Jesse Column Dickey was born on February 27, 1808, in New Castle, Pennsylvania.

He moved with his parents to New London, Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1812.

[1][2] Dickey began teaching school at Hopewell Academy in 1828.

During the American Civil War, he served under Cassius M. Clay during the Defense of Washington.

He traveled extensively in his role as paymaster and worked in St. Louis and New Orleans.