Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Anna Dickerson- A True Pioneer Woman

For some reason out of all of the ancestors I have researched my ggggrandmother Anna Dickerso fascinates me to most;
She was born in 1818 in Abermarle, VA to Charles and Ellen Dickerson. Her gg grandmother was Mourning Lewis b 1694 in Abermarle, Va a true Colonial woman (who is very popular in family history research).
My research shows that Anna married a Parmenus Jones and had three children. The two youngest children died as young adults. This was the first tragedy she had to bear. She also had a set of twins that did not survive.
The next is when her husband Parmenus died.
She remarried to Paterson Aber and together they had one child. After a few short years of marriage Paterson went to California during the gold rush- he died there in 1850 of cholera. In her 32 years she had given birth to 6 children and lost 4 of them and had buried two husbands.
Her next marriage was to Lodowick Underhill a widower with a son.
This marriage produced three more children.
In 1861 Lodowick and his first son joined the Army and fought in the Civil War- leaving Anna alone with 5 children.
Lodowick was injured in the war and discharged in 1862.
After that her life seemed to be stable for awhile.
My research found that in 1890 the family had moved to ten Mile, Macon Co. Missourri. I am sure the move was made by covered wagon. Anna was now 72 years old.
At some point Anna and the rather large family moved to Chicasaw Nation Indian Territory, Oklahoma as they were there on 1900. I have not found out much information there and do not know why they went there except land was very cheap and possibly her son John W. Aber wanted to go.
Lodowick died there on December 3, 1897 and Anna applied for his Civil War pension. She died there in 1898 at the age of 80 years old.
I am sure that I could not have endured all that she did or moved to Indian territory im my late 70's when the atmosphere in that land was extremely dangerous.
Was she ever frightened in all of her trials and tribulations? I would assume she was but her pioneer strength served her for 80 years. I honor you grandma Anna!
This photo shows her first born child Sareh Ellen Jones Dow ( my gggrandmother sirttin in chair) a true pioneer woman in her own right>

2 comments:

  1. WOW! Anna was incredible! No, modern woman would probably not be able to endure what she and the other pioneer women did! And they did it without all the support we expect nowadays, too! There were no self-help books, counseling groups, etc back then! Just hard work!

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  2. Oh..so interesting!! I read your every word three times, I think. I love family history. I really enjoyed your post.

    Friends,
    Susannah

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