Dixon, John Boynton

The following data is extracted from Genealogy and Biography of Ontario County, New York.

John Boynton, only child of John and Hannah Dixon, was born in Rellington, England, February 3, 1812, died in Geneva, New York, March 4, 1890. He was reared and educated in his native town, where he also served an apprenticeship at tile and brick-making with his grandfather, and in 1832 he engaged in that business for himself at Leeds, England, remaining in that city about twenty years. Arriving in New York in 1851, he proceeded to select a suitable place in which to locate, and being favorably impressed with the inducements offered at Geneva he established a tile and brick yard in that town. This industrial enterprise proved successful from the start, and its promoter built up an extensive and profitable business. Mr. Dixon introduced the manufacture of drain tile, and through his efforts the farmers in Western New York became convinced that by its use their lands could be made to yield larger and better crops. He also introduced numerous improvements in tile-making and was the inventor of the "Down Draft Inside Flue" tile kiln, which is now (1910) extensively used in the burning process of all clay products. He was frequently consulted as an expert in matters relative to his business, and in 1870 he was employed to establish a tile brick plant at Anderson, South Carolina, for Senator Creighton. In addition to his regular business he was quite largely interested in the production of nursery stock. In his religious faith he was an Episcopalian and attended Trinity church. Politically he was a Republican.

Mr. Dixon married (second) in 1867, Mrs. Nancy Tyler (nee Slarrow). Children: 1. John Boynton, born September 28. 1868, died at the age of one year. 2. Katherine Elizabeth, born April 2, 1870. 3. A. Clark. born December 20, 1871, married Nora L. Catchpole, January 18, 1899; children: John B., born August 22, 1905; Dorothy Clark, born in Corning, New York, August 1q, 1908. 4. James B., born July 15, 1875. Mr. Dixon had a step-daughter Frances, who became the wife of Charles Scott. She died in 1868, leaving six children, five of whom were reared and educated by Mr. and Mrs. Dixon.

Mrs. Nancy Dixon was born in Geneva, January 10, 1831. Her father was Sidney Slarrow, a native of Dutchess county, New York, who settled in Geneva when a young man and learned the carpenter's trade with John 1. Morrison, of that town, where he died in 1846.

Her mother, Ann (Taylor) Slarrow, who was born in Seneca, New York, died in 1835, when Mrs. Dixon was but four years old, and she was reared and educated by Mrs. John M. Woods, of Seneca, who in every way proved equal to her self-imposed task. Mrs. Woods, who lived to the good old age of ninety years, was sincerely loved by all who knew her, and Mrs. Dixon holds her in the most affectionate remembrance. Nancy Slarrow married for her first husband William C. Tyler, a native of Massachusetts, who fought for the preservation of the Union in the civil war and was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor, in June, 1864. The children of this marriage are: 1. Mary May Tyler, born May 5, 1852, died November 2. 1856. 2. Amanda Jane, born April 28, 1854, married William Frautz, of Geneva; children: Nellie E. Frautz, now (1910) Mrs. 1. Winton, of Lodi, New York, and has two children; Nancy Dixon Frautz, died January 9, i 10; Mary Frautz, now (1910) Mrs. Winfred Turk, of Geneva, one son, Henry, who died in infancy; William Henry Frautz, born July 8, 1890; Catherine Frautz, born April 2, 1893. 3. Nellie Tyler, born in 1861, married John Beard, June 1880, and have two children : Thomas and Sylvia.

Source: Genealogy and Biography of Ontario County, New York

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