This page is a listing of books that contain content about members of the Dickinson family. When a book includes only a brief mention, that excerpt is noted beneath the book’s title.
I have had the pleasure of meeting or personally communicating with several authors of the books below. Some of these authors are Glenda Farley, William Cowan, Jan Cleere, Wyona Homes Jaffe, and TC Knoble. I appreciate their efforts of including our family members in their writings.
Among the works listed, I recommend beginning with the following three book, whether accessed as eBooks, borrowed from a library, or purchased:
• Pioneer Stories of Arizona’s Verde Valley — See Chapter 7 for a companion to the book Pioneer Stories of Arizona’s Verde Valley.
• Following Their Westward Star — packed with family information
• Arizona Highways: Days of Destiny — William G Dickinson
Pioneer Stories of Arizona’s Verde Valley
Presented by Verde Historical Society ©2019
This remarkable volume documents the lives of Verde Valley pioneers, as told by the settlers themselves and their descendants. Several stories feature members of the Dickinson family, but I encourage you to read the entire book—not just the pages mentioning Dickinsons. Many of the individuals profiled were part of the same 1875 wagon train or became neighbors and in-laws through marriage. Their stories offer valuable context and connections that enrich the Dickinson family narrative.
100 Western Women
by Jan Cleere ©2025
Pages 64-67: the entire chapter.
Amazing Girls of Arizona
by Jan Cleere ©2008
Pages 82-94: Read the entire chapter.
Chapter: The Ride of Her Life, Mildred Back (Fain)
Page 89: Frank Dickinson
An Old‑Timer’s Scrapbook
by Don Willard ©1984
This book is about the Willard family. There is a photo of the EV Dickinson store with post office on page 96.
Arizona Highways: Days of Destiny
by Banks, Smith, Starkey, Stocker, Gehm ©1996
Chapter “Last Manhunt”, Pages 51, is about Sheriff William G Dickinson, Frank Lee’s brother.
A Recommended read.
Arizona Place Names
by Will C. Barnes ©1988
Page: 111 Last sentence, bottom of the page
Post office records at Washington however show that the P.O. was established May 11/ 1887 Samuel C.(Cotton) Dickinson, PM.(Post Master)
Arizona: Prehistoric-Aboriginal V3
Page 450 WG Dickinson
Page 712 Frank L Dickinson
This can be found fee on-line.
Arizona Territory Post Offices & Post Masters
by John and Lillian Theobald ©1961
Page: 93 Samuel C Dickinson, Edward V Dickinson, Frank Dickinson
Arizona, The Youngest State
by McClintock ©1913
Page 450: Discusses William Dickinson is married to Nellie Pattee and that he is the sheriff of Coconino County. That William and Frank Lee are working a cattle ranch together near Flagstaff. A ranch that has one of the oldest registered brands in Yavapai County.
By the Banks of the Beaver Creek
Til Lightbourn & Mary Lyons 2005
Page 7: Florence Dickinson (Florence may not be related)
Page 23: William B Back – sale of ranch containing Montezuma’s well
Page 25: Charles Dickinson
Page 26 & 30: Marjorie Dickinson
Page 31: Margie Ann Dickinson, Mrs Charles Dickinson
Page 31 & 54: Rowena Van Deren [daughter of Charles Dickinson]
Page 54: Bill and Frank Dickinson
Page 86: William Back
Camp Verde: The First 50 Years by T. C. Noble ©2022
Page 110: Sam Dickinson
Page 111: Dickinson and Charley Dickinson
Page 120: Samuel Dickenson (spelling)
Page 199: Frank Dickerson
Page 210: OK Ditch
Chasing Cattle and the Cure: Oral Histories from Yavapai Country, Arizona by Mona Lange McCroskey ©2012
Pages 92: “One of the most beautiful things that Yavapai Cowbells did was to start the Rose Garden at Sharlot Hall Museum. There’s a beautiful garden. I asked that Mildred Fain be represented there. I think that, to a cattlewoman, is one of the greatest honors you can have.”
Page: 300: “Then we moved to Big Park…and there was four families lived in that area. Three of those families are still there: The Dickinsons, The Paces, Doc Lay, and Kel Fox.”
Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Cornville History by AARP ©1984
Page 8: Bill Back and his wife Margie Ann (Dickinson) Back
Page 16: Lon Mason Store. Prior to Lon Mason this store was owned by the Dickinson family.
Page 43: Frank Lee Dickinson buys automobile to start an auto stage service between Cottonwood and Jerome.
Page 48: W G Dickinson was the first Deputy Sheriff assigned to Cottonwood.
