Descendants of A. B. C. Dickenson
A. B. C. DICKENSON was born May 12, 1817 in Virginia and died February 27, 1893 in the
vacinity of Castalian Springs, Sumner County, TN. He is believed to have been the son of Nancy
Dickenson (born about 1786 in Virginia) and the brother of David W. Dickenson (born about
1808 in Virginia) and Brightberry B. Dickenson (born February 23, 1823 in TN; died June 30,
1891 in TN). He married SUSAN L. PERSLEY before 1847. She was born September 24, 1825
in Tennessee and died December 07, 1905 probably in Sumner County, TN. Both are buried with
Brightberry B. Dickenson in the Dickenson Cemetery, which is located near Castalian Springs in
Sumner County. These are the only 3 headstones visible in the family cemetery, which is enclosed
within an iron fence in a corn field. A. B. C. Dickenson and his family are listed in the 1850 and
1860 Sumner County, TN Census 1850 Census - Sumner County, TN
Children of A. B. C. Dickenson and Susan L. Persely are:
The funeral service for EPHRAIM PERSLEY DICKENSON was held at 2 P.M. on October 27,
1927 at Gallatin Methodist Church; conducted by Rev. H.B. BLUE and Rev. E.N. STEELE;
Pall-bearers were George BROWN, John SWANEY, Rufe REESE, O.C. WHITESIDE, J.W.
MURREY, & Tom BROWN; Honorary pall-bearers were William HAIL, C.A. WHITESIDE,
C.B. BROWN, E. FRANKLIN, M.A. EWING, W.G. SCHAMBERGER. He was buried on
October 27, 1927, at City Cemetary, Gallatin, TN.
Obituary for BLANCHE MALINDA WHITESIDE -- 2/9/1933 Gallatin, TN, (probably in the
Nashville paper)
Obituary for BLANCHE MALINDA WHITESIDE -- (Probably in the Gallatin paper)
NANCY BROWN DICKENSON (daughter of A. B. C. Dickenson and Susan L. Persely) was
born in TN on March 25, 1849 and died on February 10, 1915. Nannie, as she was called,
married JOHN WILLIAM WHITESIDE -- the son of WILLIAM SHELTON WHITESIDE and
SUSAN ELIZABETH PARKER of Sumner County, and the brother of Blanche Malinda
Whiteside -- on January 10, 1872. John was a farmer, teacher, and lumber mill operator. They
had 5 children. Both John and Nancy are buried in Gallatin Cemetery.
Children of Nancy Brown Dickenson and John William Whiteside are:
MINNIE MARGARET DICKENSON (daughter Ephraim Persely Dickenson and Blance Malinda
Whiteside) was born March 13, 1874 in Tennessee, and died June 26, 1968 in Portsmouth,
Virginia. She married EUGENE ST. CLARE HARPER September 22, 1901 in Tennessee, son
of DANIEL J. HARPER and ORIANNA G. CRENSHAW. Eugene was born December 27,
1874 in Sumner County, TN, and died August 31, 1913 in Nashville, TN, from injuries sustained
in an accident. Both Minnie and Eugene are buried at Gallatin Cemetery, Sumner County, TN.
Eugene was a carpenter before marrying, later becoming a collection agent for a Nashville
furniture store. Minnie and Eugene had 5 children, 3 of whom are still living.
Children of Minnie Margaret Dickenson and Eugene St. Clare Harper are:
Mrs. E. P. Dickenson died suddenly Monday morning. She was in her usual health upon her
return from Nashville Sunday evening.
She was the daughter of Wm. S. and Susan Parker Whiteside and was reared near Greenwood,
Tenn. She was 80 years of age. She was married to E. P. Dickenson in 1871 and is survived by
an only daughter, Mrs. Minnie Harper of Nashville; three brothers, Charles, R. M., and O. C.
Whiteside, sister-in-law Mrs. Mollie Whiteside and the following grandchildren: James Harper of
Monroe, La; Mrs. John Lyon of Milwaukee, Wis; Mrs. Blanche Dismukes and Mrs. Sam Wiley
(should have been Negley) of Nashville.
Mrs. Dickenson joined the Methodist church at Bethpage in her young girlhood and was a regular
attendant upon its services when not prevented by illness. She later came to Gallatin and united
with the church at this place.
Services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock by Rev. W. M. Cook, assisted by Rev.
Charles Ramsay and burial in the Gallatin Cemetery. After life's fitful dream she rests beside the
sacred dust of loved ones gone before.
Mrs. Blanche Whiteside Dickerson, wife of the late Mr. E. P. Dickerson, was found dead
at her home on Franklin Street about 7 o'clock A.M., Monday, February 6th, 1933.
Mrs. Dickerson lived alone at her residence. When no lights were observed in her home
early Monday morning, the neighbors made an investigation and found her dead. It is thought
that her death resulted from a hemorrhage of the lungs. She had just returned Sunday from a visit
to her daughter in Nashville and seemingly was in as good health as usual. Her death came as a
great shock to the people of this community.
The deceased was 80 years of age. She was a daughter of William S. and Susan Parker
Whiteside, pioneer citizens of this county, and was born and reared near Greenwood in the tenth
civil district. She married Mr. DIckerson in 1871.
She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Minnie Harper of Nashville; three brothers, R. M.
Whiteside, Charles Whitesides and Olie Whiteside of this county; and four grandchildren, James
Harper of Monroe, La., Mrs. John Lyon of Milwaukee, Wis., Mrs. Blanche Dismukes and Mrs.
Dorothy Negley of Nashville.
Mrs. Dickerson* was a life-long member of the Methodist church, having joined the
Bethpage M. E. church in early life. Later her membership was transferred to Gallatin. She was a
devout Christian, at all times faithful in attendance upon the services of her church.
Funeral services were conducted at the Gallatin Methodist Church at 2 o'clock P.M.,
Tuesday, by Rev. W. M. Cook and Rev. Charles S. Ramsay. The burial followed at the Gallatin
cemetery.