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Family Sheet

HUSBAND
Name: William Wilkinson Dixon Note Born: 14 Nov 1818 at Bothel, , Cumberlandshire, England Married: 16 Aug 1843 at Geneva, , Scott, Illinois Died: 10 Jun 1891 at Harrisville, , Weber, Utah
WIFE
Name: Sabra Lake Born: 17 Jul 1824 at Ernestown, , Ontario, Canada Died: 2 Jul 1908 at Rigby, , Idaho or Ogden, Utah Father: James Lake Jr. Mother: Philomelia Smith
CHILDREN
Name: Electa Philomelia Dixon Born: 2 Jun 1852 at Harrisville, , Weber, Utah Died: 28 Apr 1891 at Plain City, , Weber, Utah Husband: Lyman Stoddard Skeen
NOTES
1). The surname Dixon originated in Kirkcudbrightshire and is of Pictish origin. William Wilkinson Dixon, one of Utah s early pioneers, was born at Bothel, Cumberland, England, on November 14, 1818, the son of William Dixon and Ann Wilkinson. Very little is known about William s early life. WHat little is known or was ever told came from his own lips as he left his home in England when ie was twelve years old and never returned or saw his family again. His mother, Ann Wilkinson, from what can be found, was a maid in the home of his grandparents, William Dixon, Sr, and Elizabeth Little. William Wilkinson was born in his grandparent s home and when he was three weeks old, his mother Ann left and was never seen again by William. Harvey Dixon Jr.., one of William s grandsons, wrote that he knew his Grandfather William very well as a boy and that he rode with him many times from his Harrisville, Utah, home to the city of Ogden. Harvey writes He must have known his father, but he had little to say about him. He surely had a sad early life and one that gave him a lot of wonder as he journeyed the road of mortality. He found out something as to his birth which gave him much sorrow and with that sorrow his treatment must not have been too good as he ran away from home when only twelve years of age. He spent several years on the might deep as a cabin boy. He did see many hardships and abuse as he said he was told many times to get busy kid or overboard you go. Some of his work was darning sails. He became so proficient that when married his wife never had to do but little darning of stockings. William s father married Hannah Steele in 1824 and had six more children. His mother Ann died at 51 years of age at Aspartia, Cumberland, England, where her headstone can be seen at this date. Electa Skeen Johnson, a granddaughter of William writes When he was nine years of age, he became crippled in a very mysterious manner. One evening he retired in his usual healthy condition. In the morning, when he arose and stepped out upon the floor, one of his feet troubled him. He was unable to straighten it as it turned inwardly from the ankle. His foot and limb developed normally, but he always walked with a slight limp. The cause of the condition was never known to him. Electa also wrote the following story of William s youth The property of William s grandparents was surrounded by a hedge which separated it from that of their neighbors. One day as William played beside the hedge he saw a small opening through which he crawled and lay gazing into the neighbor s apple orchard where the delicious fruit hung, ripening in the sun. He crept further on and just as his head emerged he heard the harsh voice of the neighbor call, Dixon, where are you going? William meekly replied, I m going back. as he scrambled back. Harvey, Jr.., records that William could have had but little schooling, but that he was not illiterate, as he loved to read the morning and evening papers. William crossed the Atlantic as a very young man and arrived in New York City, From there he went into the northern part of New York State and lived for some time on a farm. He worked for a dairyman milking some 20 cows morning and evening. After a time, he made his way farther west, came in contact with the Mormons, was converted to the teachings, and was baptized by William Carter. William was married to Sabra Lake on August 16, 1842, at Geneva, Scott County, Illinois. Sabra was the eldest daughter of James Lake and Philomelia Smith. She was born on July 17, 1824 at Ernestown, Ontario, Canada, which is about 18 miles from the city of Kingston. William and Sabra lived near Sabra s family in Illinois where their two oldest sons, Henry and Harvey, were born. From there they moved to Holt County, Missouri where Lydia Ann and Mary Lucy were born in 1848 and 1850. Here William prospered in herds and flocks and prepared for the journey to Utah. The year 1850 found William, Sabra, and their family organized in a company for the final march across the plains to the promised land. Sabra s father, James Lake, was made Captain of 50 wagons. William was well equipped with a splendid team, wagon and