Levant Benois Dickinson ¹⁰

  General Notes:

"He was married to Miss Mercy M Shepard Mar 28, 1854 and came to Indiana with his wife immediately after their marriage."

  Noted events in his life were:

• Birth, 22 Jun 1830, Oakfield, Genesee Co, NY. l.

• Census: US Federal Census Report, 1850, Oakfield, Genesee Co, NY. ¹³ Levant, age 19, is listed as the oldest child of Ichabod and Harriet Dickinson. Also listed are siblings, Marietta, 14; George, 10; Julia A, 6; Salinda, 3. All are born in NY.
The father is a farmer.

• Marriage Contract, 28 Mar 1854, Genesee Co, NY. ¹⁴

• Burial, Feb 1893, Wolcottville, LaGrange Co, IN.

• Military Service: Volunteer Enlistment, 24 Sep 1864, Kendallville. In. Levant B Dickinson, "born in Genesse (or Genesso Co), NY, aged 34 years, and by occupation a carpenter" enlists "in the Army of the United States of America for a period of one year, unless sooner discharged by proper authority." Actual mustering in was 26 Sep 1864 into the 21st Regiment of Indiana, Capt & Pro Mar, Hiram Iddings, Mustering Officer.

Iddings swears that L.B. Dickinson has been "minutely inspected . . . was entirely sober when enlisted." He is noted to have blue eyes, dark hair, light complexion, and is 5 feel 6 inches high.

By November 18th, Levant is reported in the General Hospital, Devalls Bluff, Ark, with Debility No 27. Note: "Convalescent". He is returned to duty Nov. 22nd.

Additionally this form notes: Hospital number 324, Ward W; married, age 34, residence, LaGrange Co, IN; P.O. address of wife, M.M. Dickinson, Wolcottville, L Co, IN. Also notes: Rank: Bugler, Co O, Regiment 1st Ind Battery. Was admitted from the Field.

From the National Archives, Index of Soldiers:
Levant B Dickinson, Rank: Pvt, 1st Reg't Ind, Heavy Art'y.
Bounty paid: $33 1/3; due $66 2/3

Discharge by reason of General Ord. No 96, Cept of the Gulf, New Orleans, LA, Aug 5, 1865.

Appears on the Muster Roll for Sept 1864 through August 1865. Appear on Muster Out Roll, Baton Roughe, LA, Jan 10, 1866, "Discharged Aug 5, 1865 at New Orleans, LA.

• Death, 11 Feb 1893, Johnson Twsp, LaGrange Co, IN. Levant's death is recorded in the LaGrange Co, IN Death Records

It was know that he was suffering from cancer. From the LaGrange Standard Newspaper, Jan 19, 1893, ""Dr. Broughton called to Cromwell who came to see L B Dickinson who is worse again." and "L.B. Dickinson's ailment is of a cancerous nature and of that form which gives his friends no hope for his recovery."

His obituary from the same source, Vol XXXVI, No 41:
" Sorrowing for the Dead"
Levant B. Dickinson was born in Oak Field, Genesee County, NY, June 22, 1830. He was married to Miss Mercy M. Shepard March 28, 1854, and came to Indiana with his wife immediately after their marriage and united with the Wolcottville Baptist Church shortly after his arrival in which he has retained his membership and was faithful to the cause of Christ until death. He was conscious during all his sickness and often spoke about being ready and willing to go. He died at Cromwell, Indiana February 11, 1893 aged 63 years 7 month 17 days. He enlisted in the First Indiana Heavy Artilery in August 1864, served his time as a good soldier and received an honorable discharge. He was trustee of Johnson Township in 1872, was in company with James Tuck in the drug business for 20 years or more. His remains were brought here on Sunday, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. M. M. Dickinson and his son C. H. Dickinson, his son-in-law Mr. W. E. Yeager and his wife and daughter, Ella, Mr. and Mrs. Buck, Mr. Luke Hill and S. Bunger, all of Cromwell. They arrived at 2:30 p.m. Elder C. H. Blanchard, who had the preparation for the funeral in charge and had the remains taken at once to the Baptist Church to remain until the day of burial. On Monday at one o'clock p.m. the relatives and many friends met at the church to pay their last tribute and respect to one they had held in high esteem. Those who had known Mr. Dickinson for many years and had seen him go out and in the church of his choice and perform the duty of chorister faithfull Sabbath after Sabbath, were sad indeed to see him now for the last time in the same church and near the same pew not as a chorister but, lying silent in a casket and their grief was intensified when Elder Blanchard read his obituary and stated that his oldest daughter \, Mrs. Zina (sic) Roop of Kansas who was so well known here at LaGrange as an estamable woman and successful teacher of music wa not dangerously ill at her home. Elder T. C. Smith present pastor of the Baptist Church preached a very appropriate sermon. Athe the close the pall bearers Henry Paulus, Chark Pierce, A. A. Snider, John Smith, H. L. Taylor and John Hague, bore the casket gently to the hearse. A large concouse of people followed the remains to Woodland Cemetery and saw his remains lowered into the new-made grave, there to rest from toil and care, but his kind deeds will ever be remembered by his family and friends."

In a late issue: "Mrs. M. Dickinson, who has been stopping with friends in this place since the burial of her husband returned to her home in Cromwell on Monday."

Levant married Mercy Muriel SHEPARD, daughter of Dr. Guy Benjamin Shepard and Nancy Phelps, on 28 Mar 1854 in Albany, Genesee Co, NY. (Mercy Muriel SHEPARD was born in 1860 in Wolcottville, LaGrange Co, IN, died on 31 Oct 1918 in Prescott, Nevada Co, AR and was buried in Nov 1918.)