Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Dixon, J. W. 1832 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 14, 2013, 10:16 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

J. W. DIXON.

In the period of early manhood J. W. Dixon became a resident of Ottumwa and
through the years that followed was active not only in this city but in the
commonwealth, studying closely the questions and issues that affected the
welfare of city and state and giving earnest support to such measures as he
believed would prove helpful in the work of public progress. A native of
Pennsylvania, he was born in 1832 and was a representative of one of the old and
highly respected Quaker families of that state. J. W. Dixon, following his
graduation from the law school at Poughkeepsie, New York, removed to Iowa in
1856 and soon became a prominent factor in connection with the history of the
state.

Before leaving Pennsylvania Mr. Dixon was united in marriage to Miss Sallie Ann
Vernon, who was likewise born in Pennsylvania. The Vernons came originally from
Cheshire, England. Of Mrs. Dixon it has been said: "She was possessed of rare
traits of character and her friends spoke of her as unselfish to a fault." Mr.
Dixon opened a law office and represented his district as senator in the ninth
and tenth general assemblies and as representative in the fifteenth and
sixteenth general assemblies. His statesmanship and the ability with which he
handled many important problems did much toward shaping the public policy of
Iowa concerning legislation at that period. He was the opponent of ex-Governor
Gear for speaker of the house in a contest that continued for two weeks. His
marked intellectual strength and broad knowledge, his independence and
originality of thought and his pleasing and persuasive oratory made him a man of
marked influence, and he left the impress of his individuality upon the history
of the commonwealth. His position was never an equivocal one. He stood loyally
for what he believed to be right and when convinced that he was following a
correct course neither fear nor favor could cause him to change.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914



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