The first child of  Alexander Franklin & Helen "Nellie" (Beach) Dix, Albert Sidney Dix, "Bert", was born on September 1, 1863 in Midway, Alabama, in what was then Barbour County.  Several large counties were divided into smaller counties during reconstruction.  As a result, Midway is now in Bullock County, Alabama .  Alexander Franklin Dix (AFD), had come to Alabama from the Buffalo-Niagara, New York area at the request of Alexander's first cousin (on his mother's side), Edward Milton Butterfield, to join him in teaching school there in 1859. 

[The city of Buffalo's name was not taken from the animal of the same name; rather, it is claimed to have been named after its location at the origin of the Niagara River. Beau fleuve is French for "beautiful river".]

Apparently, Alexander liked the South.  He went back to New York to marry Helen "Nellie" Beach on January 02, 1861, then returned to Midway with his new bride, to resume his career and start their family.  Shortly after returning to Alabama however, the War Between the States began.  It must have been quite a struggle of conscience with so many of their New York relatives siding with the Union Army, but Alexander decided to enlist in the Confederate Army on May 12, 1862.  During his stint in the CSA, he served under General Albert Sidney Johnston.  When AFD's first born son came along on September 1, 1863, he named him after his admired general.

On March 19, 1865, Bert got a little brother -- William Beach Dix, "Will", then a couple of years later, a little sister Hattie Lillis  "Dimple" Dix on April 18, 1867.  AFD was discharged and paroled from the Confederate Army on April 9, 1865, so obviously, some furloughs were allowed.
 

Submitted by Russell Dix Whigham The first child of Alexander Franklin Dix and Helen Beach with notation:  "Albert Sidney Dix, Midway Alabama, December 10, 1866.  Age 3 years, 3 months, & 9 days"

Submitted by Martha Whigham Picardy This photograph must have been made about the same time, but there is no date or name with it.

On June 14, 1871, Mary Belle "Dollie" Dix born.  AFD & NBD have demonstrated a subtle sense of humor,  nicknaming their girls with the alliterations "Dimple, Daisy, and Dollie Dix".  Tradgedy strikes the family only four months later when, at less than two years of age,  Nellie Butterfield  "Daisy" Dix died (August 22,1871).    Daisy's modest little grave marker is located in the cemetery behind the Midway Baptist Church.

We have no date, but we know that Bert was baptized by Rev. Joseph Dill in Union Springs AL, and that ASD was eight years old when the family moved away from Union Springs, so it must have been around this time.

In October of 1871, the family moved to Winchester, (Franklin County) Tennessee where AFD had accepted a position as pastor of the First Baptist Church, where he pastored from October 1871 through September 1877.  While in Winchester, AFD  taught at, and received his M.A  degree from, Mary Sharp College. There seems to be some evidence that AFD spent some time in this area of Tennessee when he was serving in the war.  From the Alabama Department of Archives and History's "Civil War Service Database".

The Midway Cadets became Company E 1st Battalion Hilliard's Legion in May 1862. I was detailed for duty in office of assistant Adjutant General of Legion, afterwards held at same duty at department headquarters of E. Tennessee until April 1864. 

Alexander Franklin Dix Jr., called "Allie", was born on August 20,1874, followed the next year by Paul Finch Dix born on November 1, 1875.

In school years 1871-1877,  ASD and WBD were enrolled at Carrick Academy, then from 1878-80, Winchester Normal School and College in Winchester.  During this time, AFD was the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Winchester (his second call) where he remained through September, 1878 in addition to his teaching duties at Winchester Normal School and College, between 1878 and 1879 (his last year).  Also, during this time, Bert, Will, Dimple, Dollie, & Lell attended Winchester TN Carrick Academy / Winchester Normal College, through 1880.

Philo Castle Dix was born on September 24, 1878 and finally, the last of the ten children of Alexander and Nellie, Thomas Murrell Dix "Murrie", born in Winchester, Tennessee ⁵ on June 16, 1880.

*  Note that under the "Rel" (Relationship) that Paul and Philo were listed as "Other" -- a catagory for adopted children or boarders.  I had the priviledge of asking Lell's daughter, Annie Goulding (Dix) Meiers about this before she died.  She just laughed and dismissed that as an census enumerator's error.  It's also obvious that the census taker visited the Dix home before June 16, when Murrie was born.
 
 

In July, 1880, after their decade stint in Tennessee, the Dix family moved to Stephenson, Alabama (Jackson County)  where AFD accepted the poistion of president of William and Emma Austin College, and remained there through the end of the school year of 1883. 
 
 

That July, AFD and family returned to Union Springs, where he served as principal of the Union Springs Institute. 

