Professor Samuel Dickie
(1851 - 1925)

Social Reformer. He was a national speaker for the Prohibition Movement in the late 19th and early 20th century. The chairman of the national Prohibition Party from 1887 into the 1890s, he served in its leadership positions for twelve years. During this time the Prohibition Party was headquartered in Albion, Michigan. Only the fact that he had been born in Burford Township in Ontario, Canada kept him from being the Prohibition Party candidate for President of the United States. In 1889 he formed a partnership with the John G. Wooley in the publication of the magazine "New Voice", which espoused the views of the Prohibition Movement and had a large nationwide circulation. His debate with Mayor Rose of Milwaukee, Wisconsin about the liquor problem gained much attention in the nationwide press. At this time he toured the country speaking and debating, and spoke in every city containing over 20,000 inhabitants at the time. A professor at Albion College, he served as Mayor of Albion, Michigan from 1896 to 1897, and as President of Albion College from 1901 to 1921. (bio by: Frank Passic, Albion Historian) 

   SAMUEL DICKIE, educator and temperance advocate and for several terms chairman of the Prohibition National Committee, was born in Oxford ccunty, Canada, June 6, 1851. His father, William Dickie, was born at the home of Robert Bums, Mauchlin, Scotland.
   In 1858 the family removed to Lansing, Mich. There, in the public schools, young Dickie secured the groundwork of his education, and entered Albion College in 1869, taking the degree of M.S. in 1872. For four years following graduation be was superintendent of the city schools at Hastings, Mich., and from 18i7 to 1888, professor of astronomy and physics at his alma mater. He attained great popularity as a teacher, and had a strong hold on all students whose privilege it was to listen to his instruction. When, in 1872, he reached his majority and the choice of political affiliations WM to be made, he was compelled by the resolution incorporated as the sixteenth plank (the '' Raster" resolution) of the Republican platform of that year, to side with the Prohibitionists, and with them he has since voted.
   During the sessions of the nat.ional Prohibition convention, held in 1884, he occupied the chair, and in 1886 he was the Prohibition candidate for governor of Michigan. In the spring of 1887 he managed the campaign on the question of placing an amendment in the Michigan constitution prohibiting the manufactUTe and sale of liquor in the State. His conduct of that campaign, though the amendment was defeated, fixed the eyes of the Prohibition Party of the nation upon him, and they showed their high appreciation of bis ability by electing him chairnum of the national committee of the pnrty, to succeed John B. Finch, at the convention held in Chicago in November, 1887. For five years he had his headquarters in New York city, but in 1893 removed them to his home city, Albion, Mich.
   In December, 1872, he married Mary Brockway, daughter of Rev. Wm. H. Brockway, of Albion. They have four children.

— Data from An Album of Representative Prohibitionists (1895)

[BACK]