BIOGRAPHY - JANE DIXON
Mrs. Jane E. Dixon, well known in Ford county, where she has many warm friends, is a native of Marshall county, Illinois, born June 12, 1838. Her parents were Cornelius and Ann (Sidell) Hunt, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of her brother, John S. Hunt. She is the widow of James Dixon, who was born in Manchester, England, June 9, 1836, and died at his home in Melvin, Illinois, May 12, 1904, at the age of sixty-seven years, eleven months, and three days. He came to America with his parents when five years of age, the family home being established in Putnam county, Illinois, where they resided for a number of years. They afterward removed to Connecticut, but remained there for only a year and then took up their abode in Wisconsin. Another year passed and they returned to Illinois, settling in La Salle county, where James Dixon was reared to manhood. During the period of his youth he aided in the work of the farm as his age and strength permitted, and received practical training in the labors that thus devolved upon him, becoming well qualified for future work of that character. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside all personal considerations and joined the army, enlisting in 1861, in response to the first call for volunteers. He was assigned to duty with Company G, Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, and after serving for one year was transferred to the navy under Commodore Foote as a member of the crew of the flagship Brenton. His position was in this regard often a most perilous one, and because of the greater danger a year was deducted from his term of enlistment. When his term had expired he returned to his home with a creditable military record, having done faithful, loyal service as a soldier.
On the 8th of October, 1865, Mr. Dixon was united in marriage to Miss Jane E. Hunt, and as the years passed seven children were added to the household, namely: Mary S., now the wife of George Worthington, who is living in Melvin, Illinois; C. H., a resident of California; James B., who is located in Ford county; Laura, the wife of James Cooper, whose home is in Livingston county, this state; Adelaide, the wife of C. A. Hildreth, whose home is in Ford county; J. M.. who is located in Bloomington; and Grace, deceased.
In the year 1886 Mr. and Mrs. Dixon removed to Ford county, Illinois, where he resided until his death, with the exception of two years spent in Saybrook, this state. While there located he conducted a meat market and was among those who suffered heavy losses through the great fire which swept over that town several years ago. At the time of his death he was the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in Peach Orchard township, Ford county, but since his demise his widow has disposed of that property. Mr. Dixon was a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a man whose life was at all times actuated by high and honorable principles. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of those who knew him, and was ever worthy of the trust which was given him. In the work of the church he was deeply and actively interested and was serving as one of the church trustees at the time of his demise. In politics he was a republican, interested in the work of the party and doing all he could to Promote the growth and extend the influence of that great political organization. For ten years he served as school director and the cause of education found in him a stalwart friend. Called to his final rest, his remains were laid in the Melvin cemetery, while his loss was deeply mourned by many friends as well as his immediate family, he left his children the priceless heritage of an untarnished name and an example well worthy of emulation.
Mrs. Dixon now owns and occupies a fine residence in the village of Melvin. She taught school for ten terms prior to her marriage and has always advocated those interests which promote the general culture and mental and moral progress. Her entire life has been passed in this section, where she has many friends.
Extracted 17 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 736-738.
