Ontario County Times 9 April 1879
Died, in the village of Canandaigua, March 31st, 1879, John Dixson, aged 94 years. And thus has passed away the oldest man, if not the oldest person, in our village, and one of the pioneers of this county, whose life has been associated with its history for a period of almost 70 years. He was born in the state of Connecticut in 1785, and was one of a family of ten children, two of whom survive him -- Thomas Dixson of Pulaski, aged 81, and Robert Dixson of Livonia, aged 88 years. Many of his ancestors lived to a good old age, and three years since, before the death of a brother and sister of the deceased, the average age of the five was 84 years. His father emigrated to this state at an early day, and settled on a farm near Utica; and it is a fact worthy of note, that the subject of this memoir was in early manhood of a very frail constitution, and he has often laughingly alluded to the taunting insinuations of his brothers and associates, that he would live out half his days.
The work of the farm being too laborious, at the age of 25 years he came to seek a fortune in this more western region, and passing through this village in 1810, he pitched his tent at Dennison's Corners, in the town of Richmond, sixteen miles west of here, and engaged in the manufacture of potash, from ashes made in the burning off of the timber. He also purchased in New York a stock of dry goods and groceries, going thence as far as Albany on horseback, and bringing his goods from that city by teams, until the completion of the Erie canal in 1821 furnished a more expeditious means of conveyance. He thus opened a trade with the whites, who came for many miles from the surrounding country to purchase, and also with the Indians, who found in him a friend, and over whom he possessed a remarkable influence, to illustrate which many incidents might be cited. On the breaking out of the war in 1812, he had a large quantity of potash in store at Montreal, and many times has he narrated to the writer his exciting experience in getting possession of the same before the property should be confiscated.
In 1813 he married a daughter of Capt. Cyrus Wells of Richmond. She died in 1828, leaving a family of five children, two of whom are still living. He entered with great zeal into the project of building the church, which is still standing at Richmond Center -- circulating the subscription paper and giving liberally of his own means. For a number of years, accompanied by his bass-viol, which will be remembered by many still living, he led the choir of the church, and since his voice became tremulous by reason of age, as the familiar strains of old China, Dundee, Lenox and Windham have been struck in his bearing, old memories have been awakened, and he has undertaken, but in vain, to sing as in days of old. All modern tunes, in his ear, had no melody as compared to these, and to this conviction are we not almost ready to say amen?
He continued to enlarge his operations in the mercantile trade and also engaged extensively in the milling business; so that the commercial crisis of 1837 found him possessed of three mills, and, if we mistake not, with an interest in eight or ten different stores. The result of the panic with him, as with thousands of others, was the sweeping away of the accumulations of years. He was in early life a zealous Mason, and being master of a lodge at the time of the Morgan excitement, he rejoiced at the passing by of the storm.
After the decease of his second wife in 1863, he came to this village to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Jewitt, who, by just six months preceded him to the spirit world. By reason of impaired hearing, &c., he has not for a number of years past been found much, either in the marts of trade or in the house of God. Often of late has he alluded to the fact that, as far as he knew, he alone remained of those who were married and settled in Richmond when he went there.
Died, in the village of Canandaigua, March 31st, 1879, John Dixson, aged 94 years. And thus has passed away the oldest man, if not the oldest person, in our village, and one of the pioneers of this county, whose life has been associated with its history for a period of almost 70 years. He was born in the state of Connecticut in 1785, and was one of a family of ten children, two of whom survive him -- Thomas Dixson of Pulaski, aged 81, and Robert Dixson of Livonia, aged 88 years. Many of his ancestors lived to a good old age, and three years since, before the death of a brother and sister of the deceased, the average age of the five was 84 years. His father emigrated to this state at an early day, and settled on a farm near Utica; and it is a fact worthy of note, that the subject of this memoir was in early manhood of a very frail constitution, and he has often laughingly alluded to the taunting insinuations of his brothers and associates, that he would live out half his days.
