National Society United States Daughters of 1812 Sharon Stanley Wyatt, Arkansas State President National website: http://members.usdaughters1812.org State website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~arsd1812/arkansas1812/ Simon Bradford website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~arda1812/simonbradford1812/ Baseline-Meridian website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~arbmcusd/baselinemeridian1812/ Thomas H. Flippin website: http://rootsweb.ancestry.com/~arsod1812/flippin1812/ April 24, 2016 Ephraim D. Dickson & Daughters Isabella Grave Marker Dedication Arkansas Sheila Beatty, Editor Grave Marker Dedication of Captain Ephraim D. Dickson And Real Daughter Isabella Dickson Wilson Thomas H. Flippin Chapter, Arkansas Thomas Bay Chapter, Texas Mount Comfort Cemetery, Fayetteville, Arkansas 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2016 Ephraim D. Dickson 1787-1852 and his daughter Isabella Dickson Wilson 1829-1857 I bet you didn t know there are two Mount Comfort Roads in Fayetteville. Well, as my traveling companion and I found, there are. And we were not at the right one and were lost. Not to worry we called Prez Sharon and she told us we were on the wrong side of the Interstate. So, a little late, we arrived at Mount Comfort cemetery and found 36 people waiting for us. Most of them direct descendants of Ephraim Dickson. 1
Since Mary Ellen and I had the Flags, Wreaths, Music, Script, Program, etc., they had to wait on us. I quickly put my sash and pins on so we could proceed. The cemetery board gave us permission to use the covered pavilion and their chairs for the dedication. Sharon began the ceremony. I was acting Chaplain. 2
Our Piper started us with the Army song, then after the Pledges, she played God Bless America. The National Anthem is not played well on the Pipes. JoAnnTyler, Band Manager, Ozark Highlanders. Ozark Highlanders Pipe Band is Northwest Arkansas premier pipe band and they are dedicated to preserving and performing the traditional pipe band music of the Scottish Highlands. The band is a wellknown staple of the northwest Arkansas community, appearing regularly at parades, concerts and many special events in the area. The band has received numerous piping awards over the years, both as a group and also as individual players. We were blessed that JoAnn was able to assist us. We and our guests appreciated her! Guests also included members of the Arkansas General Society War of 1812 and Mount Comfort Cemetery Association. 3
Becky gave the biographies of Ephraim and Isabella, followed by a letter from Governor Asa Hutchison. Honorable Lioneld Jordan, Mayor of the City of Fayetteville. He read his proclamation with enthusiasm and gusto befitting a politician. 4
Again, as is her established custom, Sharon recognized Veterans in attendance and they were given a Star Thank You Card and a ribbon lapel pin. 5
Then Sharon recognized all of Becky s hard work with a Certificate of Appreciation to a Texas Daughter who marked the grave of her ancestor buried in Arkansas. And although Isabella Dickson Wilson was not Becky s ancestress, she honored her by marking her grave too as a Real Daughter. Becky was greatly assisted by her husband Jeff and her mother Cathryn, a member of Thomas H. Flippin Chapter. After the ceremony, our Piper led in procession to the burial sites for the unveiling of the markers and ringing of the Bell. The walk to the graves was about one block. Amazing Grace by our Piper was an amazing grace. 6
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At the moment when the graves were unveiled by Becky and Cynthia Jackson Ragan - 3rd greatgranddaughter (Isabella's 2nd great-granddaughter), the ship s bell was rung by descendant Cortney Mayberry - 6th great-granddaughter (Becky's grand-niece) - she is in 7 th grade. 11
Descendants in attendance included: 1. Becky Babbit Feaster - 4th great-granddaughter (through Ephraim's son Joseph Lawrence) and her husband Jeff 2. Cathy Campbell Babbit - 3rd great-granddaughter 3. Theresa Babbit Manlove - 4th great-granddaughter (my sister) and husband Joe 12
