- MARTIN DIXON is a leading farmer of Union Township, residing
on section 20. In recording the
- history of his life we give a sketch of one of the honored
pioneers of Rock County, who by his upright life and genial manner
has won the confidence and esteem of all with whom business or
pleasure has brought him in contact. He came to Wisconsin in
1846, has shared in the trials and hardships incident to frontier
life, and has always taken a deep interest in the welfare of
the community. He was born on the 23d day of October, 1821, in
Greene County, Pa., and is a son of Searight and Sarah (KECKLER)
DIXON, who were also natives of Greene County. His paternal grandparents,
Martin and Jane (HUNTER) DIXON, were natives of the Emerald Isle,
but in early life they left their island home and came to America,
settling in Greene County, where Searight DIXON was born. He
was also reared to manhood in that county, and about the year
1818 wedded Sarah KECKLER. Their children, eight in number, were
also born in Greene County, and with the exception of two all
grew to manhood and womanhood. Martin, of this sketch, is the
eldest; David is a resident farmer of Bureau County, Ill.; Andrew
is engaged in farming in Greene County, Pa.; James became a resident
of Bureau County, Ill., where his death occurred in 1851; Ambrose
is also engaged in agricultural pursuits in Ringgold County,
Iowa; Lara, who enlisted in the 85th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
died in the service of his country, and now sleeps on a battlefield
in the sunny South; Margaret A. and Sarah, the two youngest children,
died of scarlet fever in Greene County, Pa.
- Mr. and Mrs. DIXON remained residents of their native county
until about the year 1871, when
- they removed to Green County, Wis., making their home with
our subject until the fall of 1876, when the mother was called
to her final rest. She was a consistent and devoted member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, highly esteemed for her many
excellent qualities, and died at the advanced age of seventy-nine
years. Her remains were interred in the Dawson Church burying
ground in Green County. For two years after the death of his
wife Mr. DIXON continued to make his home with our subject, when
he returned to his native county, and passed the remainder of
his life in the home of his son Andrew, his death occurring in
1882, at the age of eighty-seven years.
- Martin DIXON received his education in the common schools
of Greene County, Pa., was reared
- to farm life and remained under the parental roof until eighteen
years of age, when he started out in life for himself. Learning
the trade of a wheelwright and millwright, he pursued that avocation
for two and a half years, receiving $8 per month. From that meager
compensation he saved some money, which became the foundation
of his present comfortable competence. He was next employed in
a gristmill at $9 per month for two years. On the 27th day of
October, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Patience ANDERSON,
who was also a native of Greene County, Pa., born Feb. 5, 1826.
Her parents, James and Rachel (WORTHINGTON) ANDERSON, were born
in Greene County, where they both passed away many years ago,
when Mrs. DIXON was a young child. They left a family of ten
children, nine of whom are yet living. Three brothers are residing
in Illinois, namely: James, who is living in Hancock County,
and William and Simon, who are residents of Peoria County. Phoebe
and Sarah J., her two surviving sisters, are still living in
the Keystone State.
- After his marriage Mr. DIXON rented a gristmill in Greene
County, Pa., which he operated for
- some time, when, having acquired by that means and by his
former labors, a small sum of money, he resolved to follow Greeley's
advice and started for the West. His destination was the Territory
of Wisconsin, but while en route he was taken with the measles
at Galena, Ill., and his sickness soon consumed his little store
of money. His health was so poor during the summer that he was
unable to do scarcely any work. In the spring of 1846 he continued
his journey, however, until reaching Monroe, Green County, where
he was forced to begin work by the day in order to gain a livelihood
for his family. The following fall and winter he was again taken
sick and his small savings were again consumed, but regaining
his health in the spring of 1847, he began hewing logs for block
houses. He was an expert at the business, and his labors were
constantly in demand. Many a pioneer house is still standing
built of the logs which are of his handiwork. During the season
of 1847 and 1848 he followed his trade, and the following winter
made arrangements for the purchase of a farm of forty acres in
Jefferson Township. The money was advanced to him by Mr. PHELPS,
he paying 25 per cent interest, and in the following spring he
turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He built a log
cabin, into which the family moved in 1859, and at once began
the development of his land, which he soon placed under a high
state of cultivation. Success crowned his efforts, his crops
yielded an abundant harvest, and in the course of time he was
enabled to increase his farm to 120 acres, which he continued
to operate until about 1851 or 1852, when receiving an opportunity
to sell at an advantage, he disposed of his property. He next
purchased 220 acres of land on Jordan Prairie in Green County,
where he continued to make his home for fourteen years, making
many fine improvements and otherwise increasing the value of
the land, which he at length sold for $10,000. In the fall of
1879 Mr. DIXON became the owner of 211 acres of land on section
21 Union Township, and in the spring of 1880 purchased 130 acres
on section 20,, and another 20-acre tract on section 21, making
a total of 373 broad acres which pay tribute to his care and
cultivation. His farm is one of the best improved in the township,
and Mr. DIXON may well feel proud of being its owner, knowing
that it has been obtained by his own efforts of industry, economy,
perseverance and good management. Upon it will be found the best
grades of all kinds of stock, together with the latest improved
machinery and all that goes to make up the model farm of the
nineteenth century.
- The union of Mr. and Mrs. DIXON has been blessed with eight
children. James T., the eldest,
- died shortly after the family had started to Wisconsin, and
was buried in the cemetery at Pittsburgh, Pa. Ellen E. is now
the wife of James MYERS, a resident farmer of Story County, Iowa,
and unto them have been born two children, Luella and Chester.
Margaret A. wedded Adam FLEEK, who is engaged in farming in Green
County, and they have a family of four children, Fannie, Louie,
Adam and Daisy. David is still at home. Francis M., who is engaged
in farming in Union Township, married Miss Hanna BROUGHTON, by
whom he has two children, Louie and Jesse. Amanda became the
wife of Amza COVILLE, of Green County, and unto them has been
born a daughter ,Cora M. Alice J. wedded William FRAZEE, a farmer
of Cherokee County, Iowa, and they have two children, Nettie
and Francis. Albert, who wedded Miss Lulu DEVEREAUX, is engaged
in the creamery business. The children have all received good
educational advantages, fitting them for useful and responsible
positions in life, and are now respected men and women of the
several communities in which they reside.
- Mr. DIXON is one of the leading citizens of Union Township,
and is a man well informed on all
- topics of general interest, both political and otherwise.
In early life he was a Jackson Democrat, but joined the Republican
party at its organization, and is now a liberal Democrat, advocating
the principle of low tariff. He has given liberally of his means
and also by his influence and example has supported the temperance
movement, earnestly working for the suppression of the liquor
traffic. Mrs. DIXON is a member of the Baptist Church, and while
Mr. DIXON does not hold membership with any religious body, he
has responded liberally to the calls of the different churches.
His sketch deserves a prominent place in the history of his adopted
county, for he is one of its honored pioneers and self-made men.
While sick in Galena he would have returned to his Eastern home
had not his funds given out, but it is an ill wind that blows
no one good, for by his being forced to remain in the West, Wisconsin
gained a valued and worthy citizen.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 298-299.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|