John Dickson settled in Dixonville,
then Conecuh County, now Escambia in 1828. John was born in Virginia and
married Martha Peavy in South Carolina and migrated to Georgia. While in
Georgia 11 of of his 14 children were born. They were named as follows:
Claiborne, Francis, Berryman (Barry), Chappel, Abraham (Abe), Wade Hampton,
Green, William (Billie), John (Jr.), Augustus (Gus), Susan, Caroline, Viney,
and Jincy. For unknown reasons, all the children except one, changed the
spelling of their surname from DICKSON to DIXON.
John Dickson died before the Civil War
and his estate was divided among his children. At his death he had 34 slaves
and 900 head of cattle. Since it was necessary to own land at that time,
he owned very little.
Claiborne lived all his life near his birthplace
and had 24 children. He is said to have been an excellent marksman, who
had an old-time Flint and Steel Rifle, long barrel that never failed to
bring down a deer. On one occassion when he was hunting, he saw a deer's
head above a fallen tree top, shot it, but after the smoke cleared away
it was still there. He reloaded his gun, took another shot at it, but it
was still there. He then loaded his gun again and shot once more. This
time it did not reappear. When Claiborne went to find the deer and see
why he had missed twice, he found that he had three dead deer.
Chappel, Francis, and Barryman settled
in what is now, Berrydale, Santa Rosa Co., FL. Augustus settled at what
is now Dixonville and with the exception that Jincy married a Mayo and
migrated to Corpus Christie, TX, I have no further info on the daughters.
John (Jr.), born 8 APR 1828, lived at a
point on Dixon Creek where he owned and operated a sawmill for many years.
He was a prominent citizen of his community. John married on 3 NOV 1850
Mary Ann Stallworth, daughter of Nicholas Stallworth and Mary Wilson Travis.
Mary Ann was born 23 JUN 1836 and died 15 JAN 1896. John died 12 JAN 1892.
He and Mary Ann lay to rest in Dixon Cemetery which is located about 6
miles from Brewton on Escambia Co. Road 55. The story behind the beginning
of this cemetery is also very intersting. While sitting on the front porch
of his home during a thunderstorm, lightening struck a tree over in the
woods. John called to his family and told them that when he died, he wanted
to be buried where lightening had struck the tree. At his death, his family
honored his wish and buried him in the place he had selected.
The Dixon family were among the oldest
pioneers in this area. They suffered many hardships and did their part
to make their area of Escambia County a safe and wonderful place in which
to live.
SOURCE:"Headstones & Heritages" by McFarland
and Shelton.
