BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Page 632.

JAMES DIXON

The first white child native to Pultney township, Belmont county, was
James Dixon, born in 1797, whose son, Henry Dixon, is now one of the
influential people of the county. James was the son of Andrew and Rachel
(Dulap) Dixon, the former of whom was born in Ireland in 1744, and came
to America in 1764. He first settled in Pennsylvania, but in a short
time removed to West Liberty, W. Va., and thence, soon afterward, to the
territory now included in Pultney township. He died there in 1800. He
was drafted for service in the continental army during the revolution,
but excused by order of Gen. Washington. The mother of Henry Dixon was
Elizabeth Neff, a native of West Virginia, of German descent. Mr. Neff
received his early education in the pioneer schools of the country, and
was occupied in labor on the farm of his father. He settled in Belmont
county a poor man, and he lived for many years in one of the log cabins
characteristic of those days, with his nearest neighbor at Bridgeport,
five or six miles away. He was compelled to go to West Liberty to mill,
and when the river was impassable, the only recourse was to pound corn
for food. The land that this worthy ancestor gained the title of was
afterward owned by his son James, and here the subject of this mention
was reared. The mother of the latter was Elizabeth Neff, a native of
West Virginia, and of German descent. Mr. Neff received his education
in the pioneer schools of the county, and was occupied in youth upon the
farm of his father, which subsequently became his. He is now the owner
of ninety-seven acres of good land, and is in prosperous circumstances.
In 1857 he was married to Narcissa Thompson, who was born in Pease
township in 1835, the daughter of James and Sidney (Petit) Thompson. Her
father was a native of Pease township, and a son of Thomas Thompson, of
Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have one son, James A., now a prominent
physician of Bellaire. Mr. Dixon and wife are members of the Presbyterian
church, and are highly esteemed.