Lee County, Illinois - Chapter 16: Johx Dixon, 1914

Chapter 16: Johx Dixon

John Dixon was bom at Rye, Westchester county, New York, Oct. 9, 1784. His father, likewise named John Dixon, was a native of Newcastle on Tjne, England, and came to America during the War of the Revolution as an officer in the British Army. He married an American woman named Elizabeth Purdy, and did not return to England after the war but remained in Westchester county, New York, until his death. It is said that the wife of the first John Dixon was disinherited by her parents because of her marriage to the British officer. Of this marriage ten children were born, viz. : Thomas Dixon, James Dixon, Phoebe Dixon Minuse, John Dixon, Elizabeth Dixon Boyd. Margaret L. Dixon, Catherine Dixon Fisher and three othei-s whose names are now unknown.

The birth place of the first American John Dixon was at his parent's residence, then on the North Street road, a few rods back from the Boston post road, and afterwards known as the "Corning" ]U'operty. in the Village of Rye. It is said that the first house from the post road, on the northeast side, which was still standing as late as 1886 is the identical house in which he was born, but there is no certainty as to this. It is certain, however, that it was upon this same i:»ropei'ty the house of his birth stood, and the house in question is either the Corning cottage or a house remembered by old residents of Rye which stood in the hollow behind the bh;ff on which the Corning house stands and which was taken down years ago.

John Dixon, married Rebecca Sherwood of Peekskill, N. Y., at New York city in ISOS. He had removed from Rye to New York city in 1805 and engaged in the business of clothing merchant and merchant tailor, his place of business being on Chatham street. He was one of the founders of the Young Men's Bible Society of New Yorlv, wliicli was organized Feb. 1(J, 18U9. There is still in existence a paper in the hand writing of John Dixon, giving the names of the first officers of this Society which reads as follows :

During Ms residence in New York Mr. Dixon became well acquainted with Robert Fulton and was one of the party who took passage on the Clermont on the occasion of its first trial trip, at which time he paid F^ulton one dollar for his fare and which payment was without doubt the first money paid by anyone for transportation as a passenger on a steam driven vessel.

In 1820 Mr. Dixon sold his business and departed for the West. He was accompanied by Mrs. Dixon and their children, James P., John W., and Elijah, by his sister Elizal^eth Boyd and her husband Charles S. Boyd. The party left New York with a single covered wagon drawn by a team, whether of oxen or horses is now imknown, although it is a matter of family history that an ox team was the motive power, and passing through the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in due time reached Pittsburg. The household goods of the two families were not taken overland, but were shipped by vessel to New Orleans and thence up the Mississippi river to Illinois.

At Pittsburg a flat boat was purchased for the sum of $30. They partitioned off a part of the boat for living quarters and stored their wagon, oxen or horses and other goods in the other part and floated off down stream. When they reached Cincinnati they stopped for a short time to rest and purchase provisions, among other things getting a barrel of flour at the cost of two dollars and sixty-two and one-half cents, as some documents now in the possession of the family show. At Cincinnati they engaged a pilot to take the boat through the Ohio River rapids, which were passed in safety, and Shawneetown, in the State of Illinois, was finally reached. The time occupied in the journey from New York city to Shawneetown was seventy days. The boat used on the Ohio river tri]) was sold for $5 and the party went overland to Madison county where they stopped for a time at the place known as the

The Marine Settlement was located between the east and west forks of Silver creek, in Madison county, about twelve miles east of Edwardsville. Here they made inquiry conceiniug the ci»uutry and soon went on to a point on Fancy creek in what is now Sangamon count,v al)out eight miles north of the present city of Springfield and near the present village of Sherman.

John Dixon and his family remained at this place until 1824. Until 1823 the nearest postoffice was Edwardsville, about eighty miles distant and the mail for the settlers in that neighboi'hood was carried by Mi'. Dixon from Edwai'dsville in a hack which he would send down there whenever he could secure a load of passengers.

Sangamon county was established bj' an act of the General Assembly passed Jan. 30, 1821, and three county commissioners were elected who qualified as such on April 3, 1821. On April 10, 1821, a comity conmnssioner's couit was held at the house of John Kelly, on the waters of Spring creek, at the present site of the city of Springfield. Mr. Dixon was the foreman of the first grand Jury iui})aiieled in this county after its organization, at the court held at the Kelly house.

Soon thereafter Peoria county was organized embracing all of the teri'itory in the northern part of the state. Judge Sawyer in the year 1825 re(]uested Mr. Dixon to take the appointment of circuit clerk of that county, which he did and became the first incumbent of that office. About the same time he was appointed by Governor Coles as recorder of deeds of that county and he removed to what was then called Fort Clark, now Peoiia. While living there he was elected justice of the peace of Peoria county and duly commissioned by Gov. Niuian Edwards, his commission as such, which is still in existence, being dated Sept. 6, 1827.

