Leonard M. Dickerson, widely known as a druggist and general merchant
of Brighton, was born in this place January 13, 1863, and is one of its
most enterprising citizens. He is a son of Dr. Jacob T. and Amanda M.
(Loveland) Dickerson, the former of whom was a native of Delaware. The
mother was born in Rhode Island and came to Brighton with her parents in
her girlhood, her father, Leonard Loveland, being one of the early
settlers of Macoupin county. Dr. Jacob T. Dickerson came to Brighton in
1859, while he was still a student of a medical college in Philadelphia,
in which he had spent two terms. He taught school at Bethany during the
summer and fall and then returned to Philadelphia where he completed his
medical course. In the spring of 1860 he began the practice of his
profession at Brighton and became one of the leading physicians and
surgeons of this part of the state. He engaged actively in his
profession for thirty-eight years and died in 1898, in his seventieth
year. In religious faith he was a Methodist and he was one of the
prominent supporters of the church at Brighton. Fraternally he was
identified with the Odd Fellows and held a number of the principal
offices in that organization.
Mr. Dickerson of this sketch
acquired his early education in the public schools of Brighton and later
attended Brighton Academy under Professor Nathaniel Hill, who was for a
number of years a member of the faculty of Dartmouth College. After
completing the course at the academy Mr. Dickerson became a student of
Blackburn University at Carlinville. In 1885 he went to Florida where he
spent several months planting an orange orchard and also looking about
for business opportunities. Not finding any favorable openings, be
returned home and associated with his father in the drug business which
he later had established about 1865. Believing that the field was large
enough for a new business venture, they opened a general mercantile
establishment which is now the leading house of the kind at Brighton.
Mr. Dickerson traveled for four years, from 1892 to 1896, as a
representative of a wholesale grocery concern, but did not relinquish
his interests at Brighton. He has proved one of the reliable men of the
community and the business which he has seen grow from its inception is
now firmly established and yields a handsome annual revenue upon the
capital and labor expended.
On December 15, 1886, Mr. Dickerson
was married to Miss Jeannette Robertson, a native of Jersey county,
Illinois. Two children have been born to this union, one of whom,
Courtney Loveland, survives. Mr. Dickerson has been a close observer and
a practical student of men and affairs, being also a progressive and
wide-awake business man who aims to keep well abreast of the progress
which is a distinguishing characteristic of the twentieth century. He is
a valued member of Hibbard Lodge, No. 249, A. F. & A. M., and Brighton
Lodge, No. 366, I. O. O. F. Possessing a kindly heart and a cordial
manner, he has readily made friends and today is one of the most popular
and respected citizens of Brighton.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 361-362.
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