Wallace DIXON, farmer and owner of the celebrated Oakland Spring farm, was born December 22, 1838, at Cedar Creek Furnace and educated at Masonic College, Clarksville, Tenn. At the ago of twenty he became manager of the iron works known as the Antonio Iron Works, of Montgomery County. Five years later he came to Decatur County and engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Elizabeth FINCH, who bore him three children; Emily A., William T. (deceased), and Wallace, who is living with his father, The mother of these children died and Mr. WALLACE was married the second time to Lucretia B. FINCH, who presented him with five children: Sallie B., Thomas Y., William H., Chambers F., all living, and Elinora, who died September 5, 1878.
Mr. DIXON is one of the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is one of the prominent Democrats of Decatur County. He is universally respected and is one of the most popular men in this county. Mr. DIXON’s great-grandfather, Obadiah DIXON, came with Lord Baltimore to America, and brought his family with him. His son, Benjamin DIXON, was a great stock-dealer and engaged largely in importing horses to America. He enlisted and served gallantly in the war of 1812. Wallace DIXON, Sr., son of Benjamin and father of our subject, was born in Maryland, and was married to Miss Eliza BRADY, who was a cousin of Gen. Sam BRADY, the celebrated Indian fighter. She carried water, when a girl, to the soldiers while they were fighting the Indians.
Wallace Dixon, Sr., came to Nashville when that city was but a village. From there he moved to Dixon County and engaged in the manufacture of iron as one of the firm of Valner & Dixon, owning and managing the furnace known as the Cumberland Furnace. After a number of years Mr. DIXON sold his interest in the enterprise to his partner. He then moved to Perry County and built the Cedar Creek Furnace and after several years’ successful management, sold the furnace, and purchased the farm now owned by Wallace DIXON, Jr. He also purchased other valuable land in Decatur County. To Wallace and Eliza (Brady) DIXON were born five children of whom our subject is the youngest. – Transcribed by David Donahue
History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Henderson, Chester, Mcnairy, Decatur, and Hardin Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Original Observations, Reminiscences, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C: Southern Historical Press, 1978.