Township, Washington County, Pa., is a prominent, representative and substantial citizen of this section. He is a large land owner, having a valuable farm of 200 acres in South Franklin Township, and a second farm of ninety acres, in Canton Township. He was born in South Franklin Township, January 3, 1845, and is a son of John and Mary (Adams) Dickerson.
John Dickerson, father of Justice Dickerson, was born also in Washington County and was a son of Joshua and Margaret (McPherson) Dickerson, the latter of whom was a daughter of Alexander McPherson, a native of Ireland, who secured the patent from the government for a part of the land which is the family home in South Franklin Township.
The paternal grandfather, Joshua Dickerson, was a prominent man in Washington County, serving in the State Legislature, also as a clerk in the land office, and for a time was county surveyor.
His father was Henry Dickerson, who was the founder of the family in Washington County and in all probability he was a Revolutionary soldier.
The late John Dickerson spent his life in South Franklin Township. His occupation was farming. In politics a Republican, he frequently was elected by that organization to local offices, the duties of which he invariably discharged honestly. He married Mary Adams, who was born in Washington County, and was reared on Brush Run in Hopewell Township. Her parents, Robert Adams and wife, came to this country from England, the voyage in a sailing vessel taking them six weeks. Of his children, one son, Joshua, alone resides in Washington County.
Joshua Dickerson grew to manhood on the old homestead and in the country schools he laid the foundation of an education which subsequent reading, study and experience have contributed to make an unusual one, fitting him for not only the duties of life, but also for honorable public positions.
His two large farms ar devoted to farming and stock raising.
Mr. Dickerson was married (first) to Miss Sarah Chambers, a daughter of the late Judge J. C. Chambers of Amwell Township, who was an associate judge of Washington County, and to that union was born one son, Lewis B., who is a resident of South Franklin Township. Lewis B. Dickerson married Miss Elizabeth Sayers of Canton Township, her parents being natives of England.
Judge Dickerson was married (second) to Miss Nancy J. Pipes, a daughter of Stephen Pipes, of South Franklin Township. They are members of Bethel Presbyterian Church at Van Buren.
