Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Isabella Dickison was born about 1848 in Midlothian, Scotland – the daughter of John Dickison, an agricultural labourer, and Margaret Paterson.
She came to New Zealand in 1859 on the Mariner, her father had been engaged as manager of the Dalvey Estate in South Otago.
They travelled by bullock and horse teams to Te Houka in South Otago where the family stayed while Isabella’s father built a house.
She married James Rodger on 3 December 1868 and they had 10 children, two who died in infancy.
James died in 1889, leaving a young family.
When Isabella signed the suffrage petition she was living in Tapanui.
She died on 2 May 1934 and is buried with James in the Tapanui Cemetery.
Sources
Tapanui Burial Register
Clutha District Council https://www.cluthadc.govt.nz
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
NZ Yesteryears http://www.yesteryears.co.nz
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Presbyterian Archives http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives