Dixon, Zimri bio

From:History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens. Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Pub. Co., 1904, p. 266

Zimri DIXON, deceased was for many years one of the most prominent farmers of Shawnee Twp, Cherokee County and to a marked degree commanded the respect and esteem of his fellow men. He was born in Parke County, Indiana, Nov 2, 1840 and was a son of Eli and Esther Kelley DIxon. Eli Dixon, whose parents came from NC lived most of his life in Parke County, Indiana where he followed farming and where he died when the subject of this sketch was an infant. He married Esther Kelley, who had formerly married Nathan Hunt and they became the parents of 3 children - John, Rhoda and Zimri. Religiously, both were Quakers. Zimri was reared on a farm and followed the occupation of a farmer throughout his life. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 43rd Ind Volunteers and served with his regiment about 9 months when he was honorably discharged on account of disability caused by sickness. He returned to Indiana and farmed a place owned by his half sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Hunt Rawlings, until two years after his marriage when he moved to KS and located in the Cherokee Neutral lands on the place now occupied by his widow.
Subsequently, after extended litigation he was obliged to purchase it of the Kansas City and Fort Scott & Gulf RR Company which had a prior claim to it.
He farmed on an extensive scale and with continued success was enabled to add to his holdings from time to time until at his death he was the owner of 720 acres of valuable land. He probably raised more hay and corn than any other farmer int he township and also oats in large quantities. He kep on an average 35 head of cattle and 60 hogs. In 1870 he built a fine, stone residence of 7 rooms the only stone house in Shawnee Twp. About two years later, he built the fine, large stone barn, 46' square with a capacity for 100 tons of hay and 1000 bushels of grain.
On March 12, 1865, Mr. Dixon was joined in marriage with Emily ATKINSON a daughter of Robert and Polly Curl Atkinson of English origin. Her father was born in Randolph Co NC where he lived until after his marriage and the birth of his first child and then moved to Indiana in the fall of 1831. He took a homestead in Parke County and farmed there until 1869 when he came west to Cherokee Co KS. He purchased a government claim of 160 acres in Shawnee Twp and continued to live upon it until his death, sept 23, 1890, age 88. He married Polly Curl, a daughter of George Curl of Chatham Co NC. Five children born to them: Sarah Ann, widow of Dempsey Mills, who lives with Mrs. Dixon at present; George who lives in Parke Co; John who lives in Shawnee Twp, Emily, widow of Zimri Dixon and Jared of Roseburg, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson were of Quaker faith. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon became the parents of 9 childre, 8 of whom grew to maturity: Ella, wife of JE Lane, Empire City, KS; Cora wife of John Wellman of Shawnee Twp, Cherokee Co; Anna, deceased; Joel of Scammon, KS; Alice, wife of John Isley of Los Angeles, Cal; Charles of Shawnee Twp, Cherokee Co; Morton who lives at home; Rosa, deceased wife of J.M. Bass.
Religiously, the sujbect of this sketch was a member of Society of Friends until he went ot war and his widow is still a member. Politically, he was a strong Republican but was never an office holder.