Biographical sketch extracted from:
Biographical and historical record of
Adams and
Wells counties,
Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. p. 701.
GEORGE F. DICKASON, farmer,
Nottingham Township, was born in
Clarke County,
Ohio, April 11, 1831, son of John W. and Nancy (Stanley)
Dickason. He lived in his native county until he was seventeen years of age, following farming principally. In 1848 the family removed to
Nottingham Township, this county, where the father purchased a farm not far from where he now resides. The mother died in this county March 25, 1881. George F. made his home with his parents until his marriage, although he worked out by the month on the farm. In 1856 he had accumulated enough to buy eighty acres of land where he now resides. This land was at that time covered with a heavy growth of timber, and an ax had never marred one of the trees. The roads that now pass by his house on the north and east had been blazed when the township was surveyed, but nothing had been done toward making roads for travel. His first work was to clear out some of the brush on the line of the road, to pay his road tax. Mr. Dickason has cleared fully sixty acres of his land almost entirely with his own hands. March 26, 1857, he was married to Miss Caroline
Houdyshell, a native of
Clarke County, and a daughter of George and Susan (
Gentis)
Houdyshell, also natives of
Ohio, the former of
Hocking County, and the latter of
Clarke County. They removed to
Indiana in 1838, landing a mile and three-quarters southwest of Vera
Cruz, this county, and the next day he had to go two and a half miles for water. While he was absent his wife was cooking meat, and five wolves, attracted by the odor of the meat, set up a howl outside which was continued until chased away by the father when he returned with the water. That year Mr. Houdyshell went back to
Springfield,
Ohio, to mill, taking a wagon for transportation. The Indians often came and looked in the windows at night. The father died in this county December 23, 1883, and the mother, July 12, 1881, in
Shawnee County, where they were living at that time. Mr. and Mrs. Dickason were the parents of six children, one, John Franklin, being deceased. Those living are—-Mahala, Eveline, wife of Andrew
Klinger, of Warren,
Huntington County; Aggie C., wife of Henry Klinger; Susan Isadora, wife of Julian Adzett; Mary
Aldine and Hezekiah. Both parents are members of the Protestant Methodist church, and in polities he is a
Greenbacker