While living at Peoria, Mr. Dixon became a rather extensive contractor for the carrying of the mails and there is still in existence a copy of a settlement made by him with Col. E. B. Clemson for services rendered in such matters which reads as follows:

Duiiug the period covered by his mail contracts Mr. Dixon sometimes did the carrying himself, but the greater part of the driving was done by men hired by him for that purpose and by his sons, particularly his son, James P. Dixon.

The only river of any inq)nrtance between Peoria and Galena was the Rock river. This offered a great obstacle to the carrying of the mail and in order to afford safe passage it was desirable that a ferry Ix' maintained. In the year 1827 a man by the name of J. L. Bogardus of Peoria, established a ferry across this stream at the present site of the city of Dixon, but he I'emained only a short time, when he was driven away by the Indians.

There was even at that early date a considerable travel from Port Clark to the lead mines at Galena and the Indians resented the intrusion of the white man who would take away from them the fei'ry monopoly that they then had. Bogardus had built a log hut said to have been about 8x10 feet in dimension and two workmen employed by him had the ferry boat nearly completed when the Indians attacked them and burned their boat, the workmen leaving the country without any delay.

In 1828 a French Indian half-breed named Joseph Ogee erected a cabin on the bank of the river at the present site of Dixon and operated a ferry there until 1830. Ogee's wife was a half-breed Pottawatomie woman by the name of Madeline. She was the daughter of a Ih'enchman named LaSallier, who was probably the first white man to make his home on the banks of the Rock river. LaSallier built a trading post on the south side of what is now known as the Franklin creek, about thirty or thirty-five I'ods from the Rock river. This point is in Lee county and across the river from the present village of Grand Detour and about five miles northeast of the city of Dixon. The ruins of this cabin were visible as late as 1835, when they were observed by Joseph Crawford, one of the early settlers of Dixon. LaSallier was one of the agents of the American Fur Company.

Joseph Ogee, the son-in-law of LaSallier is known to have been in Illinois as early as in 1823, on June 4 of which year he obtained a license from J'ulton county to operate a tavern. He lived in Peoria in March, 1825, and owned the house in which the county commissioners of that county held their first meeting. He was on the first panel of petit jui'ors of that county and is believed to have been the representative of the American Fur Company, at its trading house at what is now Wesley City.

In the spring of 1828 Ogee came to the Rock river. His wife being of Indian blood he was permitted to establish and operate his ferry without being molested or driven away as Bogardus and his employees had been.

Ogee continued to operate the ferry alone until Nov. 21, 1829, when he sold a half interest therein to George Schelleiiger,,who is described as a resident of Jo Daviess county, for which Schelleuger paid $700, and they became partneis in the enterprise and remained such for a few weeks. On Jan. 29, 1830, the partnership was dissolved and Ogee bound himself to i>s.y to Schellenger $1,060 for his half interest in the establishment, to be paid $100 in thirty days, $60 on or before the first of the next September, $400 in twelve months and $500 in two years, and gave to the latter his chattel mortgage on the ferry premises, which mortgage was filed in the office of the recorder of Jo Daviess county at Galena on Feb. 18, 1830, and recorded in Book A, pages 71, 72 and 73.

Eudorsed on the back of the mortgage was an assignment by Schellenger to Laurent Rolette for an expressed consideration of $900. There also appears on the same instrument an undated receijit, signed by Laurent Rolette and Joseph Rolette, by J. P. Nash, their attorney in fact, acknowledging receipt from John Dixon of the sum of $400 by note at ninety days "in full satisfaction and liquidation of the within mortgage."

In 1828 Mr. Dixon with his family left Peoria and located at what was called Boyd's Gi'ove in what is now Bureau county, where they made their Ikjuic near the family of his brother-in-law, Charles S. Boyd, until their removal to the present site of the city of Dixon.

In March, 1830, Mr. Dixon made a lease of the ferry from Ogee with its rights, privileges and appiu'tenances and soon thereafter moved to Ogee's Ferry, as it was then called, with his wife and family, reaching there Apiil 11, 1830. He continued to operate the ferry mader this lease until Jan. 27, 1832, when he purchased it for the sum of $550, giving to Ogee two notes, one for $150 and one for $100, lioth due in four montlis after date and assmning the lien of the Schellenger moi'tgage. The deed conveying the ferry property was filed for reccn'd in the office of the recorder of Jo Daviess county and I'ccorded in Book A, pages 163 and 164, on March 1, 1832".

Ogee at a))out the time he jourchased the Schellenger interest in the ferry was evidently Ijeing pressed by his creditors for there is still in existence anothei' chattel mortgage given by him. This mortgage is dated Feb. 10, 1830, and conveys to Laurent Rolette to secure a debt of the firm of Ogee & Schellenger amounting to the sum of $258.02 and the individual debt of Ogee to Rolette of $84.35, the following property belonging to Ogee, to-wit: "The equal and undivided half of a team of five horses, waggon and harnis of the value of $250 (the other half of said team, waggon and harnis being held by a cimelar artical to this by the firm of Henry Gratiot and company) * * * ^^^^ .^Ij,^ four fethei- beds and beding complete, towit, one pair of sheets, one pair of pillows and slips, one blanket, one quilt and stand of curtains to each bed and each bed of the value of eighteen dollars and fifty nine cents, one whipsaw of the value of twelve dollars and one cross cut saw of the value of six dollars."

