Private JACKSON DIXON, Co. B, 86th Ilinois

Jackson Dixon was born on _____________ __, 18__ (c. 1840/41) in ____________ County, Virginia, now West Virginia, the son of James Dixon and Sarah (Shaw) Dixon.

James Dixon was born in 1789 and died on Nov. 13, 1849 in his 60th year and his mortal remains were laid in the West Liberty Cemetery in West Liberty, Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia).

At the time of the 1850 census, the Dixon family is found in Ohio County, Virginia;
Sarah Dixon F 43 Pennsylvania
William Dixon M 18 Virginia
John Dixon M 17 Virginia
James Dixon M 15 Virginia
Wiley Dixon M 12 Virginia
Jackson Dixon M 9 Virginia
Barbary E Dixon F 7 Virginia
Samantha J Dixon F 4 Virginia

Sometime during the 1850's, Sarah Dixon was married to widower David Frazier on May 6, 1852 in Ohio County, Virginia. David Frazier was born c. January 11, 1909 in Roney's Point, Ohio County, Virginia. David was 1st married on May 6, 1837 in Ohio County, Virginia to Nancy Giffin. The children born to David and Nancy include;
1. James Frazier, born c. 1838 in Virginia.

2. Nancy Jane Frazier, born c. 1839/40 in Virginia.

3. Daniel Giffin Frazier, born c. 1841/42 in Virginia.

4. Margaret Frazier, born c. 1843 in Virginia.

5. David Frazier, born c. 1845 in Virginia.

6. William Frazier, born c. 1847 in Virginia.

Nancy (Giffin) Frazier died c. 1850 and her remains may lie in the Old Tent Cemetery near Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia.
David Frazier and Sarah (Shaw) Dixon were married in 1852. At the time of the 1860 census, the combined Frazier/Dixon family is found in Ohio County, Virginia;
David Frazier M 52 Virginia
Sarah Frazier F 54 Virginia
James Frazier M 22 Virginia
Daniel G Frazier M 18 Virginia
Nancy J Frazier F 20 Virginia
Margaret Frazier F 15 Virginia
David Frazier M 14 Virginia
William Frazier M 12 Virginia
Barbara E Dixon F 17 Virginia
Samantha J Dixon F 13 Virginia

In the 1860's, David and Sarah moved their combined families to Pennsylvania, where at the time of the 1870 census, they are found in Donegal Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania;
David Frazier M 61 Virginia
Sarah Frazier F 63 Virginia
Nancy J Frazier F 28 Virginia
David Frazier M 24 Virginia
William Frazier M 22 Virginia
James C Patton M 14 Ohio

At the time of the 1880 census, David and Sarah are found living in Donegal Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania;
David Frazier Self M 71 West Virginia
Sarah Frazier Wife F 73 West Virginia
Manda Taylor Other F 65 West Virginia

David Frazier died on April 8, 1893 in West Alexander, Washington County, Pennsylvania. Sarah is not found in the 1900 census and very likely died in Washington County, Pennsylvania in the 1880's or 1890's as well. Their mortal remains are very likely laid in the West Alexander Cemetery in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Now to continue with what we know about Jackson Dixon and some of his brothers. After their father's death, Jackson and some of his brothers made the decision to start out on their own. In the 1850's, Jackson and possibly his brothers, John and William, came west to Illinois, where they settled in Marshall County. At the time of the 1860 census, Jackson Dixon and a John W. Salter are found working on the farm of Joseph & Mary Ray in Saratoga Township in Marshall County. Both Jackson and John will soon be members of Co. B of the 86th Illinois. Joseph and Mary's son, Newton Ray, will also soon become a member of Co. B of the 86th Illinois, along with Jackson Dixon. A James Dixon is found working on the farm of Zephanum & Sarah Bell. This may very well be a cousin of Jackson's. Living in the Bell household in a Jonathan Kingsley, who also will soon become a member of Co. B of the 86th Illinois. Both the Bell and Dixon family have ties with the State of Virginia and may be related;
1037 Zephanum Bell 56 M OH Farmer
1037 Sarah Bell 56 F VA
1037 John Bell 22 M OH Laborer
1037 Mary Bell 20 F OH
1037 Robert H. Bell 18 M OH
1037 Jane Dixon 26 F OH
1037 Jonathan Kingsley 20 M IN Hedger
1037 James Dixon 24 M VA Laborer
1039 Joseph Ray 45 M VA Farmer
1039 Mary (Beeks) Ray 44 F PA
1039 Newton Ray 19 M PA
1039 L. J. B. Ray 9 M PA
1039 John Salter 25 M NY Farmer
1039 Jackson Dixon 19 M VA Farmer

