John C. Dickenson was born in Russell County on either March 15, 1838 (per his death record) or March 10, 1841 (according to his application to the Robert E. Lee Camp Confederate Soldiers' Home and the Tennessee Confederate Soldiers' Home.) His father, John Dickenson, was one of the wealthiest landowners in Russell County, with over $36,000 worth of real estate and $24,000 worth of personal goods in 1860.
John C. enlisted as a private in Company C of the 37th Virginia Infantry on May 10, 1861, probably on his 20th birthday. His obituary states that "...he was the first man to walk out into the streets of Lebanon in 1862 [sic]
when volunteers were called for to join the McElhaney Company, and
enrolled his name..."
Unfortunately for John, as for many southwest Virginia farm boys, he was soon laid low by disease. Few muster roles exist, but John was sick at Monterey, Virginia for July and August of 1861, and was again sick for the musters of January and February 1862.
Regaining his health, John was present for the February 28th to March 30th musters. His status for the May and June 1862 muster is not stated. Since his enlistment was for 12 months, he was discharged in March of 1862. He then enlisted in the 22nd Virginia Cavalry for a three year term.
In late November of 1863, he was shot in the left heel in a skirmish near Johnson City, Tennessee. The ball entered the heel, taking a piece of boot leather with it, and crushed the "oscalsos" [sic, calcaneus] bone, taking half the bone with it. He was furloughed until the end of the war, and walked with crutches for 3 years.
Two attempts were made after the war to alleviate the pain and suffering of the wound. Dr. Tom Kernan and Dr. Malicoat both operated on the heel, while John C. was under the effects of chloroform. One of the operations succeeded in removing a piece of leather that had been in his heel since 1863. The operations were partly successful; John was able to walk without crutches.
John lived and worked with his parents until 1870. In 1871, after the death of his father, he began a lengthy Chancery Court case against his brother James Jackson Dickenson, also a veteran of the 22nd Virginia Cavalry. John C. was contesting their late father's will. In the case John argues that his brother James Jackson exerted improper influence on their father when he was writing his last will and testament, just a few months before he died. Various witnesses, including his mother, brothers and an uncle, testified that bad blood existed between James Jackson and John. C. Dickenson. Brother William P. Dickenson states that he heard "J. J. Dickenson say that he could not live in the house yard or on the place if John C. Dickenson stayed there." The root of the bad blood was apparently "insults and abuse" toward James J. Dickenson and his wife from John C.
However, bad blood apparently existed between John C. and his father as well. John C. was ordered off the farm by his father - "Because he said John C. Dickenson was doing no good there for himself or any other person & he wanted him to go some where and go to work & make something to live upon, and not spunge on him for a livelyhood." His father also stated "John C. Dickenson was so disagreeable that he could not live with him & that he was unwilling to risk himself with him in his old days."
The family feud came to a head (pardon the pun) when John C. Dickenson hit his brother James over the head with a plank in November of 1870. He then called his mother a liar, upon which insult she struck him in the mouth "with her fist." The case dragged on until August 8th, 1873, when the jury found the will was authentic.
The historical record is never quite as detailed as we would hope it
to be. Such is the case in John C. Dickenson's wandering life. We next
find him in Tazewell County in 1877, marrying Lillian Baker on March
15th.
On May 15, 1882 Lillian delivers a still born
child. John and Lillian eventually have three children: Florence (b.
1878), Archibald (b. 1883), and James (b. 1884).
In
February of 1882 the State of Virginia passes a law providing a pension
for disabled Confederate soldiers. John applies in September of 1883.
His application describes the nature of his service and the wound he
received at Carter's Station, Tennessee in either October or November
1863. His application is eventually approved and he receives $60 in
1886.
John finds himself back in court by 1883. He
brings suit against Alexander R. Beavers for conveyance of 300 acres he
had purchased in 1879 but not received.
In 1886 he is
sued by John M. Estill over medical care provided by Estill to Lillian Dickenson, dating back
to 1881, but never paid for. John is mentioned as being "a non-resident
& wholly insolvent". Estill's medical care include two visits for
obstetrics, one on July 28, 1883 and one on September 17, 1884. John
loses the case.
On July 4th, 1887 John is granted a
license to "Peddle goods wears [sic] and Merchandise in the county of
Washington [TN]." John C. continues to make a living as a peddler for
many years.
John's wandering days had begun.
To be continued...
