Mary Ellen Dickey was the daughter of Solomon S. Dickey and Rebecca Jane Barker. Solomon and Rebecca had eight children: Richard Amon 1862-1937, Mary Ellen 1865-1937, Lella Etta 1866-1900, John Anderson 1867-, Ollie Cordella [Cordelia] 1870-, Sibble Elnora [Nora] 1872-, Nellie Elvina 1876-1950, Harriett [Hattie} Bellvadere 1878-1921.

Mary married Irwin Clayton Whitney on June 30, 1885 in Maxwell, Story County, Iowa. To this union were born six children: Berton Leroy who married Lena Ruth Davis, Carl Jason who married Iona Rowena Longnecker, Jennie May who married Leroy Ernest Bell, Ethel Pearl who married Glen Samuel Bell, Clarence Irwin who married Arminta Marie Halterman, and Elsie Mary who married Herbert Harrison Bell.

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, April 15, 1937, page 1. "MARY ELLEN WHITNEY" Mary Ellen, daughter of Solomon and Rebecca Dickey, was born near Mingo, in Jasper county, January 13, 1865, and passed away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Bell Saturday, April 10, 1937, at the age of 72 years, 2 months and 28 days. On June 30, 1885, she was united in marriage to Clayton Whitney, of Mingo, who preceded her in death in the year 1901. To this union were born three sons and three daughters, all of whom survive. They are, Berton L., of Cambridge; Carl J., of Maxwell; Clarence L., of Radcliffe; Mrs. Jennie Bell, of Maxwell; Mrs. Ethel Bell and Mrs. Elsie Bell of Des Moines. She also leaves 26 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, on brother, Richard Dickey, of Raydon, Okla.; two sisters, Mrs. Ollie Whitney, of Dallas Center, and Mrs. Nellie Cummings, of Mingo, besides numerous other relatives and friends. She came to Christ when a young girl and always led a faithful Christian life. Her entire married life was spent in and near Maxwell, except two years in Illinois and 11 years which were spent in evangelistic work with her sister and husband, Rev. and Mrs. J. R. Buckley. Funeral services were held in the Maxwell Presbyterian church Tuesday afternoon in charge of Rev. H. D. Robinson, pastor. A quartet composed of Earl Bowen, Clark John, Ross Olinger and Claire Olinger, sang two numbers, "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "Asleep in Jesus." Mrs. Ray Gooden sang "Shadows". The pallbearers were grandsons of the deceased, Irving and Melvin Bell, Irving and Russell Whitney, Ralph and Edwin Bell. Out-of-town relatives and friends in attendance were: Mrs. Esther Thompson, Dallas Center; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Giegel, Geo. Bailey and daughter, of Colfax; Mrs. Chas. Cummings and Mrs. Chas. Turner, Mingo; Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Barker, Mrs. Erwin Armstrong, Mrs. Olvie Fuller, Mingo; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Barton, Altoona; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carr, Bondurant. Interment was in the Maxwell cemetery."