Samuel E. Dimmick

Samuel Erskine Dimmick was born on December 24, 1822, and died on October 11, 1875. He was a lawyer in Pennsylvania and was involved in Republican political activities. During his career, he served as the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and held office until his death.

Dimmick was the son of Alpheus Dimmick, a lawyer, judge, and legislator in New York, and Maria Carr. His family lineage includes connections to early American settlers and notable historical figures. His paternal grandfather was Deacon Oliver Dimmick, and his maternal lineage includes Joseph Bradford, a descendant of William Bradford of the Mayflower.

He studied law from 1844 to 1846 under his cousin William Harrison Dimmick. In 1846, he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law. He maintained a partnership with his cousin until William Harrison Dimmick’s death in 1861. During his legal career, Samuel Dimmick was associated with several entities, including acting as attorney for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, the county commissioners, and the Honesdale Bank.

In the political arena, Dimmick was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1860, 1864, and 1868. He also participated in the 1872 Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention as an unaffiliated delegate at large. In January 1873, he resigned from the convention after being appointed as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General. He served in this position until his death in 1875, continuing his work despite experiencing illness.

Dimmick’s family history includes notable relatives involved in politics and public service. His cousin William Harrison Dimmick served as a U.S. Congressman. Several of Alpheus Dimmick’s brothers were lawyers; among their descendants, Milo Melankthon and William Harrison served as U.S. Representatives from Pennsylvania. His maternal grandfather, Joseph Bradford, was connected to the lineage of William Bradford, a Mayflower passenger. The Dimmick family claims descent from the British Dymoke family, known for their hereditary role as King's Champions.

After Samuel Dimmick’s death, his eldest son Walter Erskine married Mary Scott Lord, daughter of the chief engineer of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. Walter died of typhoid three months after marriage. Mary Lord later became the second wife of President Benjamin Harrison. His second son, Joseph Benjamin Dimmick, eventually served as mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

References and external links related to Samuel Erskine Dimmick include historical records of his tombstone and biographical sources.