Echoes of the Past, Vol. 1: Tales of Old Yavapai in Arizona
by Yavapai Cow Belles
Page 90 – bottom of the page “Bill, Vic and Dutch” Dickinson
Page 132 – 3rd paragraph “Jim Hawkins, who later married Dovie Dickerson, an aunt of Mildred Fain.” [James G Hawkins married Mariaha May Dickinson, who is an aunt of Mildred (Back) Fain.]
Echoes of the Past, Vol. 2: Tales of Old Yavapai
by Yavapai Cow Belles ©1964
Page 233 Millie’s Ride by Johnie Lee Fain - This is the story about Frank L Dickison, $5,000.00 and his niece Millie (Back) Fain.
Experience Jerome and the Verde Valley: Legends and Legacies
by James Bishop ©1990
Page 109: Photo of school children.
Page 113: The Vee Bar Vee Brand and Ranch history
Page: 181 Some information and background on Jim Lowry. Frank Lee Dickinson killed Jim Lowry’s murderer.
Pages: 190-192 The story of Jim Lowry’s murder and Frank Dickinson’s shootout with the murderer.
Page 202: Jesse Goddard. A very good friend of Hulda (Smith) Dickinson-Marshall
Page 204: Frank Goddard. The Goddards were friends of the Dickinsons. Jesse and Frank attended Hulda (Smith) Dickinson-Marshall’s 92nd birthday.
Page: 213 James Hawkins, husband of Mariah May Dickinson.
Page: 215 Photo of James Hawkins
I recommend reading all of chapter 7 for it will give you insight and a sense of life that Frank and William G Dickinson lived.
Following Their Westward Star
by F. Ruth Jordan ©2005
NOTE – THERE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THIS BOOK COPYWRITE 2005. THE PAGE NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT. IF PAGES 12-13 HAVE A MAP THE PAGE NUMBERS BELOW ARE CORRECT.
Page 9: Dora Human married A.G. Dutch Dickinson
Find A Grave shows Dora married Arthur Goff Dickison, not Dickinson.
Page 9: Martha Priscilla (Burford) Dickinson, Rowena (Dickinson) Van Deren, daughter of Charles Dickinson. Mary Rowena (Dickinson) Van Deren married James Godfrey VanDeren.
Mary’s sister Winifred Adeline “Winnie” (Dickinson) VanDeren married Roy Van Deren James’ brother.
Page 11: Martha Priscilla (Burford) Dickinson
Page 11: Uncle Sam Dicksinson – Samuel Cotton Dickinson
Page 14 Map of the wagon train route
Page 14: Jim Hawkins, May (Dickinson), Minnie Hawkins and Charley Hawkins.
Page 14: Martha Priscilla (Burford) Dickinson
Page 14: Grandmother Dickinson [Nancy Jane (Green) Dickinson]
Page 15: Note: Morris Smith referenced on page 15 is not the Morris Smith that is Frank Lee Dickinson’s father in-law. The Morris Smith mentioned on this page was a cousin to Mrs. Bristow. Morris Smith, Frank Lee Dickinson’s father-in-law married Marry Jane Bristow. The Morris Smith family that included Frank Lee’s wife Hulda Susan (Smith) Dickinson came by covered wagon from Missouri in 1887.
Morris Adkins Smith is the father of Maurice Calvin Smith and Hulda Susan (Smith) Dickinson (wife of Frank Lee Dickinson)
Page 16: Martha Priscilla Burford Dickinson
Page 17: Hawkins and Uncle Sam
Page 18: References again the Dickinson and Hawkins.
Page 20: Rowena Van Deren
Page 21: Rowena Van Deren
Page 21: Mrs. Marjorie (Dickinson) Back
Page 21: OK Ditch – Samuel Cotton Dickinson was a member of the OK Ditch company.
Chapter 2 tells the trip from Missouri from the Bristow family perspective and includes several members of the Dickinson family. Remember as you read that the following people are also part of the Dickinson family.
• Rowena Van Deren is the daughter of Charles Dickinson and Martha Priscilla Burford.
• Charles Dickinson is an older half-brother of Frank Lee and WG Dickinson.
• Uncle Sammy Dickinson is Samuel Cotton Dickinson.
• Minnie Hawkins Smith is the daughter of James Hawkins and May (Dickinson) Hawkins, and the granddaughter of Samuel Cotton and Nancy Jane Dickinson. Frank Lee Dickinson was Minnie’s Uncle.
It is recommended that you read the entire chapter. References to members of the Dickinson family can be found on pages… 11, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21
History of Arizona and New Mexico
by Hubert Howe Bancroft ©1962
Page 612 “S. C. Dickenson, a native of N. Y., came to the territory in 1875, and is a farmer at Date Creek, with a wife and several children.”