provisions. With pride in his family, joy and courage in his heart, he looked longingly ahead to the time when they might be established in a permanent home among the Saints in Utah. Sabra was stricken with the dreaded cholera when the company was camped on the Platt River and her life despaired of. The faith of her husband and the Saints prevailed, and her life was spared that she might continue to carry on in the great migration with her husband and five children. In the Company William met and formed a close friendship with Pleasant Green Taylor, which continued through his life as they lived as neighbors after settling in Harrisville, Utah The company arrived in Salt Lake City on October 7, 1850. The members of the company rested there for a few days among the Saints and then traveled north to Ogden s fort where they located for the winter. In the spring of 1851, William drove back over the old Mormon Trail and assisted in bringing in other pioneers who needed help on the long journey. In the summer of 1851, William moved his family 5 miles northwest of Ogden or Brownsville and with Indian hostilities at this time, Brigham Young called the families together Bingham s Fort for protection during the winter of 1853. In the spring they again returned to their home in Harrisville, but the hostilities continued. The men were obliged to guard their families and homes night and day. A daughter, Electa Philomelia was born at Harrisville in June of 1852 and a daughter, Esther Ann, was born at Bingham s Fort in March of 1854. Lydia Ann died probably at Bingham s Fort on December 2, 1853, at the age of five years. Eight more children were born to William and Sabra during the following 16 years however, six died during that period. Three children died within three weeks during late November and early December of 1865 Esther Ann was 11, Sabra Elizabeth was 8 and Bailey was 6 years of age when they perished. What heartache must have filled their home at this tragic loss. William James, age 7 had died in 1862 and Dudley had died at birth in January of 1864. John Lake died at 7 in January of 1872. William and Sabra chose for their homesite in Harrisville a beautiful spot among the poplar and cottonwood trees beside a running stream. Here they built a log house and made a rock cellar beside the stream. Lather William built a frame house on an elevation a few rods to the west for the accommodation of his increasing family. Beside the kitchen door, William dug the Old Dixon well which was known throughout the valley. Its deep rock walls and its hospitable moss covered bucket invited many weary thirsty travelers to stop for a drink and chat with Father Dixon. William loved the soil. He and his sons planted an orchard just below the hill to the southward. He loved to prune his trees and found joy in their bud, bloom and fruit. How many times as he walked among the trees must he have remembered his experience in the old English apple orchard in his youth. Between the rows in his orchard, he planted various kinds of berries. His strawberries, raspberries and blackberries were the choicest in the valley. Ther was one row of an unusual variety of fruit, called ground cherries, which grew on a low rambling bush and were most delicious and rare. South of his orchard, he planted his garden and on to the south stretched his fields of grain and rich green meadow. William was considered a perfect neighbor, thoughtful and considerate of the interests and rights of others. He was honest. In anticipation of daily obligations, he kept a small flock of sheep grazing in his meadowlands. Whenever he employed help, the daily wage was in the laborer s hand when he bade him good night. William, though an exile in his youth, had found at last a home. Surrounded by loved ones, his neighbors and friends, he cherished this haven of rest. For forty years William and Sabra lived in peace and comfort at the home they established when their pilgrimage across the plains was ended. Hand in hand they met life s joys and sorrows. Here, at the foot of a might range of the Rockies, they reared their children and taught them the laws of righteousness and love for others.... AS age advanced, William suffered from a serious kidney ailment. Calling his children together from Idaho and Utah, he and Sabra journeyed with them to the Logan Temple in 1890. There they perfected their family ties and did work for their kindred dead. Shortly after returning home, William was taken seriously ill. He passed away June 10, 1891, at the age of 72, at his home in Harrisville, surrounded by his devoted wife, family and friends. Sabra was buried at his side in 1908. Two small white stones mark their resting place at this time.

						

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