from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 664-666
Among the earnest men whose enterprise and depth of character have gained a prominent place in the community and the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens is the honored subject of this sketch. A leading farmer and stock raiser of the township in which he resides and a man of decided views and laudable ambitions, his influence has ever been exerted for the advancement of his kind, and in the vocation to which his energies are devoted he ranks among the representative men of the country.
William S. Dickerson, the son of Ennis and Anna (Ross) Dickerson, was born February 24, 1865, in Marion Township, Hendricks County, Indiana. His father was a native of Virginia, and came to this state with his parents, Andrew R. and Mahila (Dodd) Dickerson, when but a small boy. They settled in Marion Township about three and one-half miles north of New Winchester. Here Andrew R. Dickerson bought a forty-acre farm which had been entered by Paul Faught, and is known as the old Dickerson homestead. Ennis Dickerson was a member of the Friends Church and a farmer in this county until his death, in 1899. He was an invalid most of his life, but in spite of this affliction he was a hard worker and successful in life. His wife, Anna Ross, was a native of Kentucky and came to this county with her parents when she was a small child. She is now seventy-four years of age and is living in Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Ennis Dickerson were the parents of six children: John Calvin, deceased; William S., whose history is herein set forth; Mrs. Eva E. Hadley; James Ora; Frank O. and Ella, who died at the age of eight.
William S. Dickerson spent his boyhood days on the farm, and lived with his parents until he was twelve years of age in Marion Township. They then removed to Center Township, near Mill Creek, where he remained until he was nineteen years of age, returning to care for his grandmother, with whom he lived until his marriage. He moved on his present farm of fifty-three acres in 1905, and ha improved his farm until it presents a very attractive appearance in every way, built fences, put up buildings and a neat country home.
Mr. Dickerson was married January 30, 1887, to Lizzie Faught, the daughter of Henry H. and Martha J. (Armstrong) Faught. Henry H. Faught was born August 23, 1841, in this county, the son of George Washington and Annie Jane (Hayes) Faught. George Faught was reared in this township, being born in 1818, the son of Paul and Elizabeth (Liszt) Faught. Paul Faught was one of the first settlers to enter land in this county. His wife, Elizabeth, died April 26, 1860, and he died one month later, May 26, 1860. Their son, George W., lived and died in the same locality and was a farmer all of his life, dying June 26, 1880. His wife, Annie Jane, died September 4, 1874. Henry H., the son of Mrs. Faught, was married August 27, 1863, to Martha J. Armstrong, the daughter of William and Mary Ann (Ross) Armstrong. William Armstrong was born in 1818 in Shelby County, Kentucky, the son of Levi and Susan (Johnson) Armstrong. Levi was born February 27, 1791, and his wife in 1793. Levi was a son of George, born in 1763, and Sarah Armstrong, born in 1766. The Armstrong family has traced their ancestry back to a much earlier date in the state of New York. They came to Kentucky in wagons and have lived in that state for several generations. William Armstrong grew up in Kentucky and in 1837 married Mary Ann Ross, a native of Kentucky. Soon after marriage they came to Indiana and settled near New Winchester, where they lived and died. His first wife, the mother of Mrs. Faught, died in 1875. In 1876 he married Amanda Harris, and died July 15, 1899, at the age of eighty-one, having spent a very busys and useful life. After Henry H. Faught was married he moved to Edgar County, Illinois, where he remained for five years. He then came back to Marion Township, Hendricks County, and located two miles north of New Winchester on a farm, which belonged to his father. After his father's death, Mr. Faught bought his brother's interest in the farm, thus becoming the owner of one hundred and twenty acres. He lived here the rest of his life, farming and trading in live stock. He was a Mason and both he and his wife were members of the Christian Church, although at the time of their marriage she was a member of the Baptist Church. He died March 30, 1911, after nearly half a century of married life. He was an earnest believer in the faith of the Gospel and his life was one devoted to making friends and keeping them. Three children were botn to Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Faught: George W., a clothing merchant of Indianapolis, who married Mrs. Catherine (Morris) Adams; they have one child, Cecil. Dora May, the deceased wife of John C. Himes of Ladoga. She left one son, Fred C., who was only nine months old at the time of his mother's death. He was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Faught and has been a member of the home ever since. Lizzie Etta is the wife of W.S. Dickerson and has two children, Harry B., born February 8, 1890, and Lester F., born January 26, 1895.
Harry B., the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson, married Kate Christie July 2, 1911, and is a farmer in Putnam County. Lester is still at home with his parents. Mr. Dickerson is a Democrat, but is not active in politics. His wife is a member of the Christian Church at New Winchester, Indiana. Mr. Dickerson is liberal in his view and charitable to the faults of his neighbors. He has advanced ideas on farming and does not hesitate to put them into operation, with the result that he is rightly regarded as one of the representative farmers of this county.