History of the Cornville Post Office
Compiled by Judith A. Miller February 2012
Contains numerous mentions of family members throughout.
Images of America: Camp Verde
by Steve Ayers and the Camp Verde Historical Society ©2010
Page 23: Dickinson family as a part of the 1875 wagon train.
Page 108: Back Family-owned Montezuma Well. [Marjorie Dickinson]
Page 112: Petroglyph site at the V Bar V Ranch
Page 124: Florence Dickinson. [Not known if she is related]
Images of America: Montezuma Castle National Monument
by Rod Timanus ©2014
Page 98: Back family ownership of Montezuma Well information
Pages 104 & 105: Montezuma Well with Margorie’s husband Bill Back.
Images of America: Sedona by The Sedona Historical Society ©2007
Page 51: Photo; 1909 Roundup mentions the Dickinson family but does not specify who. Best guess is Frank Lee is center, front, no beard. 6th from the left.
Images of America: Verde Valley by William L. Cowan ©2011
Page 6: Betty Dickinson Kent [father is Alf Dickinson]
Page 51: Margorie (Dickinson) Back.
Page 52: Dickinsons
Page 54: Marjorie Dickinson, William “Bill” Berriman Back
Page 55: Photo Bill & Margie Back Montezuma Well and children
Page 58: Photo showing Frank, Bill, Alf and Ed Dickinson
Page 63: Photo of 100 Place (V‑V Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site) once owned by Frank and Bill Dickinson
Page 64: Photo of Millie Fain
Page 67: Samuel and Nancy Dickinson
Page 74: Photo Alf Dickinson
Page 77: Marjorie and Bill Back, photo Samuel and Nancy Dickinson
Jennie’s Journal: 1875—True Story of a Verde Valley Pioneer
by Wyona Homes Jaffe ©2018
William and Harriet Hawkins were members of the 1875 wagon train from Missouri. The same wagon train that the Dickinsons traveled with from Missouri.
Page 11: Dickinsons
Page 14: James Hawkins two children were raised by their grandparents Samuel and Nancy Dickinson. Minnie Hawkins married MC Smith, Hulda (Smith) Dickinson’s brother.
Page 15: Mrs. Charles Dickinson
Page 100: Luranda (Smith) Bristow
Page 101: Mariah May Dickinson
Mountain Town: Flagstaff’s First Century by Jan Platt Cline ©1994
See the book’s index under Dickinson.
The Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site and V‑V Historic Ranch
by Kenneth J. Zoll and Peter J. Pilles, Jr. ©2023
Page 72: 1908 James and Rowena (Dickinson) Van Deren, 1917 William and Frank Dickinson
The Fains of Lonesome Valley by Dean Smith ©1998
Much of this book pertains to descendants of Margorie (Dickinson) Back, and her daughter Mildred (Back) Fain who married Granville “Dan” Fain.
They Came to Jerome by Herbert V. Young ©1972
Page 97: Frank Dickinson claims $2500 reward
They Came to the Mountain: The Story of Flagstaff’s Beginnings
by Platt Cline ©1976
Pages 94 & 95: S. C. Dickinson was appointed the position of judge for a newly formed voting precincts for Oak Creek.
Those Early Days by SW Sedona Westerners ©1975
In the 2008 edition some of the spelling errors are corrected.
Page 41: A.G. (Dutch) Dickison (spelling)
Page 47: W.G. Dickenson (spelling)
Page 54: Ed Dickinson
Page 55 & 56: Frank, Bill (W.G.), Alf & Ed Dickinson
Page 56: Bill Back married Margerie Dickinson
Page 155 &n 156: “Biscuit Bill” Dickinson, Charlie Dickinson, Alf Dickinson, Dutch Dickinson
Page 160: Sheriff Bill Dickinson
Page 168: Alf Dickenson (spelling)
Page 204: Charlie Dickinson
Page 207: Sammy Dickinson, Grandma Dickinson
Those Early Days by SW Sedona Westerners ©2008
Page 45: A.G. (Dutch) Dickinson (Diana feels that this is actually W. G. Dickinson)
Page 52: W.G. Dickinson
Page 60: Ed Dickinson
Page 62: Frank, Bill (W.G.), Alf & Ed Dickinson
Page 62: Bill Back married Margerie Dickinson
Page 170: “Biscuit Bill” Dickinson
Page 171: Charlie Dickinson, Alf Dickinson and Dutch Dickinson
Page 176: Sheriff Bill Dickinson
Page 187: Alf Dickenson photo (spelling)
Page 198: Dickinson (family)
Page 226: Charlie Dickinson
Page 230: Sammy Dickinson, Grandma Dickinson
Page 229 “A Rolling Stone” by Charles Smith