My Genealogy Hound

DR. T. G. RIX, a successful dentist and prominent citizen of Cass County, Mich., has been continuously engaged in the duties of his profession in Dowagiac for over a quarter of a century, but, a native of New England, was born in Danville, Vt., July 28, 1834. The birthplace of his father, Guy C. Rix, was Littleton, N. H., in which part of the Old Granite State the paternal grandfather, Nathaniel Rix, was numbered among the very earliest settlers and, owning four hundred acres of valuable land, was esteemed a man of substance. Energetic and intelligent, Grandfather Rix was one of the representative agriculturists of New Hampshire and took an active and leading part in public affairs, serving with great acceptability to his constituents for twenty-eight years as one of the able legislators of the State. The mother of our subject was descended from noble and patriotic ancestry, Gen. Gates, of Revolutionary fame, being one of her forefathers.

Dr. Rix received instructions in the schools of St. Johnsbury and Littleton, and completed a course of study in the Yates Academy in Orleans County, N. Y. In 1851, our subject, then only about seventeen years of age, made his home in Michigan. Having decided to adopt a profession, he began the study of dentistry at Manchester, and later continued the same in Buffalo, finally taking a course in the American College of Dental Surgery, from which well-known institution he graduated with an honorary degree. Dr. Rix was for five years Professor of Clinical Dentistry in his Alma Mater and also occupied the chairs of Metallurgy and Prosthetic Dentistry. Our subject was among the earliest to enlist in the service of the Union, and was Lieutenant of Company D, First Michigan Infantry, which participated in the first fight of Bull Run. In 1864 Dr. Rix located permanently in Dowagiac, and entered into a profitable and extensive practice as a dentist. The marriage of our subject and Miss Harriet Page, daughter of James Page, of New York State, was celebrated in the year 1858.

Three children have blessed the pleasant home of Dr. Rix and his estimable wife. Dr. John Rix is a prosperous dental surgeon at Thorp, Wis. Adalaide F., now Mrs. Frank F. Fish, of Chicago, is also a graduate of the American College of Dental Surgery, and took her degree in the year 1892; and Gertrude is at home. In the spring of 1892 our subject was in charge of the American College of Dental Surgery as Superintendent of the College and Clinics, where there were at the time one hundred and sixty students and from one hundred and fifty to two hundred patients per day. He was forced on account of ill-health to resign his arduous position and recuperate. Dr. Rix is a liberal and progressive citizen, deeply interested in local and National affairs, and has several times been the nominee of his party for positions of trust. He has for two terms discharged efficiently the duties of Village Trustee, and is now President of the Dowagiac Union Fair Association, one of the important enterprises located at Dowagiac, Cass County. He is also President of the Mutual City and Village Fire Insurance Company of the counties of Berrien, Cass and Van Buren. Fraternally, our subject is a valued member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and affiliates with Lodge No. 114; Keystone Chapter No. 36, of Dowagiac; American Legion of Honor, Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias, and B. P. O. E., the last order at Battle Creek, Mich.