Henry Edward Dixon, a member of one of the old and well known families of Oklahoma, is a leading representative of the Delaware County bar, being engaged in practice at Grove, and he has gained an enviable reputation in a profession which calls for ability of a high order and requires close application, good judgment and a constantly widening comprehension of the relations and responsibilities which go to make up civilized society.
He was born in Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois, on the 13th of January, 1872, a son of Marion and Georgiana (Seward) Dixon, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio. The father devoted his life to the cattle business, coming to this section of the country in 1892 and purchasing stock in various parts of the territory. He first made his home in Miami but later took up his residence at Fairland, Oklahoma, where he passed away in 1915, when seventy-three years of age, but the mother is still living in Miami. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, a Democrat in his political views, and fraternally was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Henry E. Dixon acquired his education in the public schools of Illinois, which he attended until he was sixteen years of age, afterward accompanying his parents on their removal to Indian Territory, where he remained until a young man of nineteen, when he went back to his native state and in two years finished his collegiate work in Iroquois County. He then returned to Indian Territory and for two years was an instructor in Fairland Academy, the first educational institution here not controlled by the Cherokee Nation. Entering the field of business, he became interested in a marble works as a member of the firm of Long & Dixon and they built up a large trade, Mr. Dixon having charge of the sales end of the business, in which connection he traveled all over the Cherokee Nation, southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas, proving very successful as a salesman. In 1900 he went to Spokane, Washington, where he spent four years, devoting two years to teaching, while for a similar length of time he engaged in selling groceries and other provisions. In 1904 he returned to Miami, where he remained for about five years, and during that period was a teacher in the public schools. He was very successful as an educator, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge which he had acquired. In 1909 he arrived in Grove, Delaware County, where he has since made his home, engaging for a time in the insurance business. He next took up the study of law and since his admission to the bar has engaged in general practice at Grove, where he has built up a good clientele. He is well versed in the principles of jurisprudence, prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care, and the ability with which he presents his cause has won for him many favorable verdicts.
At Fairland, Oklahoma, in 1898, Mr. Dixon was united in marriage to Miss Stella June Parker, a native of Neosho, Missouri, and a daughter of James Parker, who for many years engaged in teaching in the schools of that state, while later he removed to Indian Territory, where he followed the occupation of farming but is now living retired in Spokane, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon now have five children: Beulah May, Gladys Ruth, James Marion, Le Roy and Margaret Lucille.
Mr. Dixon is a member of the Christian Church and is much interested in the promotion of its activities along musical lines. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic Party, and he is an active worker in its ranks. For several years he served as mayor of Grove and was strongly commended for his economic oversight of the expenditures of the town as well as for the progressive measures which he inaugurated. He is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Grove Lodge, No. 526, of which he is a past noble grand, and for several years he filled the office of Secretary. He believes in the maxim: “There is no excellence without labor,” and follows it closely. In his law practice, whatever he does is for the best interests of his clients and for the honor of his profession. His entire career has been actuated by a spirit of progress that has been productive of excellent results, and his worth to the community is generally acknowledged.