The son of Robert and Mary Dupuy Dickinson. Graduated Hampden-Sydney College at age 20. A member of the Virginia House of Representatives and Senate. He obtained his law degree from William and Mary. In 1844 he became a trustee of Hampden-Sydney. During the Civil War, while serving in the State Senate, he authored "Address of the Virginia Assembly to the Virginia Soldiers". In 1870 he was elected to the bench of the Third Virginia Circuit. His fist wife was Frances Jane Micheaux. His second wife was Sarah Cabell Irvine.


Asa D. Dickinson was born in Nottoway County, Va., in 1817, the son of Robert Dickinson and Mary Purnal Dupuy. His father was a prominent farmer and citizen of Nottoway County, while his mother sprang from the Hugenot family of that name. Two brothers of his mother, Colonels Asa and Joseph Dupuy, were for many years representatives of Prince Edward County in the Virginia Legislature. Judge Dickinson's mother was a niece of General William Purnal.


The subject of this sketch received his collegiate education at Hampden-Sidney College, from which institution he graduated with high honors, in 1836. He afterwards studied law at William and Mary College, and commenced the practice of his profession in 1840.


He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Michaux of Prince Edward county. His second wife was a Miss Irvine of Campbell county. His family consisted of five sons; two, R.M., and Purnal, by the first marriage; and four daughters.


In 1857, Judge Dickinson was elected to represent the county of Prince Edward in the State Legislature and again in 1859. He subsequently served two terms in the State Senate. He was also a member of the Confederate Congress from the district composed in part of the county of Prince Edward. He was disfranchised by reason of this connection with the Confederacy, but his disability was removed by the Congress of 1870, at which time he was elected Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, in which position he continued for fourteen years; until his death, which occurred, July 22, 1884, as a result of an apoplectice seizure which attacked him while bath in the Rapidan River.


During the strenuous days of the War between the States, Judge Dickinson won, and retained, the favor and the confidence of President Jefferson Davis.


For thirty-seven years, Judge Dickinson was a member and a ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was also a Trustee of Hampden-Sidney College. He lived most of his long life near Worsham, where he commenced the practice of law.


He was buried in the College Church Cemetary at Hampden-Sidney, the burial service being conducted by his pastor, the Rev. Charles White, D.D.


Mr. Blair M. Dickinson, a grandson of Judge Dickinson, is the honored Principal of the Farmville Public School. Another grandson is a Mr. A.B. Dickinson, a prominent lawyer of the City of Richmond, Va.