On September 4, 1884, while still living in Union Springs, AFD preached in a revival back at his old church in Midway, and the following year on March 8, 1885, ASD's brother, William Beach Dix, following in his father's footsteps, was ordained as Baptist minister at age nineteen in Union Springs.  During this time, 1885-1886,  AFD was President of Classical Institute, Union Springs, Ala. 
 
 

Tradgedy struck the family again on August 27,1886, when William Beach Dix died in his prime.  He died at home in Pine Grove, but his congregation in Albany Georgia, requested that he be buried there. 
 
 

During 1886 and 1887,  AFD Pastored Country several surrounding community churches including Midway, Fairview, Aberfoil and Liberty  as a circuit preacher.

Cousin, Ann Howell, who lives in Brewton, found the following in the book, History of Escambia County by Annie C. Waters 1993,  ISBN is 0-87152-463-5.    It tells of the building and planning for the Brewton Collegiate Institute.

A lot was on Belleville Avenue was chosen and Charles Sowell erected a fence and planted oaks.  Professor Walter R. Thompson, a Mississippian moved immediate to Brewton in the capacity of headmaster.  The building was a two story structure constructed of heart-pine lumber.  It was a private school, supported by student fees and stockholder certificates.  The Brewton Collegiate Institute opened in September 1886, and was at once accepted as a college preparatory and vocational institution, consisting of both grammar and high schools.  Prof. A.S. Dix presided over the intermediate class of males, Mrs. Kate M. Gage over the same grade of females.  Miss Annie Clay presided over the primary department and Miss Dimple Dix's domain was the music department.

So... at one time both ASD and his sister Dimple were here.

When my great, great Aunt Etta died, Isadora's sister, my grandmother [Issalee], who I always called E, inherited certain items.  I went with her to Illinois to get them.  My mother [Audrey Dix (Dismukes) McLelland] died Dec. 5th, 1986 and my grandmother [ Issalee (Dix) Dismukes ] died Dec. 10th, 1986 so some of the items have come to me.

I have the china that was ordered for ASD and IND for their wedding.  It is Limoges and is hand painted.  The pattern is wild flowers but no two plates are the same, yet they all match beautifully.

I also have some books that belonged to ASD and that have his signature and the date.

One of the books from Aunt Etta is a composition book that is a record of the Magnolia Circle Literary Society that was held in Brewton, AL.  It was organized Friday evening, Sept 28th 1887.  The bylaws were written and signed by the members.  Among those are:  Albert S. Dix, Etta Nicoles, and Issie Nicoles.  Dimple is also listed as a member but did not sign the bylaws.

So....these young people were meeting once a week at various members houses during the fall and winter of 1887 and the spring of 1888.

The first meeting was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F.M. Nicoles. Etta was elected Secretary so all the writing in the book is in her hand. 

Albert Sidney Dix (called "Bert" by all who knew him) was teaching school in Brewton, Alabama.  There he met Francis (Frank) Marion Nicoles, building contractor, through a friend, "Mr. Lovelace". Frank Nicoles' daughters, Isadora and Etta were students at Tuskegee Female College /Alabama Conference Female College, in Tuskegee AL (later moved to Montgomery and  renamed Huntingdon College).  Albert (Bert) Sidney Dix and Isadora Nicoles were married 06/18/1888.

We had assumed that Bert and "Issie" were married in Brewton.  However, the Index to Marriages, Volume A, Sept. 25, 1879 - Aug. 25, 1892, Escambia, Alabama, does not include the Dixes!?  Perhaps Albert and Isadora returned to Bullock County to be married by the family patriarch, Rev. Alexander F. Dix.  We'll see this again when their first child is born.

Ed Sproles Jr.(grandson of Paul Finch and Vernon (Nix) Dix), has the AFD and NBD's family Bible which has the entry: 

"Albert S. Dix was married to Isidore [sic] J. Nicoles at Decatur Ala. June 18 1888". 

From The Alabama Baptist, June 27, 1889 pg 2 col 6, we learn that the couple had left for Anderson, Tennessee immediately after the wedding: 

From a private letter to the senior [Alexander Franklin Dix] from sister Dix [Nellie?], of Pine Grove, he extracts the following:  Our eldest son, Professor A.S. Dix, and his wife [Isadora] have come home for the summer after a year at Anderson, Tennessee. On last conference day they united with our church – the former by letter, and the latter by experience, and Mr. [A.F. ?] Dix had the pleasure of baptizing her [Isadora] ... on the first Sunday. 

  Photo submitted by Frances Dix Chapman

Three months later, the couples' first child, Nellie J. Dix, was born on September 29, 1889, in Bullock County. The sequence of events during this time is unclear, as we have a photo one year later, of Nelle as an infant has "Brewton Ala." as the location of the photographers (Proctor & Coleman) studio. 

Nearly two years later, Nelle gets a baby sister. Ruth Dix was born in Postoak AL,  Bullock Co., on June 03, 1892.