Ogee remained in the neighborhood of the Rock river for a few years after selling the ferry as is evidenced by charges against him for goods purchasiid of John Dixon and noted in his account book which is in the writer's possession, luider date of May 13 and June

Ogee had built a log cabin near the ferry landing, and Mr. Dixon after his arrival added to the building. The ferry landing as operated by both Ogee and Dixon was at what is now the foot of Peoria avenue in the city of Dixon. The log house stood about three hundred feet south of the river bank near the present intersection of Peoria avenue and Pii'st street and Tipon what is now lots 5 and 6 in block 7 of the original town of Dixon.

The log cabin was in two parts, a one-story structure erected by Ogee and a two-story portion built by Mr. Dixon. Between the two houses and forming a part of the one-story building was a ten or twelve-foot hallway with a door at either end, facing the north and south. Entering the hall from the south, on the west was the family sitting room and on the east the travelers' and hired helps' I'ooms, each about eighteen feet square. The furniture of the west room consisted of two beds, a niunber of chairs and a table extending nearly across the room. The east room contained four beds, one in each corner. Father Dixon lived hei'e luitil 1836 or 1837 when he moved to a house which stood a few rods southeast of the present location of the Chicago & Northwestern railway station. The original log cabin stood until 1845. when it was destroyed.

The stoi'e room in which he ti'aded with the Indians was in the east part of the cabin, in the two-story 2)()rtion, and there he sold powder, lead, shot, tobacco, pipes, cloth, blankets, guns, beads, traps, etc., or exchanged them for furs and deer skins, which he would ship to St. Louis, Peoria or Galena.

When John Dixon reached the Rock river and established his house at Ogee's fei'ry he was forty-six years of age, strong, hearty, vigorous and thoroughly acquainted with the frontier. He had had ten years experience in the West. He had traveled the then new State of Illinois from one end to the other on horseback and on foot. He had met and lived with and among the Indians, had become their friend, and was recognized by them as such. Though in the prime of life and in the best of health his hair was white and was worn long, giving him the appearance of age. The Winnebago Indians, with whom he was always on terms of friendship, called him, "Nada-chu-ra-sah," or "Head-hair- white," which term in common speech was soon contracted to "Nachusa." The early white settlers not long after Mr. Dixon 's arrival at the Rock river began to call him "Father" Dixon and from thence on he was so termed and in speaking of him since his death it is usual to so characterize him. An old friend and early settler, John K. Robison said : "His personal appearance was almost unchanged from 1827 to 1876, his hair being white during all those years; age dealt kindly with him."

In addition to operating the fei'ry Mr. Dixon carried on the business of an Indian trader, exchanging blankets, knives, guns, powder, traps, cloth and other necessaries for furs and selling or trading such articles to the white settlers as well. He also conducted a tavern in his cabin and kept overnight the travelers to and from the Galena lead miues.

In 1827 or 1828 Charles S. Boyd and his family moved from Springfield to Boyd's Grove in the present county of Bureau and about the same time O. W. Kellogg and family settled first at Kellogg's Grove in Stephenson county ; later at Buffalo Grove, in order to be near the Dixons. Buffalo Grove is now a part of the town of Polo, Ogle county and twelve miles from Dixon. The Dixon, Boyd and Kellogg families were the first permanent white settlers in the territory between Peoria and Galena. After that settlers became more nmnerous, a few locating in the neighborhood of the ferry and others at eligible spots in the neighboring country.

Ogee's settlement was first known as Ogee's Ferry and a postoffice by that name established, a man by the name of Gay being the first postmaster. Mr. Dixon was appointed postmaster of Ogee's Ferry by commission dated Sept. 29, 1830. Afterwards in 1834 the name was changed to Dixon's Ferry and he was appointed postmaster of that place and served as postmaster until 1837.

The log cabin of his son James P. Dixon, which stood on the south side of First street between Galena avenue and Ottawa avenue and which was built in 1834 was for many years, in part used as a postoffice. It had a room built on the side as a " lean-to ' ' about 10x30 feet, where the postoffice was kept. Before that time the postoffice was at the John Dixon cabin.

Reference is several times made in this sketch to John Dixon 's aceoimt book. Two books were kept by him and are still in existence. One is an account of sales and other transactions with the Indians and whites and begins very soon after he settled on the Rock river. The entries in the other book are principally during and immediately after the Black Hawk war period.

