J.J. Dickinson, as he was known, was born Sep 18, 1829 in Franklin County, Tennessee, and died in the town of Madera. He had suffered a stroke twelve years earlier making him a near-invalid. He was a member of the Dickinson-Gordon Party of California immigrants and the last party to cross the Sierras just ahead of the Donner Party in 1846. They arrived in the midst of the Mexican War, and James joined up with Capt. Weber's San Jose Company of the California Battalion, Weber being the later founder of Stockton. After mining during the Gold Rush, he formed a freighting company to the southern mines and later another freighting company based in Washoe City in Nevada serving Virginia City. In the early 1870s, he operated a sawmill and lumber business in Mariposa County. In 1874, with his former partner from his Washoe County business, William Thurman, he formed the California Lumber Company which created the town of Madera, the terminus of the lumber flume and site of the sawmill. He was Fresno County Supervisor for District 1 for the term of 1885-1886. He was a leading advocate along with his old partner, Thurman, to create Madera County from Fresno County District 1. He got this accomplished through a special election held May 16, 1893. He was buried the day after his death with Masonic rites.
Bio offered by,
Brad Reinhardt
#47216819
J.J. Dickinson, as he was known, was born Sep 18, 1829 in Franklin County, Tennessee, and died in the town of Madera. He had suffered a stroke twelve years earlier making him a near-invalid. He was a member of the Dickinson-Gordon Party of California immigrants and the last party to cross the Sierras just ahead of the Donner Party in 1846. They arrived in the midst of the Mexican War, and James joined up with Capt. Weber's San Jose Company of the California Battalion, Weber being the later founder of Stockton. After mining during the Gold Rush, he formed a freighting company to the southern mines and later another freighting company based in Washoe City in Nevada serving Virginia City. In the early 1870s, he operated a sawmill and lumber business in Mariposa County. In 1874, with his former partner from his Washoe County business, William Thurman, he formed the California Lumber Company which created the town of Madera, the terminus of the lumber flume and site of the sawmill. He was Fresno County Supervisor for District 1 for the term of 1885-1886. He was a leading advocate along with his old partner, Thurman, to create Madera County from Fresno County District 1. He got this accomplished through a special election held May 16, 1893. He was buried the day after his death with Masonic rites.
Bio offered by,
Brad Reinhardt
#47216819
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