William Elmer Dickerson

For many years William Elmer DICKERSON has been prominently identified with the business interests of Tabor, Morris county, New Jersey, as a merchant, and is one of the leading representatives of the town in many respects. The DICKERSON family is one of the pioneer families of Morris county, the earliest members of the family having settled at Mine Hill.

(I) Stephen DICKERSON, his grandfather, owned land at Mount Tabor, and sold this to the Methodist Episcopal Association for camp grounds. He married Nancy SMITH and had children: Hattie, married David LYON; Mary , married Timothy PALMER; Daniel, of further mention; Charles S., married a daughter of Cummings COOPER; Caroline, married Charles YOUNG; Henriette, married (first) Isaac LYON, (second) Benjamin REED, who was chaplain in the Union army during the Civil War; Stephen, who resides in Denville Green; Addie, married Charles MYERS, a contractor and builder, member of the Republican party, for a number of years collector for Rockaway township, and a member of the school board of Denville.

(II) Daniel DICKERSON, son of Stephen and Nancy (SMITH) DICKERSON, was born in Mount Tabor, New Jersey, and is now seventy-six years of age. He was a farmer all his life, and has been located on one farm for a period of forty-eight years. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist church. He married Charity, one daughter of Simeon and Susan CASTERLINE, and half-sister of Augustus and Jennie. The CASTERLINEs are of Revolutionary stock, and members of the family took part in the War of 1812. Children of Mr. and Mrs. DICKERSON: Frank, born March 4, 1867, died at the age of twenty-eight years; Susan, married Hon. Joseph RIGHTER, of Danville; Julia, died in infancy; William Elmer, whose name heads this sketch; Cornelia Grace and Harriette May, unmarried.

(III) William Elmer DICKERSON, was born one mile from Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, May 22, 1871. He attended the public schools near his home, but was obliged to leave these at the age of thirteen years. He has, however, keen powers of observation, and by wisely selected reading in later life as acquired a broad and liberal education. Until he attained his majority he resided on the home farm, assisting his father in the management of affairs, then settled in Mount Tabor, where he engaged in the mercantile business, with which he has since been so successfully identified. During the summer months he employs from ten to twelve men constantly, and in May, 1914, will open another store. Until two years ago he gave his entire attention to the mercantile business, and is now also connected with the timber and saw mill industry. He is a strong supporter of the Republican party, and was elected a freeholder of Denville in November, 1913. He is a member of the Methodist church and of the following organizations: Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Morristown; Royal Arcanum, of Rockaway; Patriotic Order Sons of America, of Denville; Morristown Lodge, No. 188, F. and A. M. Mr. DICKERSON married, November 4, 1897, Ida, daughter of William and Mary Jane (SANDERS) DUNN, the former born March 7, 1843, has been for thirty years superintendent of the Water Works of Morristown, the latter died in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. DICKERSON have two children: Claude, fourteen years, and Ruth, ten years of age, in 1914.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur