Captain Wiley L. Dixon

CAPT. WILEY L. DIXON, a captain of infantry in the regular army, now stationed at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, is a native of the state, his ancestors for several gene-rations have been prominent in Henderson County, and he is a descendant of an American officer in the Revolution who particularly distinguished himself at the battle of Camden. This patriotic ancestor was Henry Dixon, a life long resident of North Carolina, who served as captain, major and lieutenant colonel in the Continental Troops under General Washington. He was inspector general on the staff of General Greene at the time of the battle of Eutaw Springs. His wife was Miss Martha Wynn, and one of their sons, Wynn Dixon, served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary Army. However, the line of paternal descent to Capt. Wiley Dixon is through another son, Henry Dixon, Jr., who was born in Caswell County, North Carolina. and about 1804 established his home in Henderson County, Kentucky, where some of his descendants live today. He was a successful planter, operating his fields with slave labor, and had the honor of representing Henderson County in one of the early State Legislatures. He married Mary Johnston, a native of Virginia, who died in Henderson County. Their son, Henry Dixon the third, great-grandfather of Capt. Wiley Dixon, was born in Henderson County in 1809 and spent his life there as a farmer, planter and slave owner, and was a captain in the Kentucky State Militia. He died in 1879. His wife was Anna Maria Ashby of Virginia ancestry. The next generation of this old Henderson County family was represented by John Edward Dixon, who was born in 1831 and died in 1900, having spent all his life in Henderson County. In a business way he was identified with farming and planting. He married Miss Mary Sugg, who is still living, at the age of eighty-two, in Henderson, and was born in that county in 1839. The father of Capt. Wiley Dixon was Dr. Wiley Lee Dixon, who was horn in Henderson County in 1869, received a high school education there, and graduated from the St. Louis College of Medicine. He practiced at Morganfield in Union County, Kentucky, until 1902, when he removed to Clarkton, Missouri, and followed his profession there until his death in 1905. He was a democrat, served as a school trustee at Clarkton, and was affiliated with the Episcopal Church and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Doctor Dixon married in Henderson County Miss Nancy Dixon Moseley, now living at Henderson. She was born in Henderson County May 19, 1870, and is a graduate of the Henderson Female Seminary. Wiley L. is the oldest of her three children: Thomas Edward is connected with the Samuel Cupples Company at St. Louis, Missouri. Her daughter, Martha Elizabeth, lives at home. Capt. Wiley L. Dixon was born in Henderson County, December ,10, 1890, was educated in the public schools of Morganfleld, at Clarkton, Missouri. and finished his freshman year in the Henderson High School. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in December, 1913. At the age of sixteen he became an employee of the Henderson Journal, remaining with that newspaper seven months. His first military service began April 10, 1907, as a member of Company B of the Third Kentucky Infantry, National Guard, and for six months he was on duty during the Night Riders disturbances of 1908. Up to January, 1910, he was an employe of the 'Mann Brothers Department Store at Henderson and was then appointed deputy clerk of the Henderson Circuit Court, an office he filled until February 14, 1912. Then as a major in the National Guard he was on duty in the adjutant general's office until December 11, 1913, being relieved upon his entrance into the race for the chief clerkship of the Kentucky Senate. He was elected and servesi during the Session of 1914, and was also connected with the state treasurer's office until September 15, 1915. After leaving Frankfort he returned to Henderson and was in the insurance business until January, 1917, and for several months following was in the valuation accountant's office of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company at Louisville. From July until August 25, 1917, Captain Dixon was a bookkeeper with the prominent contracting firm, the Mason & Hanger Company, who had the contract for building the cantonments at Camp Zachary Taylor. He left this employment to enter the Second Officers Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. A complete detailed record of Captain Dixon's military service may be appropriately entered in this connection. His record in the Kentucky National Guard is as follows: enlisted April 10, 1907, in Company B Third Kentucky Infantry, appointed corporal, elected second lieutenant February Jo, 1910; appointed First lieutenant March ii, 1911; appointed captain April 4, 1911; appointed major, I. G. Department, February 17, 1912, and detailed for duty in the adjutant general's office, Frankfort, Kentucky. Relieved December ii, 1913. Dropped from the roster of officers December 31, 1913, office being unauthorized by the War Department. His service record with the Federal Armies during and since the World war is as follows: enlisted Second Officers Training Camp, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, August 26, 1917; commissioned a captain, infantry, 0. R. C., November 27, 1917; assigned to Eighty-eighth Division, Camp Dodge, Iowa, attached to the One Hundred and Sixty-third Depot Brigade, January I, 19t8, attached to the Three Hundred and Fifty-second Infantry, January 4, 1918. Transferred to Camp Hancock, Georgia, May 25, 1918, assigned to Twenty-fourth Recruit Company, R. R. Depot, May 28, 1918. Assigned to the main training depot MGTC., Camp Hancock, Georgia, June 19, 1918. Announced as adjutant, June 19, 1918. Promoted August 19, 1918, to be major infantry, with rank from August 15, 1918. Assumed command of training group No. 2, main training Depot, MGTC, Augsi~t 24, 1918. Assigned to command Sixth Battalion, group two, September i, 1918. Assigned to command group two, October 2!, 1918. Assigned to Sixth Battalion about December 1, 1918. Assigned to command the training battalion, Camp Hancock, Georgia, January 1919. Assigned infantry officers' school, Camp Lee, Virginia, March 14, 1Q19, with orders to report April 1. Attach~d to the Sixty-second Infantry, Camp Lee, Virginia, April 29, 1919. Assigned War Department, Commission on Training Camp Activities, May 26, 1919, given the Tenth District, with headquarters at Chicago, Illinois. Assigned War Plans Division G. S. and as officer in charge of the music sub-section camo activities section, October i6, 1919. Assigned A. G. 0., E. and R. Division, June 26, i~o, same duties. Assigned Fort Thomas, Kentucky, August 17, 1920, as education and recreation officer. Accepted a commission as captain infantry, regular army on September 20, 1920. While Captain Dixon is now at the Recruit Depot at Fort Thomas, his permanent residence is at Henderson, and his permanent post office address is the War Department at Washington. He is a democrat in politics, a member of the Episcopal Church, belongs to the Society of the Cincinnati, is affiliated with Fort Thomas Lodge No. 8o8 F. and A. M., the Tribe of Ben Hur, and Henderson Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. September 25, 1913, at Frankfort. he married Miss Gazelle Toombs, daughter of Walter K. and Sarah (Minter) Toombs, residents of Louisville. where her father is connected with the Stewart Dry Goods Company. Mrs. Dixon is a graduate of the high school of Frankfort. They have three children: Nancy Mildred, born June 26, 1914; Wiley Lee, Jr., born December 13, 1915; and Robert Toombs, born May 25, 1917. Kentucky History Volume 5 Page 447