Background
Dick was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria on January 12th, 1824, son of Andrew and Wilhelmina Dick, and received a limited common school education.
Dick was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria on January 12th, 1824, son of Andrew and Wilhelmina Dick, and received a limited common school education.
He emigrated to the United States, and settled in New York City in August of 1846. Dissatisfied, in 1847, he moved to Milwaukee, arriving there on May 13. He worked as a clerk and a traveling salesman.
Having decided not to stay in the United States, He went back to Bavaria in 1852, but ended up returning to Milwaukee after six months.
From 1853 to 1855 he worked in the saloon business. In 1855 he became a notary public, and in 1856 went into the insurance business, where he was to spend the rest of his career.
He worked as a fire insurance agent, and eventually became a director and vice-president of the Milwaukee Mechanics" Mutual Insurance Company. In 1856 and 1857 he served on the Milwaukee Common Council as alderman from his ward.
In 1877 he was elected as a "Reform Democrat" to the 2nd Milwaukee County district (the 2nd Ward of the City of Milwaukee) of the State Assembly.
(The incumbent, Democrat Joseph Hamilton, was not a candidate for re-election) He was assigned to the standing committee on insurance, banks and banking. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1878, and was succeeded by Republican Christian Widule. In 1879 he sought to return to his old seat, but was defeated 475 to 958 by Republican Otto Laverrenz.
He won 652 votes, to 448 for former Liberal Reform assemblyman Jacob Sander, running as an Independent), and 388 for Socialist George Tyre.
