The Republican journal., 1909-08-19
THE DICKEY FAMILY OF CANAAN.

SKOWHEGAN, Me-, August 10. 1.-The
only difference between me and John D.
Rockefeller is that John D. Rockefeller
has all the money and | have all the
babies, said Charles L. Dickey of Cana
an, who is rejoicing over the birth of his
21st baby.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickey live on a farm
on a cross-road in Canaan with Is of
their q children. They are prosperous,
and their crops average with any in the
town.
Don't you find so many children hard
to bring up?' a reporter for the Globe
asked Mr.. Dickey.
Yes" reluctantly answered Mr..
Dickey. "but believe God is using Mrs.
Dickey and myself as examples to the
world in having US raise children that
people may see what God intended every
family to do.
lone man in this world has lot of
money, another man has none. | have a
large family of children, where others
have not even one. Our system of things
is wrong.
"You ask if | find it hard to support
such large family. | shall have to say
yes. 1t is hard, but | enjoy it. l love
children. I not only love my own chill
dren, but like all good boys and girls.
There has never been time when my
children did not have enough to eat.
by the way, Mr. Dickey," asked the
caller, chow much -four does it take each
year to feed your family?''
Fourteen barrels" said Mr.. Dickey.
"How many potatoes?"
"a hundred and fifteen bushels"
How much wood do you burn in a
year,
Twenty three cords of hard wood"
81 tell you," spoke Mr.. Dickey in a
proud way, ''it's quite job to bring up
a large family and bring 'em up right,
but want to tell you right here that |
have always been clear of debt. When
l have bought anything l have paid for
it at the time or else I have gone with
out. l own two farms and don t owe a
dollar in the world. l believe if | had
permitted myself to get behind l never
could have supported this family"
Mr.. Dickey, who is a small man, is
proud of his family. "Not one of the
children has bad habits, ne said ''They
do not use tobacco in any form nor do
they use liquor"
MIR Dickey was asked how Mrs. Dickey
regards so many children He said she
is as proud of them as he is.
The following is list Of the children:
Mrs. Mae Bowman, Canaan; Mrs. Ada
Kicker, Pittsfeld; Arthur Dickey, Santa
Rosa, Calf; Mrs. Maude Chase, Ben
ton; Mrs. Blossom Brooks, Augusta; Miss
Nina Dickey, Portland; Edwin Dickey,
Pittstield; Mrs. Fay Moore, Clinton;
Everett, Merritt, Lena, Margaret,
Charlie Jr., Effie, Mildred, Ivan, Floyd,
Airline, Theodore, Jessie and baby Dickey,
all at home in Canaan.
The Oldest child is 81 years old and the
youngest about two weeks old. The q
children have been born one at time.
None has ever been sick. The youngest
child is daughter. There are Is daugE'
tiers and sons. The Oldest son is a
minister in California. Mrs. Dickey is
AZ years old and Mr. Dickey is 81. They
are the grandparents of seven children,
The town of Canaan has to maintain 6
school in the "Dickey district" SO
called, for the Dickey children, anc
much amusement is derived in hearing
the teacher call the roll. She has beer
known to call the name Dickey Is times
each morning. 1t is usually Dickey at
the head of class and perforce it must
be Dickey at the foot.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dickey have had con-
CALCULATIONS from ex-President Roose.
welt, and there have been people from
many States who have visited the family
Boston Globe.