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Below is a family biography included in The History of Barton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Cyrus Dixon, farmer and stock-raiser, was born January 27, 1840, in Ohio, in which State his parents, Peter and Elizabeth (Graham) Dixon, were also born, the former in 1803, and the latter in 1812. The paternal and maternal grandparents were of Scotch-Irish and Scotch descent, and were born in Maryland and Virginia, respectively. The parents were married in their native State, and became the parents of twelve children, nine of whom lived to be grown: Annie, the deceased wife of Jacob Lessers, whose children reside in Jackson County, Ohio; Tabitha, the deceased wife of Leander Keller, whose children reside in Harrison County, Mo.; Griffe, who is a farmer and stock-raiser, of Jackson County, Ohio; Cyrus, farmer, at Verdella, Barton County, Mo.; Catherine, wife of Peter Weber, who resides in Livingston County, Ill.; Phoebe, the deceased wife of Frank Albert, of Jackson County, Ohio; Samuel (deceased), whose family live in Barton County, Mo.; Mahala E. (deceased); and Amos, a farmer of Western Kansas. Peter Dixon was a farmer and merchant by occupation, a Whig in his political views, and a member of the Newlight Church. He died in 1859, and his wife in 1856. Cyrus Dixon began working for himself at the age of twenty years, receiving, for ten months, thirteen dollars per month, and for about six months, sixteen dollars per month for his services. On the 2d of August, 1861, he joined Company A, Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Curry, of the U. S. A., and, after serving twenty-six months, received his discharge, November 2, 1863, on account of a wound which he received at Stone River. He was in the raid through Kentucky, at Perryville, Bridgeport, and many minor engagements. He received a wound in the right side and hip by a musket ball, from which he still suffers. On the 25th of December, 1863, he was married to Miss Margaret J. Coles, a daughter of John and Mary (Wareham) Coles, who were the parents of the following children: Mary, the deceased wife of Milton Smith; Jacob, a farmer of Cass County, Mo.; Samuel (deceased), whose family reside in Jackson County, Ohio; Elizabeth Ann, the deceased wife of Griffe Dixon; Margaret J., wife of our subject; Maria, wife of Frank Albert; John, a farmer of Barton County, Mo.; Matilda, wife of Jacob Weber, of Illinois; and George, residing on the old homestead in Jackson County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are the parents of five children: Mary Alice, born June 9, 1865, and died January 5, 1866; Oscar, born September 6, 1869; Huldah May, born May 27, 1873; John B., born August 7, 1875; and Charley, born April 7, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are members of the Free Will Baptist Church, and he is a member of the Union Labor party. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., the Knights of Labor, the Farmers’ Alliance, and the G. A. R. He owns 240 acres of well-improved land, eighty of which he bought for four dollars per acre, eighty at eight dollars per acre, and eighty at twelve dollars. This is now worth thirty dollars per acre. He has about seven acres in orchard.

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This family biography is one of 166 biographies included in The History of Barton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Barton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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