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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Abijah Axel Dickey.

Abijah Axel Dickey, a well known farmer and stock-raiser living on section 30, Jefferson township, was born November 14, 1863, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, a son of George and Rebecca (Stevens) Dickey, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state and were of Pennsylvania-Dutch and Irish descent.  The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming and in the year 1866 removed westward to Cedar county, Iowa, where he continued in the same business, there remaining until his death, which occurred in 1893.  For a considerable period he had survived his wife, who passed away in 1877.

Abijah A. Dickey, whose name introduces this review, acquired his education in the common schools of Cedar county, having been but three years of age at the time of the arrival of the family in this state.  He was a youth of but fourteen years when he began working for his brother Ira.  Up to the time of his mother's death he had assisted in the work of the home farm and had attended the district schools through the winter months.  In 1880 he came to Adair county and settled in Walnut township, where he was employed at farm labor until 1892.  He then married and began farming on his own account, first renting the land upon which he now resides.  After a year he removed to Walnut township, where he cultivated a rented farm.  In 1905, however, he purchased his present place on section 30, Jefferson township, and has since occupied it.  He now owns and cultivates eighty acres, the place being a well developed and well improved farm.  He raises corn, wheat and other cereals and with the help of his sons is also engaged in stock-raising.  When he purchased this place there were no improvements upon the land, but in 1905 he erected his residence and has since added other improvements at various times.  In 1913 he built a large horse barn and he raises high grades of horses, cattle and hogs, feeding all of his crops to is stock.  His entire time is devoted to his farming interests and his success is the result of his close application and indefatigable energy.

On the 23d of January, 1892, at Stuart, Iowa, Mr. Dickey was united in marriage to Miss Louise McDaniels, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Father Foley, pastor of the Roman Catholic church at that place.  She was a native of this county and a daughter of George and Margaret McDaniels, passing away in their home in Jefferson township on the 17th of March, 1905.  George McDaniels was for years successfully engaged in farming in Jefferson township, where he died, but his widow survives and now makes her home in Greenfield.  To Mr. and Mrs. Dickey were born four children, as follows:  John, whose birth occurred on the 15th of August, 1894;  Esther, born April 2, 1897;  Frances, whose natal day was November 6, 1900;  and Josephine, who was born January 23, 1903, and is now a student in district school No. 9 of Jefferson township.  All of the children are still at home.

In his political views Mr. Dickey is an earnest republican and has filled the office of road supervisor but he is not ambitious to hold political positions, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs.  Starting out for himself at the early age of fourteen years, he has since depended upon his own resources and from the beginning he has realized that industry is the safest foundation upon which to build prosperity.

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