The Family of Adam Dixon and Mary J. Harder Dixon

The Parents of Adam Dixon

Mother and Father Dixon

The Parents of Mary J. Harder

William Harder I and Catherine Jones Harder

Dixon Family Tree

Adam’s Maternal Family Tree

Harder Family Tree

Jones Family Tree

Marriages of Adam Dixon

1st Marriage to Ann Lightfoot in 1851

2nd Marriage to Mary J. Harder in 1867

Marriages of Mary J. Harder

Marriage to Adam Dixon in 1867

Biographical Sketch of Adam Dixon and Family

From William G. Cutler’s History of the State of Kansas.

Republic County, Part 3

CAPT. ADAM DIXON, farmer and sheep raiser, Freedom Township, was born at Wigton, Cumberland County, England, July 4, 1827, and raised there, remaining until twenty-four years of age and was engaged in mechanical labor. On February 24, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Ann Lightfoot, a native of the same county, and the following March sailed from Liverpool for the United States, landing in New York City, April 29, 1851.

He soon after located at Hemlock Lake, Livingston County, N. Y., where he engaged in the merchant tailoring business, following this until the war broke out. In October, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Wadsworth Guards at Geneseo, N. Y. and was mustered into the United States Service with the One Hundred and Fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, November 2, 1861, and actively participated with the First Corps, Army of the Potomac, from Cedar Mountain to Gettysburg. He was promoted to First Sergeant and commanded Company G through the second battle of Bull Run. On September 12, 1862, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant for general good conduct and efficiency while on duty. On October 21, 1862, he was promoted to First Lieutenant, after the battle of Antietam, and as First Lieutenant went into the five days’ battle of Chancellorsville, Va., in command of Company G; also had command of the company at the battle of Gettysburg, but on the evening of the first day was captured and held as a prisoner of war for twenty months, confined in the so-called military prison of the South, having during this time made three unsuccessful attempts to escape to the Union lines. He was afterward promoted, receiving a Captain’s commission for gallant and meritorious conduct while before the enemy, commission to date from May 25, 1863. March 1, 1865, he was exchanged at Wilmington, N. C.; was discharged and mustered out of service at Elmira, N. Y., July 28, 1865.

In 1867 he settled in Maryland, remaining there until 1870, but finding it unpleasant for a Union soldier to live there, he sold out at a great sacrifice and emigrated to Kansas, locating in Republic County, and took a homestead on Section 24, Township 2, Range 3, on April 12, 1870, and at once began to improve it. He has added eighty acres, making a farm of 240 acres. This has been finely improved. He has a good house and barns, a fine peach and apple orchard, besides small fruit of all kinds. The place is well watered by Salt Creek and numerous fine springs. Mr. Dixon is the champion sheep raiser of Republic County, or Northern Kansas. In 1877 he started in the business with 311 common Missouri sheep and has been improving the grade by importing some full blood rams from England. In 1880 he imported two full blood Southdown rams at great cost per head and then bought rams in Western New York, and again in 1881, imported two more full blood Southdown rams from the celebrated Lord Walsingham flock, which took the first premium at the Centennial Exposition over all the world. These are the only sheep of this blood in Northern Kansas, and Mr. Dixon has the first flock of sheep in the country. The average clip is nine and one-half pounds, while merino rams imported go from twenty-six and one-half to thirty-two and one-half pounds. His flock now numbers 558. In four years his sales on wool and mutton have been between $4,000 and $5,000. The interest must have paid 125 per cent per annum. Mr. Dixon has taken great pains with his sheep and thinks there is no reason why wool growing is not one of the best industries of this State. He is considered the most practical sheep breeder in Northern Kansas and there is no doubt but he is making the largest per cent on the investment of any one in the same line in the country, as he is well situated to care for them and has a thorough knowledge of the business. Mr. Dixon also imported a pair of full-blood Scotch Collie shepherd dogs from Scotland. Mr. Dixon is one of the most public-spirited men in the country; he is president of the Wool-growers’ Association of Republic County; is also United States Commissioner for the State of Kansas, receiving his appointment in January, 1882.

Mr. Dixon has a host of friends and is one of the most substantial men in the county. The letters which are appended to this biography will show how he co-operated with those who came in contact with him.

He had five children by his first wife, (who died at Hemlock Lake, August 3, 1866,) viz: Joseph K.. born at Hemlock Lake, N. Y., December 8, 1853; Mary E., born at Livonia Centre, N. Y., May 27, 1855; John L., born at Hemlock Lake, N. Y,, May 10, 1837; William E., born at Hemlock Lake. N. Y., June 23, 1860; Thomas G., born at Hemlock Lake, N. Y., July 30, 1866,--died July 6, 1881. He was married in 1867, to Mary J. Harder of Livonia, Livingston County. N. Y. They have been blessed with one son, Robert Vickers, born April 29, 1875.

Mr. Dixon is a member of John Brown Post, No. 44, G. A. R. and of Belleville Lodge, No. 96, I. O. O. F.

The Obituary of Adam Dixon

4 July 1827 - 7 November 1910

No obiturary found.

The Obituary of Mary J. Harder Dixon

22 October 1838 - 25 May 1925

No obituary found.

The Burial of Adam Dixon

Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn NY

The Burial of Mary J. Harder Dixon

Fair Oaks Cemetery in Fair Oaks CA

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