History of the Restoration Movement


Elijah W. Dickinson

1835-1925

The Life of Elijah W. Dickinson

E. W. Dickinson was born in Christian county, Kentucky, July 18, 1835. His parents, Elijah and Mary A. Dickinson, and family moved to Illinois the following October and settled on a farm, now owned by R. B. Dickinson, about two miles south of where Eureka is now situated. Here the subject of this sketch spent his youth and early manhood, working on the farm during the farming season and attending school in the winter time. He commenced his career as a teacher, by teaching a district school in White Oak Grove during the winter of 1855 and '56. The next September he entered Eureka College as a student and continued there until he graduated in 1860. For several years following this, most of the time was spent either in farming or in teaching, the greater part of the latter being done in or near Eureka, having taught years in the public schools of the village and two years in Eureka College as Professor of Mathematics. In the War of the Rebellion he served as First Lieutenant of Co. C, 139th Reg. 111. Vol. Infantry. On the 5th day of September, 1861, he married Miss Anna M. Dennis, with whom he lived happily until she died, March 8, 1889.

Mr. Dickinson is now a citizen of Eureka, Illinois, and takes a lively interest in all affairs pertaining to religion, education and politics.

-History Of Eureka College, 1894, pages 183,184

First Graduate Of Eureka College

E. W. Dickinson, a young man of exemplary habits, was the first graduate of the college. Having completed the prescribed course of studies, the Trustees, upon the recommendation of the Faculty, conferred on him the degree of A. B. at their annual meeting in 1860.

-History Of Eureka College, p.58

Directions to the Grave Of Elijah W. Dickinson

Elijah W. Dickinson was born July 18, 1835 and died December 28, 1920 at eighty-five years of age. He was the first graduate of Eureka College in 1860. His father, Elijah Dickinson, was the president of the Board of Trustees for the college for ten years. Elijah W. is buried with his family in the Olio Township Cemetery, also known as Eureka Cemetery in Eureka, Illinois. The city is located just east of Peoria on Hwy. 24. In the town center turn right on Hwy. 117. and go past Eureka College, and you will see the cemetery on the left. This cemetery was at one time the old Eureka Christian Church Cemetery. The building has long been gone. Enter into the main entrance of the cemetery and take the second drive to the left. Go to the top of the section, just before the north gate and stop the car. Go into the section to the left. The Elijah W. Dickinson is easily recognized.

GPS Location
40.711849,-89.271868
Grave Facing West
Location in Cemetery: Div A Section C Lot 4 Grave 2


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Anna Dennis Dickinson
1836-1889


Elijah W. Dickinson
1835-1920

Special Thanks

In June, 2009 Tom L. Childers, C. Wayne Kilpatrick and Scott Harp traveled about 3000 miles in one week through parts of Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. During this time we found the graves of 75 church leaders in the Restoration Movement. Chronicling these leaders into websites has been time consuming. Many thanks to Tom and Wayne in helping to take photos, share the driving, and putting up with your web master's slave-driving effort to see as many as we did in the time we had. Their photos as well as some of mine are seen on this site. When we arrived at Olio Twp Cemetery, it was late in the evening, and a summer storm was on its way. I had called Rosemary Hartter, the manager of the cemetery, weeks in advance to gather information. When we arrived on Saturday evening, I called her and she was most gracious to come to the cemetery after hours to assist us in finding all the graves. She and the staff at the cemetery have been most gracious to help, and for this we say a special thanks to them.

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