Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/186

162 HISTORY OF Although Mr. Edict; at the time of his removal to the set- tlements on the Delaware, was barely, twenty-six years of age, his previous history was woven in the struggles of the Revo- lution, and his character had been stamped by usefulness to his country's cause. He was born of Grerman parents, on German Flats, in the then county of Albany, September 15th, 1763. At the early age of sixteen years, he enlisted in the service of his country in a company of rangers, and served nine months. He then enlisted in the service of the militia of the State of New York for three years, in which he remained until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Ariskany, Stone, Arabia, Johnstown, and East Canada Creek, where the notorious Colonel Butler was killed, and in many other skir- mishes with the Indians and tories. His last expedition was to Oswego, on Lake Ontario, in the dead of winter, in which great numbers of the party died of hunger and cold. He afterward removed fron Chehocton and settled at Deposit, where he lived for more than half a century, until his death. In 1786, Jesse Dickinson came up from Philadelphia to locate himself on a tract of land which he had purchased of Colonel Bradstreet, and which tract contains the present vil- lage of Cannonsville. This tract, as well as much of the adjoining land, was thickly covered by a growth of stately pines. And so captivated was the owner with his new pur- chase, that he conceived the bold project of building a cityy which, in his ideal vision, contained '■^ stately edifices and lofty spires, and which was to immortalize his own name by styling it Dichinson CityJ^ Having become enamored with his new project, he returned to Philadelphia to procure men and building material, which was conveyed to the place of destina- tion in Durham boats. He caused a tract of land of sufficient size to be surveyed and laid off into streets and lots, and im- mediately commenced improvements thereon. He erected a