Dickson Cemetery

Dickson Cemetery is located in Black Hawk State Park in the city of Rock Island. It's in the northwest portion of the site and is a two-acre tract where many of the area's early settlers are buried along with murderers and outlaws. Paupers were buried one on top another in the crowded cemetery

It was laid out in 1838 by William Dickson, who intended to deed it to a Presbyterian Church. David B. Sears was the next owner and he deeded it to Rock Island County on October 1, 1878. In 1918 it was deeded to the City of Rock Island. Later it became part of the Black Hawk State Park.

Several years ago the stones were removed and someone was going to make a patio out of them. They were brought back and piled in a corner of the cemetery.

Today, the wooden crosses and broken headstones are surrounded by flowers and shrubs characteristic of the nineteenth century and enclosed by a split-rail fence.