Beckham County, OK - Obits: Dixon Lewis English, 1916
23 Jan 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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ENGLISH, DIXON LEWIS
(Aug 1916, Elk City News Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Word was received here early last Monday morning that Dixon English of
Grimes, had passed away in the night.  This was sad news to the families
of the News-Democrat for he was a special friend of ours.  We met Mr. and
Mrs. English as we were on our trip to the claim over fifteen years ago as
he was driving the mail from Grimes to Berlin and he passed us a few miles
from where we were to make our home.  We never forgot the welcome they
gave us, and then afterwards we became fast friends, and were often in the
home and a friendship sprung up that has been very dear to us.  They were
such hospitable people it was a pleasure to be in their home.  The two
families here went up to Grimes Monday afternoon to attend the funeral of
our friend and neighbor.
Dixon Lewis English.
Mr. English, known as Uncle Dick English, died on the night of August
14th, at his home near Grimes after a long illness.  Mr. English, who was
of an aristocratic family of the South, was born in Alabama, October 31,
1848.  The "young gentleman" as he was classed then, moved to Washington
County, Texas, spending his early life there and in Brazos and Fisher
Counties.  In 1894 he moved to Oklahoma and settled with his wife on the
homestead and ranch where he died.
The English family then were the foremost settlers of that portion of
Oklahoma, their nearest neighbor living eight miles away.  Truly they were
of the frontier and paved the way for the civilization which has followed.
Mr. English was the first man to make an effort for a post-office at
Grimes.  He with other cattlemen of the early day deserve first credit for
establishment of law and order where the wild savage so long meant havoc
and destruction to white man's attempts at settlement.
None can forget what these early sons of toil have done in primitive
Oklahoma, and we owe the greatest debt, which memory now alone can pay. 
Mr. English was married to Miss Kate M. Lyon March 12, 1871, at Bryan,
Texas.  She died Nov. 3, 1873.  He married Miss Sallie Lyon on April 29,
1874, who still survives him.  He leaves five sisters, Mrs. Jennie
Montgomery, Mrs. Mollie Lawson, Mrs. Laura Braisher, of Houston, Texas;
Mrs. Hortense Stoddard of Bryan, Texas, and Mrs. Bam (sic) Beauchamp of
Fort Worth, Texas, also dear Aunty Mays, an aunt of Mrs. English, who has
been a member of his home at Grimes for many years.  Mrs. Anna Carter of
Longworth, Texas, and Mrs. Josie Lawrence, sisters of Mrs. English.
A short funeral service was held at the home at 2:30 p.m. by Rev. A. E.
Wilson.  The members of the Masonic Order, of Sayre, of which he was a
member, then took charge and the interment was made in the Dempsey
cemetery.  The Masonic Order performed its usual burial services, after
which there was prayer and dismissal by Rev. Wilson.
(24 Aug 1916, Elk City Leader, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
The following is taken from the Roger Mills Sentinel of the death of Dixon
English one of the pioneers of this section:
Mr. Dixon Lewis English, known as Uncle Dick English, died after a long
illness at his home near Grimes, Oklahoma, at 3 a.m., August 14, 1916.
Mr. English was of an aristocratic family of the south, born in Alabama,
October 31, 1848.  The "young gentleman" as he was then called, moved to
Washington county, Texas, where he spent his youth, later moving to Rogers
and Fisher counties.  He and his wife came then to the present home place,
settling in Grimes, Oklahoma, in 1893.  They were the first family to
settle in that portion of Oklahoma, their nearest neighbor being eight
miles away.  They were truly frontiersmen paving the way for civilization.
Mr. English was the first man to work in securing the Grimes post office
with Mr. J. G. Lancaster as postmaster.
He with other cattlemen of the early day deserve first credit for the
establishment of law and order where the wild savage so long meant havoc
and destruction to the white men's settlement.  None should forget what
these early sons of toil did for primitive Oklahoma, and we now pay our
last debt of gratitude to the memory of one, Mr. English.
He leaves a wife and five sisters, namely:  Hortense Staddard (sic),
Jennie Montgomery, Mollie Lawson, Laura Brasher, and Sam (sic) Beauchamp. 
Three living in Houston, Texas, one at Ft. Smith, and one in Bryar, Texas.
A short funeral service was held in the home at 2:30 p.m. by Rev. A. E.
Wilson and the remains turned over to the Masonic order and taken to the
cemetery for interment.  The order performed its usual burial service,
prayer and dismissal by Rev. Wilson.

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