Where was Edwin A. Dickson in 1870 and 1880?

[Erato]

Edwin Augustus Dickson's life was an open book except for the critical period covered by the 1870 and 1880 censuses.  Where was he?  He almost certainly was in Massachusetts or Maine but I can't find him.

Edwin was born 2 June 1845 in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, son of Oliver Dickson and Sarah C. Mitchell.  He appears on the 1850 and 1860 censuses with his parents in Massachusetts.  He served in the 56th Massachusetts Infantry in the Civil War.   Edwin married Amelia E. Walker on 14 September 1869 in Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Their son Edwin A. Dickson, Jr. died at or near birth on 23 February 1872 in Somerville.  It is unknown whether Edwin and Amelia had any other children.  Apparently Amelia died too, sometime before 1876 when Edwin married Laura E.  I haven't found any record of Amelia's death or Edwin's second marriage.  According to an online tree, Laura's surname was Simpson and that name is confirmed by the birth of their son Oliver in 1877.

Edwin appears twice on the 1900 census:  1) in Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine, married but living alone; and 2)  in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine living with his wife Laura and children Oliver A. [age 23] and Grace E. [age 16].  He was still in Auburn in 1910 and 1920, living with various family members.  Laura Dickson died in 1922; subsequently, Edwin married again and was in Whitman, Plymouth County, Massachusetts with his third wife Margaret in 1930.  He died before the 1940 census.


birth of Edwin A. Dickson in 1845:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12457-68149-70?cc=1536925

marriage to Amelia E. Walker in 1869:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12584-53982-45?cc=1469062

death of Edwin's son Edwin A. Dickson, Jr. in 1872:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11819-111750-62?cc=1463156

birth of Edwin's son Oliver A. Dickson in 1877:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQD5-WPJ

grave of Laura E. Dickson in 1922:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01e9m/

censuses -  1850, 1860, 1900a, 1900b, 1910, 1920, 1930:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11836-93679-90?cc=1401638
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZHY-3ZH
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12320-113376-8?cc=1325221
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11857-926-95?cc=1325221
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MRSP-5HK
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFZ7-KY8
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQ5K-L58

[hanes teulu]

Find My Past -

Eleventh Census of the United States
Special Schedule
U.S Census Civil War Union Veterans and Widows

Page 1  Dist 67  Enum. Dist 611
House No 3, Family No 3, Edwin A Dickson, Private, Co. B, 56 Mass Inf, enlisted 27 Jan 1864, Disch. 12 July 1865, Length of Service, 1 yr 4mth 15 days

Postal Address West Townsend, Middlesex, Massachussets

No disability recorded

Enumerated June 1890

However, doesn't answer your 1870, 1890 query.

[Michael ONeil]

I had a look at this before and no joy either. Most strange - I can understand maybe being missed on one census but not two. I concur with Massachusetts (certainly for 1870) but can't offer any suggestions for 1880. I did notice on a few records his occupation was a Milkman so I can't imagine him going off the radar like say for example someone who is a sailor. Either that or he had some milk round!

[Erato]

Thanks for finding him in 1890, hanes teulu, and thanks for looking, Michael. 

[shellyesq]

Somerville city directories

1869 Dickson, Edwin A. painter, boards Oliver Dickson's, Webster near Glen

1871 Dickson, Edwin A. painter, home Washington, corner Beacon

1873 Dickson, Edwin A. sewing-machine agent, home School opposite Avon

1874 Dickson, Edwin A., agent, boards 6 Potter's blk, Laurel

1875  Only Dicksons mentioned were John and William E.

1877 & 1883  No Dicksons listed.

1879 & 1881 Only Dickson listed was John

1884 Dickson, Edwin A., cab driver, house 21 Webster
Dickson, Sarah C., widow of Oliver, house 21 Webster

1893, 1895, and 1896 Dickson, Edwin A., painter, home 34 Mt. Pleasant

[shellyesq]

Edwin & family in 1865 Massachusetts state census - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MQC2-5RH

[jorose]

Seeing as the 1877 birth has mother as "Evie", I think this may be "Grace E"'s birth registered under "Ethel":

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXDC-7XB
address "Webster St" as directories of the time also have it.
Dec 1883 agrees with Grace's details on the 1900 census.

[shellyesq]

In the Boston Post from 29 May 1896 & 23 Apr. 1897, Edwin's name is mention in what appears to be an advertisement masquerading as a newspaper article.  They say he was living at 34 Mt. Pleasant, Somerville, which was "a stone's throw" from where he was born.  It mentioned that he served in the Civil War for 2 years and returned to the home of his birth after the war.  It said he had kidney trouble and he was quoted as saying that Doan's Kidney Pills helped him.  An address is given to order the pills.

A search on Genealogy Bank shows snippets from the Boston Herald that mention him. 
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01e9p/ 
On 26 Jun. 1896, he and Laura E. Dickson were noted to be suing the West End Street Railway Company.  On 8 Aug. 1897, he is listed in a number of names in Maine.

[Erato]

Thanks for the city directories, shellyesq.  I already had the 1865 state census; should have mentioned it.  I wonder how Edwin missed the federal census taker twice; it would be nice to know if he had any other children.

I think you're right about the birth of 'Ethel,' jorose.

Maybe he earned enough from flogging Doan's Pills and suing the railroad to relocate to Maine.