The name of Joseph Ogee appears frequently in this book the first entry under date of April 29, lcS30, with many others on pages 27-28, 47 and 48, and the aggregate charges against him for goods sold and money advanced being in excess of $500. Ogee evidently had a family as is evidenced by a charge of for "214 yds. lining for children clothes 50e," "2 caps for sons $2.50," "2 pr. shoes for sons $2," "2 pr. socks for sons 75c," "2 pr. mittens for sons 75c," "cash to Margaret to go to Fort $2. ' '

It appears that in those days muskrat skins were of considerable value as on June 28, 1830 (Book p. 16), Mr. Dixon sold forty skins at 20 cents each to H. B. Stillman and on Aug. 22, 1830, sold eighty-five more to the same person at 15 cents each and on Sept. 20, 300 more for $60.

By this book it seems (p. 24 j that on Sept. 10, 1830, he loaned to J. M. Strode, who was a character of some note in those days the sum of $5 and afterwards on Oct. 20, made a charge against him of (j21a. cents for dinner, horse feed and ferriage. There are no credits of payment of this account and indeed a large number of the accounts seem to be still due and unpaid.

There are a large number of entries of this character. "July 10, 1831, Edward Hall Dr. Ferriage of waggon, four yoke of oxen and one hors $2.75. Cr. By cash\$1.00."

Many traveleis weie apparently ferried across the river and paid but a part of the bill as money was scarce and he took the chances of being paid the remainder some other day.

The last half of this book is made up of charges against the Indians for goods sold to them, among the names of those with whom he dealt are :

The name of Chief Jari'o is fovuid tiie most of an,y and from the account it would seem that the chief has credit for having paid for what he purchased.

One of the names found most frequently in this book, as well as occasionally in the other one, is that of Col. William S. Hamilton, the son of Alexander Hamilton. Colonel Hamilton's account begins with Jvdy, 1832, extends to as late as May, 1835, at which date he apparently owed Mr. Dixon $339.55 and which, at least as far as the book shows, yet remains unpaid. This bill embraces charges for cash loaned, foi' ferriage and for corn, pork, tin buckets, tents, flour, postage, bacon, buckskins, and other items.

On May 10 and 15, 1832. Col. Zachary Taylor incurred a bill amounting to $11.50, of which only one item is stated, namely: 4 shirt patterns $5. The shirt patterns charge is mai'ked out, as was Mr. Dixon's custom in giving credit, but the I'emainder of the bill is footed up at $6.50 and marked "settled by note."

A great many entries are found of goods fui-nished to the army during the Black Hawk war, for instance, among the charges on Mav 20. 1832, being the following:

The Children Of John And Rebecca Dixon

John and Rebecca Dixon wei'e the parents of twelve children. The names of bnt five of these twelve are now known and a most diligent investigation fails to disclose the names of the remaining seven, or anything of historical value conceiving them.

The oldest child was James Pnrdy Dixon. He was boi'n at New York city on March (J, 1811. and came to Illinois with his parents and continued to reside in this state imtil liis death, wliidi occnrred at Dixon on April 5, 1853. He was married to Fa)mie Reed at Buffalo Grove, Jo Daviess county. Illinois, Dec. 7, 1834. Fannie Reed, who was the daughter of Samuel Reed, was born at Middleton, Delaware county, New York, July 23, 1815, and died at Chicago, Illinois, Feb. 15, 1898. They were the parents of eight children.

Another son was John W. Dixon, who was born in New York city in 1816 and died at Dixon, Illinois, March 19. 1847. He married Elizabeth A. Sherwood at Dixon in 1839. She was born in New York city on Jan. 12, 1819, and died at Dixon, Jan. 27, 1895. They were the parents of three children.

Elijah Dixon was the third son of John Dixon and was bom at New York city in 1817 and died at Janesville, Wisconsin, of pnenmonia, on March 15, 1843. He had never married.

Mary L. Dixon, a daughter, the date of whose birth cannot be ascertained, mari'ied Isaac S. Boardman at Dixon in 1840, and died in 1850. They were the parents of three children.

A girl wliose name cannot be learned died of scarlet fever at the age of tliree and one-half years while the family w^ere living on what was afterwards known as the "Doctor Everett Farm" on the north side of the river, a short distance west of the city of Dixon.

In addition to the foregoing, fonr other children were born of this marriage whose names or places of birth or death have long ago been forgotten and of whom no record now remains.

In arldition to the foregoing, practically nothing is now known or can be learned as to the life of John Dixon prior to the time when he and his family settled at Dixon's Ferry. Subsequent to that time for many years he was a historic character in Illinois. His log cal;)in home on the banks of Rock liver was an open house for all kinds of j^eople, Indian and white, pioneers, settlers, adventurers, indeed for all of the persons whom business, pleasure or love of the wilderness brought to the frontier. He operated the ferry, kejDt a tavern, acted as postmaster, was a guide, Indian trader, and in general was the leading character and first citizen of this part of Illinois.