The work of the farm being too laborious, at the age of 25 years he came to seek a fortune in this more western region, and passing through this village in 1810, he pitched his tent at Dennison's Corners, in the town of Richmond, sixteen miles west of here, and engaged in the manufacture of potash, from ashes made in the burning off of the timber. He also purchased in New York a stock of dry goods and groceries, going thence as far as Albany on horseback, and bringing his goods from that city by teams, until the completion of the Erie canal in 1821 furnished a more expeditious means of conveyance. He thus opened a trade with the whites, who came for many miles from the surrounding country to purchase, and also with the Indians, who found in him a friend, and over whom he possessed a remarkable influence, to illustrate which many incidents might be cited. On the breaking out of the war in 1812, he had a large quantity of potash in store at Montreal, and many times has he narrated to the writer his exciting experience in getting possession of the same before the property should be confiscated.
In 1813 he married a daughter of Capt. Cyrus Wells of Richmond. She died in 1828, leaving a family of five children, two of whom are still living. He entered with great zeal into the project of building the church, which is still standing at Richmond Center -- circulating the subscription paper and giving liberally of his own means. For a number of years, accompanied by his bass-viol, which will be remembered by many still living, he led the choir of the church, and since his voice became tremulous by reason of age, as the familiar strains of old China, Dundee, Lenox and Windham have been struck in his bearing, old memories have been awakened, and he has undertaken, but in vain, to sing as in days of old. All modern tunes, in his ear, had no melody as compared to these, and to this conviction are we not almost ready to say amen?
He continued to enlarge his operations in the mercantile trade and also engaged extensively in the milling business; so that the commercial crisis of 1837 found him possessed of three mills, and, if we mistake not, with an interest in eight or ten different stores. The result of the panic with him, as with thousands of others, was the sweeping away of the accumulations of years. He was in early life a zealous Mason, and being master of a lodge at the time of the Morgan excitement, he rejoiced at the passing by of the storm.
After the decease of his second wife in 1863, he came to this village to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Jewitt, who, by just six months preceded him to the spirit world. By reason of impaired hearing, &c., he has not for a number of years past been found much, either in the marts of trade or in the house of God. Often of late has he alluded to the fact that, as far as he knew, he alone remained of those who were married and settled in Richmond when he went there.
Ontario County Times 9 April 1879
Died, in the village of Canandaigua, March 31st, 1879, John Dixson, aged 94 years. And thus has passed away the oldest man, if not the oldest person, in our village, and one of the pioneers of this county, whose life has been associated with its history for a period of almost 70 years. He was born in the state of Connecticut in 1785, and was one of a family of ten children, two of whom survive him -- Thomas Dixson of Pulaski, aged 81, and Robert Dixson of Livonia, aged 88 years. Many of his ancestors lived to a good old age, and three years since, before the death of a brother and sister of the deceased, the average age of the five was 84 years. His father emigrated to this state at an early day, and settled on a farm near Utica; and it is a fact worthy of note, that the subject of this memoir was in early manhood of a very frail constitution, and he has often laughingly alluded to the taunting insinuations of his brothers and associates, that he would live out half his days.
The work of the farm being too laborious, at the age of 25 years he came to seek a fortune in this more western region, and passing through this village in 1810, he pitched his tent at Dennison's Corners, in the town of Richmond, sixteen miles west of here, and engaged in the manufacture of potash, from ashes made in the burning off of the timber. He also purchased in New York a stock of dry goods and groceries, going thence as far as Albany on horseback, and bringing his goods from that city by teams, until the completion of the Erie canal in 1821 furnished a more expeditious means of conveyance. He thus opened a trade with the whites, who came for many miles from the surrounding country to purchase, and also with the Indians, who found in him a friend, and over whom he possessed a remarkable influence, to illustrate which many incidents might be cited. On the breaking out of the war in 1812, he had a large quantity of potash in store at Montreal, and many times has he narrated to the writer his exciting experience in getting possession of the same before the property should be confiscated.
In 1813 he married a daughter of Capt. Cyrus Wells of Richmond. She died in 1828, leaving a family of five children, two of whom are still living. He entered with great zeal into the project of building the church, which is still standing at Richmond Center -- circulating the subscription paper and giving liberally of his own means. For a number of years, accompanied by his bass-viol, which will be remembered by many still living, he led the choir of the church, and since his voice became tremulous by reason of age, as the familiar strains of old China, Dundee, Lenox and Windham have been struck in his bearing, old memories have been awakened, and he has undertaken, but in vain, to sing as in days of old. All modern tunes, in his ear, had no melody as compared to these, and to this conviction are we not almost ready to say amen?
