The Dixon Brothers

The Dixon Brothers: John and Isaac Chester

The Dixon brothers, John (1850) and Isaac Chester (1852 or 1854), were born on a small farm near Peterborough, Ontario to English parents. They obtained their education in Ontario and opened up a general store in Oshawa. They married two sisters, Agnes and Harriet (Hazzie) Dawson. In April, 1883, John and Chester journeyed out west by train. They purchased a store in Maple Creek and homesteaded near the creek. John and Agnes Dixon had 4 children: Bessie, Ethel, Howard, and Jack. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Dixon had 6 children: Alfred, Dawson, Hugh, Grace (died in house fire in 1894), Ruth and Lois. Alfred obtained his schooling in Maple Creek and attended Albert College in Kingston, Ontario. He went into partnership with his father and uncle when the store was relocated to Pacific Avenue. Alfred had an interest in curling. He was a member of the Methodist Church and was a Sunday School teacher for many years. Alfred was treasurer for the Masonic Lodge for 40 years. He was weight master at the stock yards in Maple Creek from 1909 to 1959. He married Elizabeth Brockie, (born in Ferguson, Ontario in 1884) in Los Angeles, California. The couple returned to Maple Creek soon after. They had two children: Chester and Eleanor. Elizabeth died in 1961, and Alfred Dixon passed away in 1966. Chester died in RCAF action over Germany. Eleanor married Ben Mitchell, the son of Robert Jr. and Idna Mitchell who had 5 children: Robert, James, Phillip Benjamin “Ben”, Harry and Francis. Phillip “Ben” (1917-1984) Mitchell and Eleanor (nee Dixon) Mitchell had 4 children: Phillip, Clifford, Mary and Susan. Ben grew up on the V Ranch. He studied Aeronautical Engineering in Calgary and California. He served in the Air Force during World War II. From 1945 until they retired to Maple Creek in 1967, Ben and Eleanor lived on the Battle Creek Ranch.