William J. Dickerson, merchant of Waynesboro, Tenn., and a native of the county, was born August 6, 1861, son of James M. and Sarah A. (Arnett) Dickerson, who were born in Wayne County. The father was a successful stock trader and farmer, and resided in the Fifth District. He was a Republican in politics, and during the late war served in the Union Army as major of the Second Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry, and was United States revenue assessor at Columbia, Tenn., for four years after the war. He died June 30, 1878. William J. was reared and educated in the county and followed farming, stock raising and saw-milling in the Fifth District until November, 1885, when he removed to Waynesboro, and engaged in the dry goods and general merchandise business in company with Huckaba Bros., and has remained with them to the present time, contributing largely to the success of this well known firm. April 3, 1884, he married Mary E. Hamm, of Wayne County. They have one child, Bessie C. Mr. Dickerson is a Republican.