He continued to enlarge his operations in the mercantile trade and also engaged extensively in the milling business; so that the commercial crisis of 1837 found him possessed of three mills, and, if we mistake not, with an interest in eight or ten different stores. The result of the panic with him, as with thousands of others, was the sweeping away of the accumulations of years. He was in early life a zealous Mason, and being master of a lodge at the time of the Morgan excitement, he rejoiced at the passing by of the storm.
After the decease of his second wife in 1863, he came to this village to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Jewitt, who, by just six months preceded him to the spirit world. By reason of impaired hearing, &c., he has not for a number of years past been found much, either in the marts of trade or in the house of God. Often of late has he alluded to the fact that, as far as he knew, he alone remained of those who were married and settled in Richmond when he went there.
Died, in the village of Canandaigua, March 31st, 1879, John Dixson, aged 94 years. And thus has passed away the oldest man, if not the oldest person, in our village, and one of the pioneers of this county, whose life has been associated with its history for a period of almost 70 years. He was born in the state of Connecticut in 1785, and was one of a family of ten children, two of whom survive him -- Thomas Dixson of Pulaski, aged 81, and Robert Dixson of Livonia, aged 88 years. Many of his ancestors lived to a good old age, and three years since, before the death of a brother and sister of the deceased, the average age of the five was 84 years. His father emigrated to this state at an early day, and settled on a farm near Utica; and it is a fact worthy of note, that the subject of this memoir was in early manhood of a very frail constitution, and he has often laughingly alluded to the taunting insinuations of his brothers and associates, that he would live out half his days.
The work of the farm being too laborious, at the age of 25 years he came to seek a fortune in this more western region, and passing through this village in 1810, he pitched his tent at Dennison's Corners, in the town of Richmond, sixteen miles west of here, and engaged in the manufacture of potash, from ashes made in the burning off of the timber. He also purchased in New York a stock of dry goods and groceries, going thence as far as Albany on horseback, and bringing his goods from that city by teams, until the completion of the Erie canal in 1821 furnished a more expeditious means of conveyance. He thus opened a trade with the whites, who came for many miles from the surrounding country to purchase, and also with the Indians, who found in him a friend, and over whom he possessed a remarkable influence, to illustrate which many incidents might be cited. On the breaking out of the war in 1812, he had a large quantity of potash in store at Montreal, and many times has he narrated to the writer his exciting experience in getting possession of the same before the property should be confiscated.
In 1813 he married a daughter of Capt. Cyrus Wells of Richmond. She died in 1828, leaving a family of five children, two of whom are still living. He entered with great zeal into the project of building the church, which is still standing at Richmond Center -- circulating the subscription paper and giving liberally of his own means. For a number of years, accompanied by his bass-viol, which will be remembered by many still living, he led the choir of the church, and since his voice became tremulous by reason of age, as the familiar strains of old China, Dundee, Lenox and Windham have been struck in his bearing, old memories have been awakened, and he has undertaken, but in vain, to sing as in days of old. All modern tunes, in his ear, had no melody as compared to these, and to this conviction are we not almost ready to say amen?
He continued to enlarge his operations in the mercantile trade and also engaged extensively in the milling business; so that the commercial crisis of 1837 found him possessed of three mills, and, if we mistake not, with an interest in eight or ten different stores. The result of the panic with him, as with thousands of others, was the sweeping away of the accumulations of years. He was in early life a zealous Mason, and being master of a lodge at the time of the Morgan excitement, he rejoiced at the passing by of the storm.
After the decease of his second wife in 1863, he came to this village to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Jewitt, who, by just six months preceded him to the spirit world. By reason of impaired hearing, &c., he has not for a number of years past been found much, either in the marts of trade or in the house of God. Often of late has he alluded to the fact that, as far as he knew, he alone remained of those who were married and settled in Richmond when he went there.
Gravesite Details
This is not my ancestor; if this person is one of yours, please ask that this page be transferred to you.
Family Members
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
