Peter S. Dykins

From "Lexington" by Mary Wilson and Sharon Y. Asher, published sometime after 1975.

PETER S. DYKINS

Peter S. Dykins, born on November 16, 1834, in Cincinnati, Ohio and his younger brother were raised by his Uncle Stephen D. Mills in Jefferson County, Indiana. Following his education in a Masonic school in La Grange, Kentucky, he moved to Lexington, Indiana, where he worked as a clerk in several stores.

He was appointed Postmaster of the community and served until Lincoln became President. During the next six years he worked at various jobs, but mainly following Grant's troops selling such items as cigars, tobacco and candy. He prospered until he lost all his stock when the boat Sunny Side, on which he was a passenger, burned and several lives were lost.

After his return to Lexington he was appointed County Recorder to fill the unexpired term of 1. Lacham and, in 1866, was elected to that office, serving two terms. It was during this time (April.7, 1870) that he married Hattie J. Hardy of Lexington and they moved to Scottsburg where he was elected County Auditor and served eight years.

Upon his retirement from political life he began farming on the old Bliss Farm near Lexington. Soon tiring of this he moved to Lexington and opened a drug store and continued in this business until his death on December 16, 1891. He was the father of four children--Robert, Fred, Anna and Homer who died in infancy.

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