JOHN DIXON, SR. The owner of the fine farm located on section 1, of Lovington Township, Moultrie County, is of Southern parentage, his father being Jacob Dixon, who was born in North Carolina, and his mother Ann Murry (Miller) Dixon, was born in Virginia, the State that is so noted for pretty girls, statesmen and good cooking. Soon after marriage they settled in Ross County, Ohio, where our subject's father died; the mother survived and came to Moultrie County, where she finally passed away at the residence of our subject. They were the parents of ten children, of whom our subject was the third in order of birth.

The original of our sketch was born in Ross County, Ohio, August 11, 1819. There he grew to manhood and was employed as were most of the young farmers of his age and day. His boyhood years were marked by his application to school duties and learning the routine of farm work. On reaching manhood he was married to Lydia Ray. Their nuptials were solemnized November 11, 1844. The lady was born in Ohio, November 15, 1822. They were the parents of nine children whose names are as follows, -- Jacob, Mahala, Mary, Rachael I., Charity, Moses, Lydia E., John R. and Nancy E. Of these Mahala and Charity are deceased. Mrs. Lydia Dixon died in Lovington Township, July 18, 1874.

John Dixon was married the second time in Ross County, Ohio, April 8, 1877, to Mrs. Margaret (Henson) Springer. Her parents were Henry and Sarah (Murry) Henson; they died in Ohio. By her first marriage she became the wife of Alanson Springer, who died in Jackson County, Ohio. By that union she became the mother of eight children, whose names are respectively -- Louisa, Sarah, Drusilla, Pleasant, Wheelen, Titus, Hester J. and Lydia. Mrs. Margaret Dixon was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 27, 1817.

Our subject in his young manhood worked in a saw and grist mill, and in a felling and cording mill, which he followed until he was thirty years old, beginning this work at the early age of twelve years. Since that time, that is, at the age of thirty, he has followed farming and finds the peaceful serenity of this life to be more suited to his temperament than the business in which he was engaged in his youth. He is the owner of three hundred and fourteen acres of good farm land upon which he had placed good improvements having expended large sums of money in the erection of buildings, conveyance of water, drainage, fencing, etc. He also owns eighty acres in Buffalo County, Neb.

Our subject is a follower of the Democratic party believing thoroughly in the superiority of principle and executive power as exerted by that form of government. He has filled the office of Highway Commissioner most successfully in the township. Mrs. Dixon has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since fifteen years of age. Her husband is liberal in his religious belief. His first wife was a member of the Christian Church from the time she was sixteen years of age until her death. Mr. Dixon's advent into this State and county was made in March 1863, and the following February he settled on the farm where he now lives. He has somewhat dropped the active proprietorship of the place, and lives a semi-retired life, leaving the management of the place to one of his sons. All of Mr. Dixon's children who are surviving, have homes and families of their own, and are honored and respected members of the communities in which they live. Jacob Dixon married Orilda Fred, who died May, 1891. Mahala died when only about twenty-three years of age, at a time when life is so full of promise. Mary is the wife of Sylvester Arganbright. Rachael married F. O. Davis. Charity died when a young lady twenty-two years old. Moses was united to Miss Dora Ballard. Lydia E. is the wife of Harmon Hoffman. John R. is still in the bachelor ranks. Nancy E. is the wife of J. S. Fred; Louisa is the wife of Joseph Sigler; Sarah married Ambrose Davis. Drusilla was united to Samuel Mulvany. Pleasant married Caroline Leach. Wheelen made mistress of the domestic affairs of his household Elizabeth Steward. Titus married Nancy Sinclair. Hester J. and Lydia are deceased.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 685/686

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