Howard-Morgan-Hamilton County IN Archives Biographies.....Dixon, Benjamin F. 1855 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 24, 2006, 2:29 am Author: Jackson Morrow BENJAMIN F. DIXON. Among the honorable and influential citizens of Howard county, Indiana, is the subject of this review, who has here maintained his home for many years, winning a definite success by means of the agricultural industry, to which he has devoted his attention during the years of an active business life. His career has been without shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and thus he has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. Benjamin F. Dixon was born in Morgan county, Indiana, in 1855, the son of Riley and Anna Jane (Thompson) Dixon. Grandfather Dixon came from North Carolina, locating in Indiana in 1828, settling among the pioneers in the southern part of the state. Taking up land from the government he improved it and developed a fine farm to which he gave his attention, also assisted others in getting land in order that he might have neighbors. Here he made a good home and raised his family, dying at the age of seventy-five years, having spent his last years on this farm in which he took a great pride. His wife passed away at an earlier age. They were both Quakers, being active members of this denomination. Grandfather Thompson was from North Carolina and came to Indiana about the same time of grandfather Dixon's advent, also settling in the southern part of the state, near Paoli, Orange county. He was a farmer, having raised his family and spent his last days in Orange county, dying well advanced in age, having been preceded to the other shore by his wife. They, too, were loyal Quakers. The father of the subject was born in North Carolina and was brought to Indiana by his parents when six years old, having been reared at White Lick, Boone county, this state. He attended such schools as there were at that early time, working on his father's farm during the summer months, but he was a close student and received a good practical education. He lived with his father until he was about twenty-five years old, when he was married. Being thrifty he always owned a farm but did many other things in a commercial way, having in turn been successful as a merchant and live stock dealer. Eleven children were born to the subject's parents, two dying while young, nine reaching maturity and living to raise families of their own, eight of whom are living in 1908. The father and mother were Friends in their religious affiliations, the former dying at the age of seventy-five and the latter when fifty-five years old. Benjamin F. Dixon, our subject, first attended school in Indiana and Illinois, working on his father's farm until he was about twenty-five years old. Then he rented one hundred and sixty acres of land in Howard county on which he fanned for two years when he bought a farm in the same county. Selling it at an advance he bought another farm in Hamilton county, managing this with his accustomed success for two years, when he sold it for one thousand and two hundred dollars more than he gave for it. He then dealt in produce for a time, later going to Kansas, where he bought one hundred and twenty acres of prairie land, which he kept for fourteen years, making considerable money on it, principally by raising large crops of wheat. He then worked at the carpenter's trade for some time, and, returning to Howard county, finally bought the farm on which he now resides. It consists of eighty-two acres, all but eight acres of which are under the plow. The eight acres are in woods-pasture, in which is a fine set of blue grass. The entire farm is well drained with tile and the soil is in a good productive condition. The fields are under a good system of wire fencing, however, some rails are used for fences. He keeps his soil in a fertile condition by the skillful rotation of crops and the employment of home fertilizers. The subject is a hard worker and understands all the modern and improved methods of farming, consequently he has one of the best farms of the size in the township and it yields him a comfortable living. Mr. Dixon's dwelling is modern, substantial and commodious, nicely furnished. He has two good barns and other convenient out buildings. He delights in horticulture and has a good orchard, well kept and of excellent quality. He has all that goes to make up good provisions. He carries on general farming, feeds hogs and cattle, using all the corn that the place produces. He is a believer in sowing plenty of clover after crops of larger grains have been harvested. He has been on his present farm five years in 1908 and since he secured the place the soil has been constantly improved. Mr. Dixon was united in marriage in 1880 with Alamanda Richardson, the refined and estimable daughter of John Henry and Mary (Heaton) Richardson, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Ohio. Grandfather Heaton was a colonel in the war of 1812. He was also a soldier in the Mexican war, having served out his enlistment and received an honorable discharge. His saber is now in a lodge room in Kokomo. Grandfather Richardson was also a soldier in the War of 1812. He lived to be an old man and his wife reached the age of ninety-four. All but two of this family are living in 1908 and all but one have raised families of their own. The Heaton stock originated in England. The father of the subject's wife was a contractor, having spent the last years of his life in Howard county, his death occurring in Frankfort, this state. Ten children were born to them, five boys and an equal number of girls. Three children have been born to Benjamin F. Dixon and wife as follows: Lela, born March 14, 1881, is the wife of John D. Rogers, of Marion, Indiana, and they are the parents of one child; Doyle J., who is a graduate of Kokomo high school, is a teacher and was born August 6, 1888, is single and living at home; Walter N., who was born March 31, 1892, is also a member of the family circle. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon and family are members of the society of Friends, Mrs. Dixon having joined this faith after her marriage. The subject has always been a Republican in politics, but is now a Prohibitionist. He is known to all who have formed his acquaintance to be a man of genuine worth and integrity, scrupulously honest in all his dealings with his fellow men and he and his family are all highly respected and have hosts of friends throughout the county. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/dixon388nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 7.1 Kb