The Family of John Dickson/Dixon, Escambia, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/escambia/bios/dixonfam.txt ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Lygia Cutts ==================================================================== July 1998 The John Dickson/Dixon Family John Dickson settled in Dixonville, then Conecuh County, now Escambia in 1828. John was born in Virginia and married Martha Peavy in South Carolina and migrated to Georgia. While in Georgia 11 of of his 14 children were born. They were named as follows: Claiborne, Francis, Berryman (Barry), Chappel, Abraham (Abe), Wade Hampton, Green, William (Billie), John (Jr.), Augustus (Gus), Susan, Caroline, Viney, and Jincy. For unknown reasons, all the children except one, changed the spelling of their surname from DICKSON to DIXON. John Dickson died before the Civil War and his estate was divided among his children. At his death he had 34 slaves and 900 head of cattle. Since it was necessary to own land at that time, he owned very little. Claiborne lived all his life near his birthplace and had 24 children. He is said to have been an excellent marksman, who had an old-time Flint and Steel Rifle, long barrel that never failed to bring down a deer. On one occassion when he was hunting, he saw a deer's head above a fallen tree top, shot it, but after the smoke cleared away it was still there. He reloaded his gun, took another shot at it, but it was still there. He then loaded his gun again and shot once more. This time it did not reappear. When Claiborne went to find the deer and see why he had missed twice, he found that he had three dead deer. Chappel, Francis, and Barryman settled in what is now, Berrydale, Santa Rosa Co., FL. Augustus settled at what is now Dixonville and with the exception that Jincy married a Mayo and migrated to Corpus Christie, TX, I have no further info on the daughters. John (Jr.), born 8 APR 1828, lived at a point on Dixon Creek where he owned and operated a sawmill for many years. He was a prominent citizen of his community. John married on 3 NOV 1850 Mary Ann Stallworth, daughter of Nicholas Stallworth and Mary Wilson Travis. Mary Ann was born 23 JUN 1836 and died 15 JAN 1896. John died 12 JAN 1892. He and Mary Ann lay to rest in Dixon Cemetery which is located about 6 miles from Brewton on Escambia Co. Road 55. The story behind the beginning of this cemetery is also very intersting. While sitting on the front porch of his home during a thunderstorm, lightening struck a tree over in the woods. John called to his family and told them that when he died, he wanted to be buried where lightening had struck the tree. At his death, his family honored his wish and buried him in the place he had selected. The Dixon family were among the oldest pioneers in this area. They suffered many hardships and did their part to make their area of Escambia County a safe and wonderful place in which to live. SOURCE:"Headstones & Heritages" by McFarland and Shelton. Alabama Room, JDCC Community College Library: Vertical File: Dickson/Dixon Family