During the early years of his life here there were no neighbors but the Indians, and the strangers passing through the country were piincipally en route to the lead mines in the vicinity of Galena. During this period he traded extensively with the Indians, exchanging guns, ammunition, cloth, knives, axes, and other necessaries of life, for furs. This continued imtil after the Black Hawk war. Prior to the outbreak of this war he had established himself in the confidence of his Indian neighbors to such an extent that there was but little or no danger of harm to himself or his family even though the Indians might have been disposed to do violence to the whites in general. When Black Hawk and his followers went up the river immediately before the battle at Stillman's creek, they stopped at Dixon's Perry and Black Hawk with others of his followers had dinner at Dixon's home, under the following circumstances:

Mr. Dixon wvas at Galena, having gone there before he knew that there was any probability of their leaving the vicinity of Rock Island. Mrs. Dixon was at home alone with their children. The Indians crowded in, filling the house. She sent for Old Crane, a Winnebago chief. He immediately came to her assistance and with the aid of Wischick, one of the chiefs of the Sacs and Poxes, got the intruders out of the house. At the suggestion of Old Crane, Mrs. bixon prepared a meal for the chiefs of the Sacs and Foxes and he, Black Hawk, Wischick and Kaapapi had their diiuier while the remainder of the band went into camp at the large spring on the south bank of the river nearly opposite the present site of the iJixon waterworks.

Afterwards it was thought desirable for Mi-s. Dixon and her children to go to (ialena and remain until peace had been restored, and she did so. J()hn Dixon remained at the ferry for a time and later on went with the army into Wisconsin and acted as commissary, scout and otherwise until the close of hostilities. During this campaign he was in the pei'sonal service of Lieutenant-Colonel Tayloi' and messed with him and his officers. During this period two of the small children of Mi-, and Mrs, Dixon, whose names cannot now be learned, died at Galena.

The Dixon home at the ferry was not closed during all of this period, however. Mrs. Dixon was there during a portion of the time and their sons, James and Elijah, were there or in the vicinity, so that the doors were constantly open for the entertainment and care of those who came. JNIany men of note during that period and others whose names are found on the pages of subsequent history spent days and sometimes weeks at this frontier cabin. Gov. John Reynolds, CJeneral Atkinson and Lieut.-Gol. Zachary Taylor were the leaders at that time, and among the many others of later note were the then Lieut. Jefferson Davis, Capt. and Private Abraham Lincoln, Lieut. Robert Anderson, Edward D. Baker, Albert Sidney Johnston, Gen.- Wiufield Scott and his aid, Lieut. Joseph E. Johnston. In later years many of those whose names are mentioned in telling of their experiences in those days have related their kindly feeling and gratitude towaixls Father Dixon for his kindness to them while they were at his home.

"While Father Dixon carried the United States mail from Spring-field to Galena the streams were unbridged, not even 'corduroyed ; ' swamps imdrained ; roads almost impassable ; houses few and far between. Snow storms were moi'e severe and the cold more intense than in later years. In the winter of 1830 and '31 (the winter of the deep snow) the snow averaged three feet deep from New Year's day to the 15th of March. No track was kept open from one settlement to another, and it was with great difficulty that roads were kept open even in densely settled districts. Fifteen and eighteen to twenty-seven miles were the usual distances between the homes along the route. On one of the longer routes during this memoi'able winter, FatLer Dixon and some of the stage passengers were so benumbed with cold and nearly frozen, as to be unable to get out of the conveyance. After a good warnung and hot coffee, however, all were able to resume their journey.

"During the Black Hawk war Father Dixon had the contract for supplying the army with beef to the time of the final battle of the Bax Axe liver. His place on the march was in the rear of the arm}', and from the time Wisconsin liver was crossed many times he was left so far beliind as to be out of supporting distance. It so happened on the march, that at one time midnight was passed before he came to camp. He was hailed by the sentinel with the snap of the lock of the gun in the sentinel's hands, and these words : 'Who comes there?' Father Dixon replied: 'Major of the Steer Battalion.' The soldier gave the order: 'Major of the Steer Battalion, march in. ' This sally of wit on both sides was the foundation of Father Dixon's military title. Another time he had been off the tj'ail hunting one of his beeves, and on again returning to the trail he suddenly found himself face to face with two Indians, who were as much astonished at the meeting as he was. It was no time for ceremony. All were armed; Father Dixon lowered his gun, and walking about five rods, gave his hand to the nearest savage, saluting him in Winnebago. The Indian replied in Winnebago. Father Dixon and both the Indians were alike overjoyed at this unexpected good fortune - Father Dixon, that he was permitted to save his scalp for another day ; the Indians that they had found some one understanding their own language, under whose influence they coidd safely be introduced to General Atkinson, for whom they had important dispatches. Their life was in danger if seen by a soldier, and they felt their peril and were in serious embarrassment about how to approach the army.

