Life sketch of James Dickinson
James Dickinson was born October 12, 1827 and christened November 11, 1827 in Upholland, Lancashire, England. (Christening information taken from the Upholland parish records, other records show his birth year as 1828)
His parents are John Dickinson and Mary Hampson. Upholland was in Wigan parish at the time of his birth. His father, John Dickinson, died when James was a young boy. James became an apprentice as a wheelwright. The trade of a wheelwright is that of making wheels and wheeled carriages. James had two brothers, Richard and Robert. He also had a sister named Ann. Ann married David Sudworth and they had four children
James' mother, Mary Hampson, his sister and brother in-law and his brother, Robert, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1848. They decide to go to be with the other saints in America. Ann and David's little girl died in May 1850. She was four years old. In September 1850, Mary Hampson Dickinson, Robert Dickinson, Ann and David Sudworth and their three children boarded the ship "North Atlantic." The next day James decided to go with them although he had not joined the Church. The passenger list is as follows: James Dickinson, Wheelwright, Age 23, Robert Dickinson, Age 17, Mary Dickinson, Age 53, David Sudworth, Age 38, Ann Sudworth, Age 27, John A Sudworth, Age 6, David Sudworth, Age 2, Mary Sudworth, Age 4 months.They sailed to New Orleans and then traveled to St. Louis. They had to wait for a wagon train to form. James decided to take a job as a teamster to take freight to Utah. His mother wanted him to stay and travel with them. But he went on to Utah. When he returned to St. Louis he was told that his mother, sister, brother-in-law, and their daughter, Mary, had all died from cholera. The two little boys were taken to Utah and raised by their Stoddard friends. His brother, Robert, returned to England. When he told his brother, Richard, what had happened to the family, Richard went to Franklin D. Richards and other missionaries and told them he held them responsible for the death of his family.
James went on to Utah where he later joined the Church. He helped other missionaries establish the "Muddy Mission" in Las Vegas.
James married Sarah Jane Snyder of March 27, 1857. Their first three children were born in Salt Lake City, Their names are Alice Jane, Ellen Amelia and Mariah Delight. Their son James Franklin was born in Santa Clara, Utah. Next Samuel Gideon was born in Salt Lake City. Their next children Luna Elizabeth, Robert Ephraim, and Isaac Hyrum were born in Santa Clara. The next children were born in Panguitch, Utah. They are Permelia Rhoana, Otis Alonzo, Joseph Leland,
Sarah Orilla, Mary Estella and Ezra Hampson.
In 1877, James was put in as one of the First Council by Apostle Erastus Snow, which position he held for twenty years until he died. He helped build three temples.He was a great man of faith and would go anywhere when called on to administer to the sick. He was a honest and industrious man and kind to everyone.
He kept the Word of Wisdom all his life and died as he lived--a faithful Latter-day Saint.
James Dickinson died October 28, 1894 at Panquitch, Garfield, Utah.