Among the pioneers of Macoupin county whose memory is worthy to be
revered because of their service in subjugating the wilderness and
clearing the way for present civilization was Daniel Dick, who for more
than forty years resided in the county and was well known in
Carlinville, where he made his home for much of that time. A native of
Ash county, North Carolina, he was born September 25, 1800, and was of
Swiss and English lineage. His parents, John and Ann Mary (Donner) Dick,
were also natives of the same state. The family was represented in the
Revolutionary war by the grandfather of our subject. The father, who was
a minister of the Baptist church, removed from North Carolina to
Virginia and thence to Kentucky, later becoming a pioneer of Sangamon
county, Illinois, where he entered land before the city of Springfield
was founded. He died about 1838 at an advanced age and his grave was
made at Thayer in Sangamon county. His widow survived him and was far
advanced in years at the time of her demise, January 16, 1844. They had
six children, Daniel, John, James, George, Mary and Elizabeth.
The grandfather of Daniel Dick was John Dick, Sr., of English descent.
He married a Miss Hendricks, a relative of the Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks,
of Indiana, vice president of the United States during the first
administration of Grover Cleveland. The grandmother of Daniel Dick on
the maternal side came to America from Switzerland and settled in
Virginia. The capitol at Washington now stands on the spot that was
occupied by the Huff orchard owned by the iamily.
Daniel Dick
was three years of age when he left his native state with his parents,
arriving in Simpson county, Kentucky, about 1809. About 1827 he made a
trip to Illinois and later returned to Kentucky and was married in that
state. A month later he and bis bride started for Illinois, becoming
residents of Sangamon county in 1830. He entered land about eighteen
miles south of the present site of Springfield and the town of Thayer is
now located on the old homestead. With characteristic energy he began to
till the soil, breaking the sod and planting the crops and thus
converting his undeveloped claim into a well improved and productive
farm. In 1847 he removed to Macoupin county and bought, entered and
located on land three and a half miles west of Girard, continuing to
reside there until 1853. He then removed to Carlinville, where he
engaged in mercantile business for a short time, and then retired from
business, living upon the income of his investments. It was he who set
aside the plat of ground that is now known as the Dick cemetery, to be
used as a burial place for the dead, giving it to the district in which
it is located.
On April 29, 1830, Mr. Dick was married to Miss
Susan Gates, who was born in Kentucky, September 24, 1812, a daughter of
George and Susan Gates. To this union four daughters were born: Mary A.
J., who married Jacob L. Plain; Permelia, who is now the wife of Charles
A. Walker, of Carlinville; Susan, also of Carlinville; and Lucretia, who
became the wife of Joseph B. Liston, of Carlinville.
Mr. Dick
held various local offices while residing on his farm and was an,
advocate of honest government administered in the interest of the
people. He was a great reader, a student of books and nature and, as he
possessed an analytical mind and a retentative memory, he became
unusually well informed on all general subjects. He was a man of
sterling character and of marked enterprise and was influential in
forwarding many movements for the promotion of the interests of the
community, at all times evincing a spirit of fellowship, generosity and
kindness. He died January 4, 1878, at the age of seventyseven years and
four months, and his departure was the occasion of general regret
wherever he was known. His wife died August 7, 1853, at the age of forty
years and eleven months. She was a member of the Baptist church and
possessed many admirable characteristics. A refined and cultured woman,
a great lover of the beautiful in nature and art, her influence always
being exerted in behalf of the comfort and happiness of those with whom
she was associated. The family has long been actively identified with
the upbuilding and development of this section of the state, taking
special interest in educational affairs.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 676-677.
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