John Barnhill Dickie was a farmer, teacher and political figure in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

, Canada. He represented Colchester County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly

Nova Scotia House of Assembly

The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...

 from 1874 to 1878 as an independent member.

He was born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, the son of Isaac Patton Dickie and Rebecca Barnhill. Dickie was educated at the Mount Allison Academy

Mount Allison University

Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...

 and the Halifax Free Church College. He married Ellen Putnam in 1850. Dickie was named coroner for Colchester County

Colchester County, Nova Scotia

Colchester County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The appellation Colchester was applied in 1780 to the district previously called "Cobequid," and was derived from the town of Colchester in Essex...

 in 1854. By 1856, he had settled in Onslow

Onslow, Nova Scotia

Onslow is a small, unincorporated, Canadian rural community in central Colchester County, Nova Scotia. The community is located along the north bank of the Salmon River, opposite the town of Truro and is largely a farming area...

 where he owned a farm and operated a store. In 1858, he married Harriet Dickson. Dickie was treasurer for the poor, a justice of the peace

Justice of the Peace

A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...

 and also, for a time, a major in the militia. He helped found the Onslow Agricultural Society, serving as its first president. He moved to Truro

Truro, Nova Scotia

-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...

 in 1871, where he was part owner of several ships and also helped found the Truro Marine Insurance Company. In March 1875, he was named speaker for the provincial assembly. In May 1875, he resigned as speaker after a resolution was passed in the house requesting his resignation. In 1878, he became a member of the province's Legislative Council

Legislative Council of Nova Scotia

The Legislative Council of Nova Scotia was the upper house of the government of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It existed from 1838 to May 31, 1928...

, remaining a member until his death of intestinal cancer in Truro at the age of 57.
One of his grandchildren was Martin Henry Dawson

Martin Henry Dawson

Martin Henry Dawson was a Canadian-born researcher who made important contributions in the fields of infectious diseases....

.