Tracks In The Snow

-Obituary of Charles W. Dickinson, father of Merle E. Dickinson-
Charles W. Dickinson, True Son
Of Pioneers And Typical American

Charles Wilson Dickinson was born November 10, 1842 in a small log house near the headwaters of Potato Creek, when that land was virtually a wilderness, with neighbors at rare intervals. He was of the pioneer stock which had come from New Hampshire and New Jersey, in wagons drawn by oxen, to wrest a home from that wild region. He was one of six children born to Edward H. and Roxie Comes Dickinson. The mother went to an early grave. The father was ore than busy eking a living out of this wild country for his family of small children, so no wonder this boy, endowed with a great love of nature, spent every spare moment deep in animal, bird, tree and leaf lore. Much of the supply of meat in those days came form the wild game of the forests. These hunting and fishing expeditions gave him ample opportunity for extensive study and observation of old Mother Nature’s aims and productions. Each breath of the forests, each rustle of branch or leaf bore its message, which his trained eye and ear were able to read and his active mind, seemed to be able to sort and file at once in its respective place and seemed ever to hold hat it had garnered. Many is the time he lay down in the deep forest wherever night overtook him, with leaves or boughs for a bed, his coat for a pillow and the sky for his canopy, secure in the belief that the wild animals were more curious than dangerous.So it is no wonder that Col. Henry Shoemaker, at one time connected with the Altoona Tribune, now a member of the Forestry Commission, at Harrisburg, credited him with being among the foremost men of authority on tree and animal life. Col. Shoemaker’s book, “Wolf Days in Pennsylvania,” is dedicated to Mr. Dickinson, and the Altoona Tribune has published many of his articles, especially on the wild pigeon, its life, nesting, and migratory habits. When a young man he captured several young wolves alive. He was of kindly genial nature, which won him many friends, while his honesty and integrity won respect form all who knew him. No time ever found him too tired or too busy to help a neighbor, where help was needed, whether it was at his daily task or beside a bed of sickness or through the long night vigil with death. In 1860, when Abraham Lincoln issued his first call for volunteers, “Charlie Dick,” was a lad of 18 years. In less than two weeks time he marched to Sinnemahoning with those famous Bucktails, in a command of General Evean O’Neill Kane. Here they rafted down the Susquehanna river. He was discharged from Company I of this regiment on account of ill health. The Bucktails saw service in many battle of the Civil War, and many of its members sleep on Southern battle fields. Mr. Dickinson was the last living member of this regiment, which won so much fame for daring and bravery. On November 18, 1873, he was united in marriage to Estella P. Dennison, who preceded him to the grave 16 years ago. To this union were born six children – C. Burdette, Louise H. and Merle E. Dickinson, of this place; Mrs. Lena Hyde of Buffalo, N.Y.; Mrs. Carrie Marks of Concord, Mass., and Edward H., who died in infancy.He moved to this borough in 1898 where he was employed by the Camp Glass Co., until he was unable to work. Who years ago a fractured knee cap, caused by falling, confined him to his bd. He spent several months in the Bradford Hospital, where he was enabled to be about in a wheel chair. Then he was brought to the home of gis son, Merle Dickinson, of Willow Street this borough, where he died January 11, 1927, of an ailment brought on by hardening of the arteries, due to old age. Rev. W. E. VanDyke read the Episcopal funeral service and the Bucktail Post of the American Legion acted as pall bearers and guard, conducting a military funeral. He was laid to rest in Rose Hill cemetery beside Mrs. Dickinson.