He was born in Old Town in Grayson County, Virginia, to merchant Martin Dickenson (d. 1834) and his wife Mary, who survived her husband by 25 years.

Margaret Dickenson also predeceased her husband, dying in October 1887 in Boone County, Indiana, while visiting relatives.

[3] Grayson County voters elected Col. John C. Dickenson to be their clerk in 1849 and he was re-elected numerous times until resigning after 11 years.

"[6] In 1863, voters elected Confederate veteran James Craig Taylor to replace Dickenson in the Virginia Senate until the Commonwealth surrendered.

[7] Voters from Carroll, Grayson and Wythe Counties returned Dickenson to the State Senate in 1874, where he replaced Confederate veteran Abner W. C. Nowlin.