Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/284

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DIXON, Samuel Gibson, scientist, was born in I'luhuii'lpliia, Pa.. March 23, 1851; son of Isaac and Ann ^^CJibson) Dixon; grandson of Isaac and Marg-aret (Roberts) Dixon, and of Jolin and Sjtrah (Jones) CJihson, anil a descendant of Nathan Dixon, who settled in 17'21 at the home- stead in Pliiladelphia, and also a descendant of Paul Jones. He was educated at the Friends school in his native city, by pri- vate tutors, and by Eurojiean study and travel. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar, but was subse- quently compelled to abandon his profes- sion because of ill health. In 1886 he was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, spent the years 1886-87 in Europe, and in 1888 was elected professor of hygiene in the medical department and dean of the auxiliary department of medicine in the University of Pennsylvania. He returned to Europe in 1889 to pursue special studies, si^ending the greater part of his time in the laljoratories of King's college, London, and in Pettenkoffer's laboratory, Mu- nich. He withdrew from the University of Pennsylvania to accept the charge of the advance ^'ork in bacteriology in the Academy of natural sciences of Philadelphia and was elected ex- ecutive curator in 1892 and president of that in- stitution in 1895. He was also made professor of histolog}' and microscopic technology in the academy, a memter of the board of public education of Philadelphia, vice-president of the Pennsylvania .society for the prevention of tuberculosis, vice-]iresident of the Ludwick in- stitute, Pliiladelphia, a director of the Pliiiadel- phia zoological .society, and a member of the American philo.sophical society, the Pennsj'l- vania metlical society, the Pennsylvania histori- cal sf>ciety, the American archa;ological and Asiatic association, the College of pliysicians, the Pennsylvania hospital, and other scientific ami social organizations. In the Medical Xews of Oct. 19, 1889, he published his discovery on the establishing of immunity against tuberculosis. He is the author of other learned contributions to meflical and hygienic science published in lea^ling f>eriorlioals.

DIXON, William Wirt, representative, was born in Brooklyn. X.Y., June 3. is:}s. He was taken by his parents to Illinois in 1H43 and to Keokuk. Iowa, in 1849, and was admitted to the

bar in the Latter place in 1858. After brief periods spent in Tenne.s.see and Arkansas he went to California in 1862 and thence in the same year to Humboldt county. Nevada. In 1866 he removed to Montana, residing in Helena, Deer Lodge, and finally Butte City. He was a member of the leg- islative assembly of Montana Territory, 1871- 72; of the constitutional conventions of Montana of 1884 and 1889, and a Democratic represent- ative at large from Montana in the 52(1 congress, 1891-93.

DIXSON, Zella Allen, librarian, was born in Zaiiesville, Oliio. Aug. 10, 1858; daugiiter of Josiah Buffett and Mary Caroline (Blandy) Allen. Slie completed the course in the Zanes- ville high school. studie<l at I'utnam seminary, and was graduated at Mt. Holyoke college, Mass., in 1880. She was mar- ried in 1881 to Joseph Ehrman Dixson of Dayton, Ohio. i\Ir. Dixson died in 1885. She then determined to make the care of libraries her life work, and studied un- der Melvil Dewey at Columbia college, be- coming his private secretary and subse- quently assistant li- brarian of Columbia college. After one year at this iK)st she adopted the profes- ChJiJia^ OdhA*^/Cyi6\\^ sion of library expert ^

and made it her business to classify and rear range cliaotic matter in public libraries In this wf)rk she travelled extensively, and over tliirtj' hirge and influential libraries were rear- ranged, including that of Denison univer,sit3', the City of Duluth, Kenyon college, and the Baptist theological seminar}-. She established a training school for librarians in which many pupils have been equijJi>ed with the best methods for library work. In 1887 she became librarian of Deni.son university, going from there to the Bajitist theo- logical seminary in 1890 and to the University of Chicago in 1892. In 1892 she received the de- gree of M.A. from Shepardson college for two years' non-resident graduate work. Mrs. Dixson became a director of the Chicago woman's club, a meml)er of the College alumnae of Mt. Holyoke and president of Mt. Holyoke association of the northwest. In 1894 she was made lecturer in the University Extension department and before summer schools. Her library at " Wisteria Cot- tage '■ Granville, Ohio, is mentioned in " Private Libraries of the United States and Canada " pub.