Archer A. Dickerson

Parents: William Dickerson and Elizabeth Thorpe.

Archer A. Dickerson was born 16 Sept 1823 in Prince Edward Island, VA. He died 12 Apr 1898 and is buried in the Gaudin Family Cemetery in Dyer County, TN.

In 1849 Arch traveled to Dyer County, Tenn. from Prince Edward County, Virginia, in a wagon train with the family of Michael Olive Branch Gauldin. He married Margareta Gauldin.

Military Service

It is unclear which regiment Arch served in at the beginning of his military career, but the battle of Shiloh was his first battle. He told his grandchildren that he had not had anything to eat during the two days of the battle. As the Confederate Army was withdrawing to Corinth, Miss., he went into a slave cabin and found a piece of moldy cornbread, and ate it. He said that it was the best tasting bread he had ever eaten.

The service records found for A. Dickerson read as follows: In 1863 "Company G. (Russell's 20th Tennessee Cavalry). Enlisted December 1, 1863 in Dyer Co., TN, by Col. Bell for 3 years or the war. Present on roll for Mar/April 1864 as 3rd Corporal. Absent on roll for May/June 1864 as 3rd Corporal, "Absent without leave since May 23, 1864". Family story has it, that to escape, Arch hid in an outhouse, then snuck back home.

For more information please see the Dyer County TN Military Service website.

Margareta A. Gauldin

Parents: Michael Olive Branch Gauldin and Margaret P. Gauldin.

Margareta A. Gauldin was born 16 Sept 1833 in Prince Edward Co., VA. Her family traveled to Dyer County, Tenn. from Prince Edward County, Virginia. She died 1 Mar 1895 and is buried in the Gauldin Family Cemetery in Dyer County, TN.

Archer and Margareta married in 1854.

Children

Elizabeth F. Dickerson
W. W. Dickerson
James Sider Dickerson (1859-1861)
Polk Dickerson
Archer A. Dickerson, Jr.
Cora A. Dickerson

Published Biography

A. Dicksion, citizen and farmer of the Seventh District, was born in Virginia in 1823, and was one of eleven children, six of them now living, the parents being William and Elizabeth Dicksion. William Dicksion, our subject's father, was born in Virginia in 1780, engaged in farming during life, and died in 1848. His mother was also a native of Virginia, a year younger than her husband, and died in 1838. Mr. A. Dicksion was raised and educated in Virginia. In 1854 he married Miss Margaret A., daughter of M. O. B. and Margaret P. Gauldin. Mrs. Dicksion was born in Virginia in 1833. By their marriage they had six children, only three now living: Elizabeth F., wife of Joseph Yates; Archibald and Cora F. In 1849 Mr. Dicksion left Virginia and moved to Dyer County and located just where he now lives. At that time it was a dense forest. He owns 269 acres of land three miles south of Newbern. Mr. Dicksion has always manifested a marked interest in the progress of Dyer County, and is well known all over the county. In politics he is a Democrat, casting his first presidential vote for James Polk, and has been a prominent member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Newbern for thirty years. His wife, himself and children are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, he having joined over thirty years ago.

Sources

1. Goodspeed's History of Tennessee, County History; the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Nashville, TN, 1887
2. Compiled Service Records
3. The Dyer Co. TN page at Rootsweb.com
4. 1860 District 7 Dyer County TN Census, page 118
5. 1870 District 7 Dyer County TN Census, page 6
6. 1880 District 7 Dyer County TN Census, page 23
7. Research by Carl A. Dickerson, Jr.