"Father Dixon's age, and experience witli all classes of men, should have qualified him to safely criticise and distrust humanity, but ho had no apprehension of imposition ; he took human nature as it foil from the hands of the infinite God. His estimate never tallied with the evil; never tired of being wronged, and as a consequence he was often disappointed in men. Obliging to all, hospitable and kind to the needy and helpless in every condition, he often trusted strangers and travelei's from whom he never received anything in return. It was no luuisual thing, when the circumstances of travelers were told Father Dixon, for him to allow his ferry and hotel bills to remain impaid. and to give them pro^dsions and funds necessary to complete the journey - many dollars were giveu away in tliis manner. His unselfishness manifested itself in good will to all men ; the Indian or the child looked to him for favors and kindness and was not turned away empty.

"Mrs. Dixon was one of the few women, who could and did adorn any position in life in which she was placed. Her person was rather under size, exhibiting no marked peculiarity. She was intelligent far above the age and circumstances surrounding her, and had a warm heart and ready hand for every good word and work alike. Devout and fervent in all the holy exercises of I'eligiou and morality; ardently attached to the church to which she belonged, she gave her hand to all who bore the name and character of that great Christian body. Her moral worth, talents, virtue and her whole life, was one of devotion to Christianity. She was Solomon's ideal of glorious womauhuod before he was corrupted by the false glare and glitter of a false religion and an impure life. I record her life as the one to whom I owe more than any other, except mother and wife. As an early reminiscence of Mrs. Dixon's rare tact and knowledge of character, shall I venture to write that in the dead of winter, preceding the Black Hawk war, the Prophet from Prophetstown, Black Hawk, and a chief from Rock Island whose name I have forgotten, held a council at Dixon's Ferry, and then and there negotiated with the Pottawatomies for the occupancy of the Spotted Arms' town near the present site of Rockford. Meal time came three times a day, to which the chiefs at the Comieil fire were invited as guests of Mrs. Dixon. She presided as waiter, and to allay any fears of her guests, sat down and ate and drank with them. The perfect lady was reminded by Black Hawk as spokesman, of her goodness, and he called the attention of the other chiefs to 'her care and politeness to them.' "

Many years afterwards a bill was pending in the Senate to award Mr. Dixon a quarter section of land for services rendered during this war. Some opposition was encountered and Senator Jefferson Davis taking part in the debate did much towards securing the passage of the measure. The following extract from the debate in the Senate indicates very clearly that Senator Davis and Senator Trumbidl felt well acquainted with the services rendered by Mr. Dixon in the early days :

"Mr. L;\T;nan Trumbull : I ask that that bill may be put on its passage. I will remark that the chairman of the committee on public lands, with whom I had a conversation, stated that he reported adversely on this bill to gi'ant a land warrant to Mr. Dixon, for the reason that the testimony before the committee did not seem to be sufficient of his liaving rendered any service. He was not enlisted in the service, but he ijerfornied valuable service in the Black Hawk war - furnished supplies, aud acted as a guide and interpreter. He is an old man over eighty years of age, and is now in very reduced circumstances. Some of his friends have made this a^jplication to get the old man a land warrant; aud he comes, 1 think, within the spirit of the law. The Senator from Mississippi (Mr. Jefferson Davis) who served in that war, knows him personally, and perhaps he would make a statement to the Senate of his knowledge of the services for which it is proposed to grant a land warrant to this poor old man.

"Mr. Jefferson Davis: As stated by the Senator from Illinois, 1 do know this individual personally, and believe him to be a very honest man, and I should have great confidence in his statements. He was one of the first jDioueers in the country near what is now the town of Dixon, formerly known as Dixon's Ferry. He lived there in an isolated position when J first knew him. His house was reached by crossing a wide prairie country inhabited only by Indians. He was of great service in the first settlement of the country. He was of service to the troops when they ascended the Rock liiver in the Black Hawk War. F'or some time a post was established at or near his house. He was of service at that time furnishing sui^plies and giving information in regard to the country, and afterwards taking care of the sick. In a liberal S])irit towards camp followers, we have since that time provided for packmen, for teamsters, and for clerks, giving them bounty land warrants equally with the soldiers who were serving in the same campaign. I think the only objection in this case is the want of testimony; but I have such confidence in the individual together with my recollection of the circumstances, that I would say that he was within the spirit of the law, and I should be glad because of his many services in the first settlement of that country, to see him thus rewarded."

In 1834 a Government survey was made of the present township of Dixon and shortly thereafter Mr. Dixon entered from the Government and afterwards acquired patents to the lands now comprising the "original town" of Dixon and the "original town" of North Dixon.

In 1835 at his request, a survey and plat of the town of Dixon was made by a man by the name of Bennett, of Galena, and the original plat filed at Galena which was the county seat, Dixon then being a part of Jo Daviess county. This survey included about forty acres of land extending from Rock river to one-half block south of Third street and from one-half block east of Ottawa a> euue to one-half block west of Peoria avenue.