From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902.

Typed by Linda Fluharty.

pp. 544-546

JAMES DIXON, a farmer and stock breeder of Ohio county, West Virginia, whose reputation extends throughout the state, was born in 1835 on the farm settled by his grandfather, John Dixon, at the head of Dixon's Run,
in Ohio county. He is a son of James Dixon, Sr., and grandson of John Dixon.
John Dixon, who it is thought was of noble birth, for he always wore a wig and knockerbockers, immigrated to this country about the year 1770 from Ireland. He was a well educated man and possessed of considerable wealth for that period. He located 400 acres of land in Ohio county on
the run which has since borne his name. He was a strict John Knox Presbyterian. It is claimed that he served in the Revolutionary War.
James Dixon, Sr., father of our subject, was born on the farm in Ohio county in 1794, and died in 1849. He came into possession of the farm, and in addition to farming he engaged in stock buying with Richard Hardesty, who was owner at that time of what is known as the McColloch Ridge. The stock bought in the Ohio Valley they would drive across the Alleghany Mountains, to the only market there was at that time; as he continued in the stock business all his life he drove many thousand cattle over the mountains to the Eastern market. As a judge of the weight of stock, he was unexcelled. In 1811 he assisted in building the road form Vincennes, Indiana, up the Wabash River, when General William Henry Harrison went up the river and whipped Tecumsah's brother, the Prophet, at the memorable field of Tippecanoe. After this, Mr. Dixon was drafted into the army, and served in the War of 1812. He married Sarah Shaw, who lived to reach the ripe old age of ninety-two years. They had five sons: James, the subject of this sketch; John and William who died on the Illinois River; Wyley, who died in Ohio county, when in young manhood; and Jackson, who fought in the Civil War, becoming a member of the 47th Regiment, Ill. Inf., under Colonel Bryant, and serving until he became disabled by exposure and wound, when he returned to his home, and died near the Illinois River. He was considered one of the strongest men in the regiment.
James Dixon, our subject, passed his early life on the farm, and received a fair education in the public schools. When a boy, he went west, where he remained eight years; for one year of this period, he was engaged on what was
known as the "Underground Railroad," over which fleeing slaves from the South were shipped to safety in Canada. He visited all the states in the West, and went to Kansas Territory, when Kansas City was a village. When the slavery
question brought the Northern and Southern sympathizers into conflict, the Yankee jayhawkers and the border ruffians made things very interesting for him, boy as he was. When a supposed thief or murderer was caught, he was hung with little ceremony to the limb of the first tree at hand, for they had no jails or other places of confinement for criminals. Many an interesting reminiscence of this stirring period does he tell, to the delight of his friends. Returning to Ohio county, Mr. Dixon settled among the hills on the farm, owned by William Cochran in the early days, who was killed by the Indians, and was buried just across the north line of the farm on the farm that is now owned by S. S. Jacob, Esq.
In 1862, Mr. Dixon married Florence E. Martin, daughter of Richard Martin, whose father came to this country from Ireland. The following children were born to them: Lawrence R., a graduate of the West Liberty State Normal School in 1884, who taught school for a time, and now owns and operates a fruit farm; R. L., a farmer and stock raiser, who owns a farm near West Liberty; James who
graduated from the West Liberty State Normal School in 1893, then attended the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he attended a veterinary college in Toronto, Canada, from which he graduated with high honors - he is now practicing at Greeley, Iowa; and William W., who is at home with his parents, and shows a decided genious for mechanical work.
Mr. Dixon is independent in politics. For a number of years he was a commissioned officer in the Virginia militia, under Col. T. Y. Hervey. He takes a great interest in county and state fairs, farmers' institutes, and is a member of the Panhandle Farmers' Insurance Company, which has proved a great success. He is a lover of good stock, particularly horses, ans tries to raise the best he can, with the means at his command."

