Edwin Dyson Biographical Review

EDWIN DYSON is the editor and proprietor of the Rushville Times, a weekly paper devoted to the interests of the Democratic party. It is ably edited and well conducted, and reflects great credit upon the management. Mr. Dyson is an American citizen by adoption, his native land being England; he was born in Lancastershire, July 28, 1838, a son of James Dyson, a native of the same country; there the father was reared and married, his wife’s maiden name being Hannah Wilson. He was employed in the cotton mills until 1841, when accompanied by his wife and four children, he emigrated to America; they sailed from Liverpool and landed at the port of New Orleans after a stormy voyage of nearly three months; they continued their journey to Illinois, and located at Rushville, where Mr. Dyson died a few months later. A few years after her husband’s death, Mrs. Dyson married Thomas Hampton, and still lives in Rushville. Edwin Dyson was a child of three years when the family arrived in Schuyler county, Illinois. Here he was reared and educated, and at the age of sixteen years began to learn the printer’s trade. He was first in the office of the Schuyler Democrat, and served there nearly three years; he then worked in Rushville as a journeyman until 1864, when he went to St. Louis; he was in the office of the Republican of that city for four years. At the end of that time he returned to Schuyler county, and purchased the Rushville Times, which he has since edited. He has made the Times one of the leading papers of the military tract, having a circulation far above the average county papers. In connection with the publication of the paper he runs a job printing office which turns out work of a very high class. Mr. Dyson was married in 1861, to Mary F. Irvin, who was born near Danville, Kentucky, and of this union three children have been born; Jennie L., Orean E. and Howard F. Our subject has been prominently identified with the political movements of the Democratic party in this county aside from his editorship of their organ. He has been County Treasurer two terms, and was a member of the Board several years, and has served as a delegate to the various county, district and State conventions. He belongs to Rushville Lodge, No. 9, A.F. & A.M.