Afterwards, in the year 1840, a new survey and plat of the '-original town" of Dixon was made by Joseph Crawford at the request of John Dixon, Smith Gilbraith, and S. M. Bowman and Lane, who owned the laud which was thus subdivided, and this plat is the one that was subsequently used in the conveyance of town lots. In 1842 Mr. Dixon had Joseph Crawford survey and lay out the town of North Dixon on laud belonging to him on the north side of the river.

The tracts now occupied by the courthouse square, market squaie and John Dixon Park were dedicated by him to public use and many lots now of great value were given away by him to settlers. When the first courthouse was built in Dixon, in addition to furnishing the site, he donated eighty acres of land which was sold and the proceeds used in helping to erect the building. Other lots were sold at small prices so as to induce settlement and building until finally he liad disposed of practically all that he owned without any particular profit to himself.

In 1838 after a general system of internal improvements was adopted by the state, Mr. Dixon was appointed by Governor Duncan as one of the board of commissioners to fill a vacanc_y caused by the death of Colonel Stephenson and subsequently he was elected by the Legislature as a member of the board.

The State of Illinois entered into an extensive scheme of public improvement, consisting largel}^ in the construction of railioad and of river improAements in aid of navigation. A railroad through the state was projected which, among other places, was to run via Dixon, Elkhorn Grove, and Savanna to Galena. A vast amount of work was laid out and but little completed, although a debt of over ten million dollars was incurred by the state.

Prom Galena to Savanna much of the grading for the proposed railroad was completed. Mr. Dixon as commissioner had charge of the payment of the wages of the men engaged on this work in northern Illinois and it was his duty to get the money at Springfield and bring it or cause it to be brought to the place where the men were employed.

He drew a draft for $11,500 on the Treasurer at Springfield and intrusted it to a man by the name of Hamlin for collection. Hamlin made the collection and immediately absconded. Hamlin was pursued for weeks by James P. Dixon, Elijah Dixon and

Smith Gilbraitli and tiually captured at Baltimore, Maryland, but when arrested had disposed of the money. John JJixon in the meantime had made up the loss with his own funds and was never reimbursed for the loss.

In 1840 Mr. Dixon went to Washington to make application for the removal of the United States land office from Galena to Dixon and through the intiuence of his friends there with whom he had become acquainted in the Black Hawk war times he was presented to President Van Buren and secured the order for the removal of the office.

An instance of his courage and self-possession is told in connection with the early history of Ogle county. In 1838 in what is now the town of Pine Creek, in Ogle county, a claim had been "jumped" by some men who had no right of jiossession of the property. Coui'ts were scarce, the law did not always afford a prompt and certain remedy for wrongs suffered, and, as a consequence, the well disposed and honest people of the frontier as it then was were obliged to enforce the law themselves without the aid of the processes of the courts.

The claim had been taken possession of by a party of men with a known reputation as lawbreakers and whose names are familiar to those acquainted with the annals of the "Banditti of the Prairie." They were uotorit)Us characters and had built a log house with loopholes for theii' rifles and had laid in a supply of j^rovi- .sions and numbered ten or twelve of the worst characters of the coimtry.

Under Mr. Dixon's leadership a force was organized. The body met at Washington Grove, about two miles distant from the cabin. The men in the party gathered fi'om Dixon, Grand Detour and Oregon, among those from Dixon being John Dixon, his son, James P. Dixon, Smith Gilbraitli and others. They were armed with guns and axes and when they approached the fortified cabin were warned by the inmates that if they advanced beyond a certain limit they would be shot.

At this challenge John Dixon and Hugh Moore of Grand Detour volunteered to break in the door and they ran past the dead line up to the cabin itself, reaching it without injury. Dixon and Moore battered down the door of the cabin and the other membei's of their party coming up attacked the walls and roof, pulling them down. The men inside seeing that it would be useless to continue the tight, surrendered, the building was torn to pieces and burned and its inmates escorted out of the county.

On another occasion a few years afterwards four men took possession of a log cabin standing upon a preemjjtion claim belonging to another person near the place where the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company station at Dixon now stands. A party armed with rifles went to dispossess them. Mr. Dixon went with the party but was armed only with his pipe. The men inside of the cabin were armed and threatened violence. Mr. Dixon alone walked up to the door of the cabin and was told to leave or he would be shot. However, he held his ground and through much patience and persuasion and long pipe smoking finally induced the inmates to surrender.

Immediately after coming to Ogee's Fei'ry Mr. Dixon found that the Indians were drinking whiskev to excess and he interested himself in their behalf by attempting to discourage that practice. He had ardent supporters among some of the Indian leaders and equally as determined enemies. One of the latter named Dah- Shun-Egra, while drunk, attacked and attempted to kill him with a muskrat spear. Dixon stood his ground and after a struggle disai'med the Indian, although for a time in great peiil. His coolness at this time of danger and his evident willingness to hglit when necessary gave him a high standing for courage with the Indians.

