Lincoln Dixon

Lincoln Dixon

Lincoln Dixon (February 9, 1860 – September 16, 1932) was a U.S. Representative from Indiana.

Born in Vernon, Indiana, Dixon attended Vernon Academy, and graduated from Indiana University at Bloomington as an oboe performance major in 1880. He was employed as a clerk in the Department of the Interior at Washington, D.C., in 1881. He returned to Vernon, Indiana, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1882 and commenced practice in North Vernon. Reading clerk of the State house of representatives in 1883. He served as prosecuting attorney for the sixth judicial circuit 1884-1892. He served as member of the Democratic State committee 1897-1904 and 1920-1927.

Dixon was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-ninth and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1905-March 3, 1919). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1918 to the Sixty-sixth Congress. He resumed the practice of law. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1920 and 1924. In charge of the Democratic campaign in the West in 1924. He was appointed a member of the United States Tariff Commission by President Coolidge in 1927 and retired in 1930. Reappointed by President Hoover on June 17, 1931, and served until his death, while on a visit, in Lyndon, Kentucky, September 16, 1932. He was interred in Vernon Cemetery, Vernon, Indiana.

From an 1897 special edition of the North Vernon Plain Dealer:

Lincoln Dixon was born in Vernon, Jennings County, Ind., February 9, 1860. His father was Samuel M. Dixon, (Samuel M. Dixon was the son of Patrick W. Dixon and Lavinia Stafford. Lincoln Dixon's mother was Belinda Foster) who in 1858, was elected sheriff of this county and served in that capacity for the unusually long period of eight years.

Mr. Dixon received his early education at the Jennings Academy, at Vernon, and in 1876, he entered the Freshman Class in the State University of Indiana, at Bloomington, from which institution he was graduated in 1880. While in college he represented the State University in the State Oratorical Contest, and being the successful contestant, represented the state of Indiana in the Interstate Contest.

At the close of his college career he went to Washington D.C., where he held a position in the Department of the Interior. After a year he returned to Vernon and entered the law office of the late Jeptha D. New, as a student. After taking a course of reading as a law student, he was admitted to the bar and removed to this city, where he opened a law office and engaged actively into the practice of his profession.

In 1883 Mr. Dixon was selected reading clerk of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of Indiana. The following year he was nominated by the Democratic Party for prosecuting attorney of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, comprising the counties of Jennings, Scott and Ripley.

So efficiently, successfully and honestly was the business of the prosecutor's office conducted under his administration that he was re-elected to the position for three additional terms, always running far ahead of the ticket.

In his last contest he was elected by a majority of 651, being the only candidate who ever carried the three counties in an election, and the only person who ever held the office for four consecutive terms. The experience and knowledge gained by eight years as prosecutor in a large circuit has given Mr. Dixon a broad knowledge of this branch of the law, but Mr. Dixon informed us when we were seeking data for this article that there are seldom any important criminal cases in this county.

As an active worker in the Democratic cause, and as an organizer in political contests Mr. Dixon has achieved a prominence that extends throughout the state. Since attaining his majority he has been devoted to the principles of political economy and those theories of government expounded by those great statesmen, Jefferson and Jackson.

In every political contest in this state, great or small, he has been an earnest worker in the Democratic ranks. He has always been a Democrat of the active, loyal and never-failing type, and has held the position of chairman of the Democratic Local Committee, during several of the hardest campaigns. Mr. Dixon was appointed acting chairman of the 4th District Democratic Committee in the recent special election for Congressman, and by his untiring efforts and to his contributions in the way of time and money, is partially due the great victory won by the Hon. F. M. Griffity, Congressman-elect.

Mr. Dixon has been successful as a lawyer, and his clientage is composed of the best people in this section of the state. His practice is lucrative, his ability undoubted; and his strict integrity has won for him the respect and confidence of everyone who has had business relations with him.

Mr. Dixon was married October 14, 1884 to Miss Kate Storey, and they have two children, a daughter Claire and a son Donald.

References

• Lincoln Dixon at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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