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In the Photo from left to right standing: Nancy Pearson, Emma Pearson. Seated from left to right: Sarah Pearson, Joel A Dixon, Marvin Pearson, Bessie Pearson, & William Ward Wesley Pearson. About this time the Pearson's lived at Wyatt. Mr. Dixon was retired, and lived on his farm about 4 miles northeast of the business area of Waxahachie. W.W.W. Pearson was nephew to Joel A Dixon. His mother Mrs. Sarah Dixon Pearson also is written up in the Ellis County History published 1892, on page 681. This photo was copied from an old Tin Type, that has become very dark. I have cleaned it up on the computer, and done about as much with it as I can. Taken at Waxahachie in 1892. |
Joel Adams Dixon Obituary
As printed in The Waxahachie Enterprise Another Pioneer Crosses This River. "Uncle" Joel Dixon, a Citizen of Ellis County More than Half a Century Dead. On last Saturday evening at 7:20 o'clock the grim reaper stole into the shadowy grove that encompasses the quiet country home of "Uncle" Joel Dixon out yonder on the banks of the beautiful stream where he has lived for more than half a hundred years, and summoned the spirit of the pioneer to go with him out into the darkness of the unknown. Just a few days ago the writer enjoying a pleasant hour with Mr. Dixon and heard him tell of the early days and the meager comforts that fell to the lot of the pioneer. He seemed very hale and hearty for a man nearing the centurion threshold, and it appeared he would enjoy life yet a few more years but it was not so - the summons came and he is gone. Mr. Joel A. Dixon was born in Bedford County, Virginia in 1819, his father, a farmer and slave owner, moved from Virginia to Tennessee in 1827, settling in Marion County. The young man began life for himself at the age of twenty-one years, engaging as superintendent of a sawmill for one year. He came to Texas in 1846 and stopped in what was then Cass County where he followed farming as a hired hand for one year. For the next four years he lived in Jefferson, Texas, same county, serving as deputy sheriff. After this he followed collecting and clerking in various stores for some years. He turned his face towards the western part of the state and came to Ellis County in 1854 when there were only 300 voters in the county and located at Waxahachie engaging in the mercantile business, having brought a small stock of goods with him from Jefferson. At that time there were only two merchants in Waxahachie: Harrell Marchbanks and Joseph Whittenburg, both of whom were dealers in general merchandise, the same as Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon purchased 200 acres of land about four miles northwest of town on Grove Creek, for which he paid $800 and there he has made his home to the hour of his death. When Mr. Dixon settled on Grove Creek, all the land between that and Waxahachie was open prairie. The old man said to the Herald man a few days ago - speaking of his early experiences - that he located here on account of the timber and water. He said, "The creek was running a brisk stream; the water was clear as crystal and the rock bottom as clean as a china plate, and I said here is the place for me." He afterwards purchased about 250 acres more and that constitutes his plantation which he had improved and enjoyed through the years. Mr. Dixon was married in 1854 to Victoria Kennor, who was born in Knox County, Tennessee and whose parents were natives of Virginia. Mrs. Dixon died about seventeen years ago. They had no children. Not far from the old homestead and near the banks of that beautiful stream, is a little church house, erected a few years ago and christened, Dixon Chapel; speaking to the old man on the visit to his home already mentioned, regarding the dedication of the grove for a public park, he said, "I want the people to enjoy it when I am gone just as they have done for a long time; I have never objected to it, in fact it has been a pleasure to me to give them the privilege, but I have a good monument in that little church up yonder by the roadside that is all I want to perpetuate my name and I am going to provide well for that." Today at 3 o'clock the little chapel that bears his name was the scene of the funeral service; songs were sung and prayers made, eulogies were spoken at the altar in that little church and we trust that the spirit of the old pioneer looked out from the windows of the celestial home and heard the songs and the prayers and the eulogies of his friends. He was a good man, his labors had been richly rewarded on this earth and we believe that the great reward of eternal peace shall be his in that land we know not of. The body was brought to Waxahachie this afternoon and laid to rest in the City Cemetery, along with many other pioneers who have gone before him." |