Mr. Dixon in his early life was a whig Init l)ecame a republican when that party was formed. He attended the first republican convention at Bloomington in 18-56 and made a si^eech at the convention at the time of the organization of the party.

The last pul^lic office held by him was that of president of the board of trustees of the town of Dixon. On March 7, 185'^. he was elected as one of the trustees of the town and was by the trustees chosen as president of the board, and served as such for one year.

Mrs. Dixon died on Feb. 11, 1847, and their son John W. Dixon died but a few days thereafter, on March 19, 1847. The oldest son, James P. Dixon, died on April 5, 1853. His decease left John Dixon childless. The father of twelve children he had outlived all of them. The remainder of his life he made his home with Elizabeth A. Dixon, who was the widow of the deceased son, John W. T^ixon. in Xorth Dixon, at a house belonging to her. at the intersection of ISTorth Jefferson avenue and Bi-adshaw street.

For many years after the iDcliaiis left Illinois some of them came each year to visit him. This continned for years after he moved to the home in North Dixon. A delegation v^ould come nearly every summer from their home in Wisconsin, by canoe down the Rock river. They would go from the river to Ms house, make a cami? in his yard and remain there smoking their pij^es and visiting for a few days and then take their canoes back up the river to their homes. It was on one of these visits that Father Dixon presented one of the Indians with what was said to have been the only overcoat that he ever had. He never wore an overcoat, so it is said, but in his old age some one presented him with one, but he declined to use it, claiming that he never had used and had no need for such things and as he felt that it was useless to him he presented it to his Indian friend.

Ml. Dixon was to the end of his life in excellent bodily and mental health. As late as in 1873, when eighty-nine years of age, he served on a grand jury in the United States District Court at Chicago.

Shortly before the death of Mrs. Dixon and when nearly sixty years of age he divided the greater portion of the real estate which remained in his possession between his two surviving sons, and during the remainder of his life was not particularly active in business affairs. His ])hysical and mental vigor, however, were in a great measure retained until his decease.

In May, 1876, he was taken ill with what was to be his last sickness and in July 6, 1876, he die<l, at the age of ninety-one years, eight months and twenty-eight days. His body was taken to the courthouse in Dixon, where it lay in state until the funeral. In the newspapers published at that time it is stated that upwards of ten thousand persons attended the funeral, the courthoiise square and the streets adjoining being crowded to such an extent that the voices of the speakers at the ceremony could not reach the outskirts of the crowd.

"John Dixon is dead. On the 11th of May, nature with a sudden stroke disengaged the cord that bound him; the old ferryman softly di'ifted away from the shore of time over the rippling waters and on last Thursday morning at half-past seven he landed on the other side - never to return. John Dixon. His name is memory. For mental gifts, mild disposition and jierforming purpose there will cluster around it the same recollectiuus that uow eushrine aud hallow the uame of Washiugtou. Some great men may be houored for their success, others may be praised for their achievemeuts ; but this humble mau gained that which ti'ansceuds all honor and exceeds all praise - that which wealth cannot command or position bestow; that which is due only to virtue aud honest worth - our affection and esteem.

" VVe will not attempt his eulogy, it is inscribed in every heart that knew him - his deeds are a portion of the country. " "To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die. '

"His name need not be inscribed in the Pantheon of history ; as long as the waters of the Rock river continue to tiow ; as long as its valley blooms or this city lasts ; as long as there is a pen to write or a tongue to utter; and when towering monuments with which grandeur uow mourns over departed pride have lost their marble pomp and are crumbled into ruin and decay ; when men now great for their wealth are forgotten and their earthly labors aud deeds have perished John Dixon will live in memory, cherished and revered. ' '

On the day succeeding his death a public meeting was held and the following resolutions, drafted by Judge John V. Eustace, were passed and were subsequent!}' passed and adopted at a meeting of the city council and recorded in the minutes of the proceedings of the council :

"We, the people of Dixon, called upon to mourn the departure of him who gave our city its existence and its name, desire to place among its records this testimonial of our appreciation of his virtues. His neighbors, many of us who have known him for a third of a century and who, during all that time, have looked np to him and loved him as a father, with one accord have assembled to pay this tribute to his memory.

"John Dixon, after a life extended far beyond the limit (n-dinarily assigned to man, at the ripe age of nearly ninety-two years, one-half of which had l^een passed in this town, so loved by him, which he had made, has departed from this scene of his earthly labors. He outlived all that were by the ties of blood nearest aud dearest to him, his weary jjilgrimage at last is ended. He has gone to them in the siunmer land.

"A man of great strength of mind, force of character and determination of imrpose. yet he has lived and died without an enemy. Forgetful of himself he lived for others, a pure and

" 'So lived, that when the summons came to join The innumerable caravan that moves To that mysterious realm where each shall take His chambers in the silent halls of death. He went, not like the quarry slave, at night Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approached the grave Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch About him and lies down to pleasant dreams.'