A REMARKABLE LIFE ------ THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF JOSEPH DICKSON, FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE ------ Life in the Infant Settlement--Hardships of the Early Pioneers--Indian At- tacks--Boating--A Soldier in the War of 1812--His Sur- render at Last to the Grim Destroyer ------ Joseph Dickson died at his home on North Street, in Meadville, Pa., April 3d, 1888, at the advanced age of 98 years, 1 month and 21 days. Having been a resident of Meadville and vicinity ninty four years, nearly the entire century, and having been intimately acquainted with all the first settlers, it makes his life and recollections of great interest at the present time. He was the father of eight sons and five daughters, twelve of whom lived to manhood and womanhood. The twelve children were alive at the mother's death, which occurred March 27th, 1862. At the time of death he had six children, sixteen grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren; his children--Mrs. E. B. Comstock and Joseph H., of Meadville, Mrs. G. W. Ready, of Painesville, O., and Mary M., Arch, S. and Jane A. Dickson, inmates of the home in which their aged parent for so many years enjoyed the society of young and old. Mr. Dickson united with the Presbyterian church in 1822, and was a ruling elder for fifty-six years. When nearing his 90th birthday it was decided at a church meeting that the event should be duly celebrated at the church. A sketch of his life, prepared and read by Rev. T. D. Logan on that occasion, part of which is here introduced, the information having been obtained from the venerble man's own lips: "Mr. Joseph Dickson came to Meadville at a very early age. With the exception of about a year and a half he had been a resident of this city or its vicinity. Prior to the War of the Revolution the entire region moth of the Ohio River and west of the Allegheny was a disputed territory, claimed by both the French and English; and after the French had been driven out, the occupation was still disputed by the savages. As a consequence of these conflicts, the settlements were few, previous to the last decade of the eighteenth century. About the year 1787 the first settlers found their way to the valley of French creek, of Venango river, as it ought to be called, but did not make any settlement until the following year. Owing to the hostile attitude of the Indians, they were soon compelled to leave, but they returned in 1790, determined to remain at all hazards. For their protection they built a block-house and stockade near the bank of the creek, on land now occupied by James E. McFarland, on Warer street, near the corner of North street. The town was laid out at an early date, and settlers began to arrive; but it was not till after the defeat of the Indians by General Wayne, in 1794, that a peacable settlement was found possible. It was during this period of danger that the father of Mr. Dickson, with his family, came to Meadville. 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