(Note; There was no Jackson Dixon or Andrew Jackson Dixon in the 47th Illinois. He was a member of the 86th Illinois.)

On August 15, 1862, Jackson Dixon, Newton Ray and John W. Salter all volunteered to serve in a company which was being raised in the Henry, Illinois area of Marshall County, by a man by the name of Elias C. Brearley. At the time he volunteered he listed Saratoga Township as his residence.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name DIXON, JACKSON
Rank PVT Company B Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence SARATOGA, MARSHALL CO, IL Age 21 Height 5' 10 1/2 Hair LIGHT
Eyes GRAY Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity VA

Service Record
Joined When AUG 15, 1862 Joined Where MARSHALL CO, IL
Joined By Whom CPT BREASLEY Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY JAN 7, 1863 AT LOUISVILLE KY

When Brearley had about 100 volunteers, he led the Marshall County company into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, Brearley and 88 of his volunteers, including now Private Newton Ray, were mustered into service as Co. B of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Brearley was elected Captain of Co. B.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the railroad depot. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had been mustered into service at Camp Peoria. Together, at the depot, the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt in Jeffersonville, Indiana, located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more to come. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee where they would go into winter camp.
However, Jackson Dixon may not have participated in this battle.
The new life style and living conditions in the Civil war armies was not conducive to good heatlh. When the men of McCook's Brigade, pulled out of the Louisville area, many men were left behind sick in the hospitals in the Louisville area. One of these may very well have been Private Jackson Dixon. If he was not left behind at this time, then he took sick, almost certainly before the men of McCook's Brigade reached Nashville, Tennessee and he must have been sent back to Louisville at a latter date. Whatever the case and whatever his illness, nothing the doctors did for Private Jackson Dixon seemed to help his conditions and in early January of 1863, the doctors decided that they best thing they could do for Private Dixon was to send him home, with the hope that with the help of family and some home cooking, he could regain his health. So on January 7, 1863, Private Jackson Dixon was discharged from the service for disability and sent home.
Back home in Illinois, with the help of that family and some home cooking, Jackson Dixon survived his ailment, though he may never have been the same health wise after this. At the time of the 1865 Illinois state census, Jackson Dixon and his wife, both of whom are between the ages of 20 and 30, are found in Saratoga Center, Marshall County, Illinois.
Jackson Dixon was married to Lucinda _____________ c. 1865/66 in Illinois. Lucinda was born c. 1845/46 in Ohio. Her maiden name may have been Gilbert as there is a Gilbert family living in Saratoga Township of Marshall County, not far from where Jackson Dixon lived. This is way the Gilbert family appears in 1860;
C Gilbert M 45 Conn.
M A Gilbert F 38 Ohio
John Gilbert M 17 Ohio
Lucinda Gilbert F 15 Ohio
M E Gilbert F 14 Ohio
Eliz Gilbert F 12 Ohio
Henry Gilbert M 9 Ills
Benj Gilbert M 7 Ills
Chas Gilbert M 5 Ills
Wm Gilbert M 1 Ills

Three children are known to have been born to Jackson and Lucinda;
1. Wiley N. Dixon, born ___________ __, 1867 in Marshall County, Illinois. Wiley was married to Olive May Carter on December 1, 1904 in Monona County, Iowa. Wiley and Olive were the parents of at least one son;
A. James Verne Dixon, born June 11, 1911 in Grant Townhip, Woodbury County, Iowa.

