Dr. David Dickson: Lt. Governor, from Anderson
by Betty Dunn
Dr. David Catchings Dickson was a Mississippian who became a Texas patriot from the 1840s until he fell dead in the Grimes County courthouse at Anderson on June 5th, 1880. During those years, while making his home in Anderson, Dr. Dickson served Texas in many capacities, most prevalent as Lieutenant-Governor from 1853 to 1855 with Governor Elisha M. Pease. In 1855 he ran for Governor against Pease with backing of the “Know Nothing Party”, losing by reportedly ‘one’ vote.
In 1859 he returned to the House as a Representative for the Eighth Texas Legislature. Previous to his term as Lieutenant-Governor, Dr. Dickson had served the Texas House of Representative in the 1st, 3rd, and
4thLegislatures. He was elected Speaker of the House in the 4th Legislature vowing to focus on debt reduction.
Earlier, Dr. Dickson had become a personal friend of General Sam Houston as is so stated in “The Saga of Anderson” and listed in Sam Houston’s Hearne Collection in the Center of American History at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Dickson’s personal papers are said to be preserved at the Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas, and Austin.
During the Civil War, Dr. Dickson served with the Confederate Texas Militia as an officer and surgeon.
Dr. Dickson was born February 25, 1818 in Pike County, Mississippi, the son of a physician, Dr. William Dickson. He followed his father into the profession also studying at the Lexington Medical College at Lexington, Kentucky. In 1841, with his wife Nancy Ann E. Magee, he moved with a large group of
settlers to Anderson, Texas.
Dr. Dickson is buried in the Dickson Family cemetery on the land he once owned at Anderson. The property is now privately owned.
Betty Dunn may be reached at bdunn@mssblue.net
Dr. David Catchings Dickson was a Mississippian who became a Texas patriot from the 1840s until he fell dead in the Grimes County courthouse at Anderson on June 5th, 1880. During those years, while making his home in Anderson, Dr. Dickson served Texas in many capacities, most prevalent as Lieutenant-Governor from 1853 to 1855 with Governor Elisha M. Pease. In 1855 he ran for Governor against Pease with backing of the “Know Nothing Party”, losing by reportedly ‘one’ vote.
In 1859 he returned to the House as a Representative for the Eighth Texas Legislature. Previous to his term as Lieutenant-Governor, Dr. Dickson had served the Texas House of Representative in the 1st, 3rd, and
4thLegislatures. He was elected Speaker of the House in the 4th Legislature vowing to focus on debt reduction.
Earlier, Dr. Dickson had become a personal friend of General Sam Houston as is so stated in “The Saga of Anderson” and listed in Sam Houston’s Hearne Collection in the Center of American History at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Dickson’s personal papers are said to be preserved at the Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas, and Austin.
During the Civil War, Dr. Dickson served with the Confederate Texas Militia as an officer and surgeon.
Dr. Dickson was born February 25, 1818 in Pike County, Mississippi, the son of a physician, Dr. William Dickson. He followed his father into the profession also studying at the Lexington Medical College at Lexington, Kentucky. In 1841, with his wife Nancy Ann E. Magee, he moved with a large group of
settlers to Anderson, Texas.
Dr. Dickson is buried in the Dickson Family cemetery on the land he once owned at Anderson. The property is now privately owned.
Betty Dunn may be reached at bdunn@mssblue.net