W. G. Dickey Biography
NAME:
W.
G. DICKEY
SOURCE:
History
of Harrison County Iowa by Hon. Charles W. Hunt, Logan; 1915; B.F. Bowen &
Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana; page 976-77.
W. G. DICKEY was born in Delaware County, Iowa, on October 11, 1870, the son of
W. G. and Hattie (Sherman) Dickey, the former a native of New York, the latter a
native of Ohio. W. G. Dickey, Sr., was a farmer, lumberman and stockman who came
to Iowa in 1859, locating in Dickeyville, Delaware County, Iowa, which
town was named after the family since several persons of this name had settled
there. W. G. Dickey, Sr., was a Republican in politics and was appointed
postmaster at Hazel Green, the post office at Dickeyville. Hazel Green was
a small village and here Mr. Dickey died in 1899. His wife was born in 1833, and
is still living, making her home with her son, W. G. Dickey. He is the
only child born to his parents. His father and mother, however, adopted a
little girl, Katie, who is now deceased. W. G. Dickey received his early
education in the home schools and in the high school at Maxwell, Iowa, afterward
becoming a student in Drake University at Des Moines. After leaving school, he
spent one year in the show business as an advance agent, after which he was
connected with the St. Paul & Kansas CityGrain Company, operating a station
for a period of one year. Subsequently, Mr. Dickey became an agent of the
Terry Shows, being a No. 2 agent for two years with an Uncle Tom’s Cabin
company. He then became general agent for the Terry Shows and served in
this capacity until 1903, when he became a partner in the business, the firm
being known as Dickey & Terry. Another company which produced “Ten Nights
in a Barroom” was organized, and this company was called Dickey, Jones &
Terry. Uncle Tom’s Cabin has been produced continuously for twenty-six years.
The show was organized, originally, by people who lived at Little Sioux
– O. Q. Setchell and Fred Terry, who were brothers-in-law. The show was first
produced at Lexington, Illinois, February 19,1890. The winter quarters are
at Little Sioux, Iowa. It is a tent show in the summer and exhibits at all
towns through the winter. W. G. Dickey was married first to ELIZABETH CLAUSEN,
and to this union one child was born, Gwendoline, who is the wife of C. M.
Mason, of Cambridge, Iowa. Mr. Dickey was married the second time to Mrs.
CORINNE CHUNN. As one of the unique figures in the life of Harrison County, and
as one who has attained a unique success, W. G. Dickey is a man who is eminently
entitled to representation in the annals of his county. He has become well
known through his association with shows bearing his name, but aside from his
professional reputation, he is a wide-awake citizen, a keen student of human
nature, who has experienced phases of life that fall within the range of few
men’s careers.(end)
Submitted by Mona
Sarratt Knight on January 6, 2002.