4. Debbie Babbit Stephenson - 4th great-granddaughter (my sister) 5. Steve Babbit - 4th great-grandson (my brother) 6. Leigh Babbit Bekebrede - 5th great-granddaughter (my niece) and husband Jason 7. Campbell Bekebrede - 6th great-granddaughter (Becky's grand-niece) -she is 3 years old 8. Libby Feaster McCravy - 5th great-granddaughter (my daughter) and husband Matt 9. James Babbit - 5th great-grandson (my nephew) 10. Cory Mayberry - 5th great-grandson (my nephew) 11. Cortney Mayberry - 6th great-granddaughter (Becky's grand-niece) - she is a middle schooler 12. Jo Lynn Sanders Watson - 4th great-granddaughter (through Ephraim's daughter Mary Catherine) 13. Cynthia Jackson Ragan - 3rd great-granddaughter (Isabella's 2nd great-granddaughter) and husband Dave U.S.D. 1812 Daughters in attendance: Sharon Stanley Wyatt, Arkansas State President and member of John Eliot Chapter; Sheila Beatty, Arkansas State Markers Chair and member of Baseline-Meridian Chapter; Mary Ellen Laursen, Vice President Baseline-Meridian Chair; Cathryn Dickson Babbit, Descendant and member of the Thomas H. Flippin Chapter; Becky Babbit Feaster, Descendant and member of the Thomas Bay Chapter (Texas); and Betty Williams, President of the President George Washington Chapter. A light reception was arranged and hosted by Becky at the adjacent Mount Comfort Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. 13
Program at Graveside - Welcome & Remarks: Sharon Stanley Wyatt, U.S.D. 1812 Arkansas State President - Invocation: Sheila Beatty, U.S.D. 1812 Arkansas Honorary State President - Pledge of Allegiance: All - The American s Creed: All - Preamble to the Constitution: All - God Bless America: JoAnnTyler, Ozark Highlanders - Biography of Ephraim D. Dickson and Isabella Dickson Wilson: Becky Babbit Feaster, 4th Great Grand Daughter of Ephraim Dickson - Reading of Governor Asa Hutchison s Letter: Becky Babbit Feaster - Reading of Proclamation: Honorable Lioneld Jordan, Mayor of the City of Fayetteville - Dedication: Sharon Stanley Wyatt & Sheila Beatty - Closing Remarks: Sharon Stanley Wyatt - Amazing Grace & Procession to Graves - Bell Ringing and Unveiling of Markers: Becky Babbit Feaster - Taps - Benediction (Reception Immediately following) 14
Captain Ephraim D. Dickson Ephraim Davidson Dickson was born in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, on February 1, 1787, the first child of James Dickson and Agnes Nancy Moore. His fraternal grandfather was Revolutionary War Gen. Joseph Dickson and his maternal grandfather was Col. William Moore, also a Revolutionary War soldier. His family moved to Tennessee in the early 1800s. In 1812, he is living in Bedford County, Tennessee. He typically goes by Ephraim D. or his initials, E.D. During the War of 1812, from September 1814 to March 1815, Ephraim served as a Captain in the 1st Regiment (Dyer's) West Tennessee Mounted Gunman. He served as part of Coffee's brigade with Gen. Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans. His brother John served under Ephraim's command. We don't have many specifics about his service, but believe it was best described by his grandfather Dickson when he stated in a letter that "James' sons are both with Jackson and are excellent officers". Ephraim marries Catherine "Caty" Thompson in Sumner County, Tennessee, August 31, 1816. In 1820, they are making their home in Bedford County where my 3rd great-grandfather, Joseph Lawrence Dickson, and two of his siblings, James Azariah, and Mary Catherine are born. He moves the family to Weakley County, Tennessee, where he is a farmer and the local postmaster. Their fourth child, Nancy Sarah Isabella is born here. Caty passes away here at age 36 on September 19, 1834. Ephraim moves his family, along with other Dicksons, and McKissicks and Hendersons, all Tennessee families that had intermarried, to Northwest Arkansas in the mid-1830s. They all settled in Benton and Washington Counties. Ephraim again is a farmer and is appointed the postmaster for Cross Hollow in Benton County. We know he married a second time, due to a reference in his son Joseph's journal, but there is no further information on this Mrs. E.D. Dickson other than she was buried in Cross Hollow about 1843. In 1844, Ephraim is paid for a claim he made to the federal government for shoeing horses of his unit during the War of 1812. The U.S. Treasury pays him $152 for that. In 1845, he is appointed the Register of the State Land Office in Fayetteville, Washington County. Ephraim dies in Fayetteville at the age of 65 on October 25, 1852. He is buried in Mount Comfort Cemetery in Fayetteville alongside his daughter Isabella and son Joseph. Joseph wrote in his journal Mar. 23rd, 1854. Had my father's stone placed over his remains yesterday. The Masonry was rather a poor job, not so good as I contracted for but perhaps I expected too much." I think he would be pleased that today, the stone survives intact. Isabella Dickson Wilson Nancy Sarah Isabella Dickson was the final child born to Ephraim D. Dickson and Catherine "Caty" Thompson, on October 6, 1828, in Weakley County, Tennessee. As mentioned, she moves with her father and siblings, and several extended relatives, to Northwest Arkansas when she is a small child. At some time, she drops the double name of Nancy Sarah and wrote her name as Isabella or Belle. She was married to Alfred McElroy WILSON on May 