At the time of the 1900 census, Wiley and Worth are found in Saratoga Township, Marshall County, Illinois;
Worth Dixon Head M Apr 1872 28 Illinois
Wiley Dixon Brother M Feb 1867 33 Illinois

At the time of the 1930 census, Wiley and his family are found in Grange Township, Woodbury County, Iowa. His father and mother are listed as having been born in W. Virginia and Ohio;
Wiley N Dixon Head M 63 Illinois
Olive M Dixon Wife F 52 Iowa
James Verne Dixon Son M 18 Iowa

Wiley's only son, James, is believed to have died early in 1940. At the time of the 1940 census, Wiley and his family are found in Grant Township, Woodbury County, Iowa;
Willey Dixon Head M 73 Illinois
Olive Dixon Wife F 62 Iowa
Lizzie Carter Mother-in-law F 85 West Virginia

Wiley N. Dixon died on ____________ __, 1942 and his mortal remains were laid in the Peiro-Bethel Cemetery in Woodbury County, Iowa. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 103235231.

2. Worth/Worthef Dixon, born April __, 1872/73 in Marshall County, Illinois. Worth is found living with his widowed mother in the 1880 census in Marshall County, Illinois.
At the time of the 1920 census, Worth is a Deputy Sheriff of Marshall County and is boarding with the Longman family on 6th Street in the city of Lacon, Marshall County, Illinois. Worth is single;
Thomas Longman Head M 57 Canada
Luella Longman Wife F 54 Illinois
Reba Longman Daughter F 21 Illinois
Ivan Longman Son M 17 Illinois
Clyde Longman Son M 14 Illinois
Marjorie Dobson Boarder F 21 Illinois
Worth Dixson Boarder M 47 Illinois
William Joseph Prisoner M 17 Syria
Clarence R Eddington Prisoner M 20 Illinois
David H Conrad Prisoner M 26 Ohio
Henry C Hibbs Prisoner M 23 Indiana

Worth Dixon died on ____________ __, 1944 and his mortal remains were laid in the Saratoga United Methodist Cemetery near Camp Grove, Marshall County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 96335573.

3. Nevia V. Dixon, born c. 1873/74 in Marshall County, Illinois.

Now to continue with what we know about Jackson Dixon and Lucinda (__________) Dixon;
At the time of the 1870 census, Jackson and his family are found in Saratoga Township, Marshall County, Illinois;
Jackson Dixon 28 Farmer W.V.
Lucinda Dixon 24 Ohio
Wiley N. Dixon 3 Illinois
William Burnes 23 Ohio

Private Jackson Dixon died on October 8, 1876 in Marshall County, Illinois at the age of 35, possibly never being the same after his stint in the service. Jackson Dixon's mortal remains were laid in the Saratoga United Methodist Cemetery in Camp Grove, Marshall County, Illinois.
The Henry Republican newspaper, of Henry, Illinois, published the following two notices in it's Thur., October 12, 1876 edition;
"In Saratoga township, Oct. 8, after a long illness, Jackson Dixon."
"The death angel is gathering the jewels from our midst with no sparing hand. Last Sunday little Jimmie, aged 6 years, son of Orren and Mary Frisbey, was borne from their loving embrace by angel messengers to the bright and shining shore on the other side. We also heard of the death of Jackson Dixon, of Saratoga. (Note: Jackson Dixon served in Co. B of the 86th Illinois, while Orrin served in Co. E of the 86th Illinois. They almost certainly knew each other.)

At the time of the 1880 census, Lucinda and her children are found in Saratoga Township, Marshall County, Illinois;
Lewsinda Dixon Self F 36 Ohio
Willis Dixon Son M 13 Illinois
Willy Dixon Son M 8 Illinois
Nevia V Dixon Daughter F 6 Illinois

Nothing more is known of Lucinda after this time and it is not known whether she remarried, when she died or where her mortal remains were laid.

by Baxter B. Fite III

(Baxter would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants of the Dixon family, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Jackson Dixon and the Dixon family.)