"James Dickson was born near Dumfries, Scotland, in 1754. He was married December 12, 1782 to Barbra Brown by Rev. John Ewart. Having taken a lively interest in the struggles of the American colonies for independence, he determined to make his home in the new world. In the fall of 1785 he landed at Philadelphia with his wife and two children. They had been eight weeks on the ocean. Remaining but a short time in Philadelphia, the family went west as far as Pittsburg. It was the intention of Mr. Dickson to take up land at once, but the unsettled state of the frontier made it imprudent to do this, and accordingly he remained in or about Pittsburg for several years. Three children were born while there, and three after their removal to Meadville. In all there was a family of eight children. Joseph Dickson was the fourth child. He was born February 12, 1790, on the south side of the Monongahela river, opposite Pittsburg. The place which was afterwards called Birminghan, is now included in the city limits. The family afterwards removed farther down the river, and lived near the mouth of Saw Mill Run. Mr. Dickson can remember watching his older brother push cakes of ice into this run during a freshet which occurred during the spring of 1794. James Dickson came to Meadville alone early in 1793. It is not known how he made his way hither. He remained all summer and raised some corn and potatoes, either on the Island or on the Vallonia flats. These he stored for the use of his family the next season, and returned in the fall to Pittsburg. Next spring, 1794, as soon as the river was safe for navigation, which was some time in April, the family was placed in a small keel boat, in which they were to ascend the Allegheny, as far as Franklin, and thence by way of French Creek to Meadville. In crossing Pittsburg to take the boat they passed through the woods where now is the most densely populated portion of the city. They brought with them furniture and utensils adapted to frontier life. Among other things there was a hand-mill, which was used for several years by the entire population of Meadville. Mr. Dickson distinctly remembers seeing this mill fastened to a post in from of his father's house, on Water Street. The balance wheel was made heavier by means of four cannon balls placed on opposite sides, and connected by iron rods. After it acquired considerable momentum, the weight of these balls kept the mill in motion without much effort on the part of the grinder. About a bushel of corn could be ground in an hour by a strong man. this mill, or a part of it, is now in possession of A. B. Richmond, Esq. The voyage up the river was long and tiresome, as the boat had to be poled by men the entire distance. When they reached a point near the present town of Parker they met with a serious accident. In polling up through swiftly flowing water, called in river language a riffle, the man at the bow lost his hold, and the boat swung around against a rock, being nearly capsized. The current washed away some of their clothing, provisions and other property. It was with great difficulty that the mother and children were carried to the shore. Owing to the rapid current the men could not stand in the water, till at length one of them secured a foot hold and held the polls as a railing for the others. Mr. Dickson remembers being carried ashore on the back of one of the men, who said to him as he clung about his neck, "if you don't hold on I'll throw you into the river." The family remained on the bank of the river nearly a week before another boat came along, on board of which they were taken. At Franklin they obtained supplies in place of those which had been lost, and during the second week in May they reached their destination. They at once found shelter in the block house. Mr. Dickson's recollection of this block house is that it was a small log structure built square and but one-story high. In 1795 a new block house was constructed of hewn logs, at a short distance from the fort. This building is remembered by many of our older citizens, but it must not be confounded with the first block house. Around this there was a stockade, considerably higher than a man's head, enclosing an area of about half an acre. Within the inclosure General Mead had two log houses under the same roof, with a covered passage between them. The Dickson family remained in the block house all that summer. Transcribed from the Centennial Edition of the Daily Tribune-Republican of Saturday morning, May 12th, 1888 p. 91 thru 96 Tribune Publishing Company, Printers, Publishers, and Binders Meadville, Pennsylvania Sandy Roche Schroeder (SamiWV) slschroe@intrepid.net Volunteer for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnraogk/index.htm