24, 1849, in Fayetteville. He was 11 years her senior and a successful lawyer and farmer. We know little about her life other than she gives birth to four children with Alfred "Alf" from 1850 to 1857: Robert James, George Ephraim, Joseph Dickson "Joe", and Franklin P. "Frank". Shortly after the birth of her fourth son, Isabella passes away at the age of 28. Here is what her brother Joseph wrote in his journal about that. "Sunday, 9th August 1857. My sister, Isabella Wilson, died this day at 7-1/2 o'clock P.M. of consumption or some disease of the lungs. She was sick three weeks and I believe never uttered a word of complaint and had every attention paid her that could make her comfortable. She was buried at home on the left side of our Father's grave. She leaves four little boys, Robert, George, Joseph and the babe." In the Editor's Note of The Journal of J.L. Dickson, the editor indicates that the grave stones of Ephraim, James L. Wilson (Isabella's father-in-law), and Isabella were removed from the A.M. Wilson property when heirs of Col. Wilson sold the lot on which they were, to Coach Glen Rose. These graves were directly south of the house Mr. Rose built on Vandeventer Avenue, Fayetteville." Though we know little of Isabella, we do know that she has many descendants. Among them were her oldest son, Robert James WILSON, a successful attorney who became the President of the Arkansas State Senate. And another is a grandson, the noted author Charles Morrow WILSON. **************************************************************************************************************** 15
STATE OF ARKANSAS Letter from: ASA HUTCHINSON GOVERNOR April 23, 2016 On behalf of the State of Arkansas, I welcome all those gathered with the Thomas H. Flippin Chapter of the National Society Daughters of 1812 for the grave-marking ceremony to honor Captain Ephraim D. Dickson. This is a day to remember and show appreciation for not only Captain Dickson, but also for many others throughout our great nation's history who fought for our freedoms, worked to build better lives for their families and forged a solid foundation in the early years of our country and our state. Captain Ephraim D. Dickson was a veteran of the War of 1812, a war that was instrumental in solidifying the United States of America as a sovereign nation and securing our independence from Great Britain. Captain Dickson served with Dyer's First Regiment Mounted Gunmen of the West Tennessee Volunteers. After the war ended, Captain Dickson was a pioneer settler in Arkansas, even serving the state as the U.S. Postmaster for Cross Hollow in Benton County. As Americans and Arkansans, it is our privilege to honor Captain Ephraim D. Dickson for his contributions to our state and our country. This newly marked and dedicated gravesite serves as a testament to his legacy of courage. Asa Hutchinson **************************************************************************************************************** City of Fayetteville TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS COME GREETINGS: WHEREAS: The War of 1812, so instrumental in solidifying the United States independence from Great Britain that it is sometimes referred to as the Second War for American Independence; and WHEREAS: The soldiers, citizens and their families who, from the close of the Revolutionary War in 1783 to the close of the War of 1812 in 1815, gave service and made sacrifices to defend and further the liberties previously acquired in the American Revolution; and WHEREAS: Ephraim D. Dickson was a Veteran of the War of 1812 and served as a Captain in Dyer s First Regiment Mounted Gunmen, West Tennessee Volunteers; and WHEREAS: Ephraim D. Dickson was a pioneer settler in Arkansas and he continued to serve his country and Arkansas by accepting the position of U.S. Postmaster for Cross Hollow, Benton County, Arkansas September 29, 1843; and WHEREAS: Mount Comfort Cemetery, Fayetteville, is Ephraim D. Dickson s final resting place; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lioneld Jordan, Mayor of Fayetteville, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the City of Fayetteville, do hereby proclaim April 23, 2016 as CAPTAIN EPHRAIM D. DICKSON REMEMBRANCE DAY IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the City of Fayetteville to be affixed the 22nd day of April, in the year of our Lord 2016. Lioneld Jordan, Mayor **************************************************************************************************************** For those who could not attend due to illness, heavy schedules, broken feet, weather, we missed you and know if you could, you would have attended. It was another great day with perfect weather. Sheila Beatty Arkansas Anchor & Star Editor 16