Ruth was the second child of Albert Sidney Dix and Isadora (Nicoles) Dix.  Although we have no official birth record, our personal records and oral history indicate that Ruth was born in Postoak Alabama (Bullock Co).  Her father, Albert, was a school teacher when they lived in Brewton, so we can only assume that  he was still teaching when their young family moved back to the vicinity of his birth and early childhood near Union Springs  The 1895 Atlas  shows that Postoak had a Post Office.  It's now a dead town located at the intersection of Bullock County Roads 8 and 11 in southwestern Bullock County. 32°0'3"N 85°49'12"W, about 10 miles southwest of Union Springs.  Interestingly, put purely coincidentally as far as we know, there's a "Pine Grove" church shown on the General Highway Map for Bullock County there and a "Liberty Church", one of the churches mentioned among AFD's churches at Postoak. 

On October 22, 1894, the family gets a boy. Francis Albert Dix  (Buddy) was born in Fitzpatrick AL, Bullock County.  Fitzpatrick, located on Alabama Highway 110, between Union Springs and Montgomery, still exists (has its own Post Office and Zip Code, but that's about it.  I'm curious about the circumstances of the first three children all born in Bullock County, yet in different communities.  Did the family move within the county that often?

Below is a photograph of the Albert and Isadora's first three children who were born in Bullock County.  The date of the photograph below is 1896.  Once again the timeline is unclear.  The next record of the ASD family is from Butler GA.  I've found no information on the Photo Artist, F. P. Pepper.  If we could learn where his studio was in 1896, we could pin down the date of the move to Georgia a little better.

Obviously, that's "Bert" in the back-middle.  We don't know any of the other "friends" or exactly when this was taken.  The other portraits made at the "F.P. Pepper - Photo Artist" studio were during the time the young family was back in Bullock County.

Albert Sidney Dix is mentioned in minutes of Butler, Georgia, Church Conference meetings on May 22, 1897.  We can only assume that his still teaching.  The following year, the family's fourth child, a daughter, Issalee, was born on March 24, 1898, in Butler GA. Although we don't have direct evidence for Issalee's place of birth, the location inferred from surrounding events and dates.  On February 28, of the following year, ASD is ordained in Butler GA.   Source: American Baptist Year-Book, under "Ministers Ordained in 1899".
 
 

ASD is still in Butler GA, per the 1900 Census Microfilm records found by Lyn Simonton. Lyn & Tom also came up with the following found at Mercer University Library in Macon.  Lyn writes:

In the Rehoboth Baptist Association Minutes of October 16-17, 1900, we found in the "Statistical Report" that A.S. Dix was listed as pastor of the Knoxville Church.  He is also listed as pastor of the Benevolence Church, also in Crawford Co.  I believe many of the small country churches back then (Knoxville had 45 members, Benevolence had 29) only had services a couple of times a month, so I guess he probably alternated between the two, or held services at different times of the day on Sunday.

He must have been there for only a year or less, because he is listed in the Rehoboth Baptist Association Minutes of October 15-17, 1901 as pastor of the Perry Baptist Church, AND Houston Factory Church in Perry (Perry is in Houston Co.) as well.  This must have been a church in the mill town of Perry where he may have preached only occasionally, or possibly later in the day or evening on Sunday.  He was, again, listed in the Association Minutes of October 14-16, 1902 as pastor of the same two churches in Perry.

In the Rehoboth Baptist Association Minutes of October 13-15, 1903, he was listed as pastor of the Forsyth Baptist Church which had 230 members, as opposed to the 170 and 51, respectively, in the Perry Churches.
 
 

Rev. A. S. Dix Perry Ga.  Sept 25, -- Rev. A. S. Dix, pastor of the Baptist church here, has resigned and will leave next week to take charge of the Baptist church at Forsyth.  Mr. Dix has made many friends here during his pastorate of two years.

Front row, L-R:  Helen (7), Lillis (10), Nelle (14), Ruth (11), James Hall Jr.(5), Francis (9),  Elhannon Winchester "Chester" Hall (9).
2nd row (Children in laps of adults), L-R:  Nina Hall (<1), William Hall [standing] (3), Dorothy (2) , Winifred (3), and Issalee (4).
2nd row (Seated adults), L-R:  James Hall, Dimple (Dix) Hall, Alexander Franklin Dix Sr., Nellie Beach Dix, Albert Sidney Dix, Isadora Nicoles Dix.
Back row: Mary Vernon (Nix) Dix, Paul Finch Dix [holding Oliver Dix (<1)] Annie (Stakely) Dix  & Lell Daniel Dix [holding daughter Annie Goulding Dix](1), Philo Dix, Elizabeth (Hayes) Dix, Thomas Murrell Dix & Frances (Gray) Dix.

On March 20, 1904,   ASD's daughter, Dorothy born in Forsyth GA. (From her book of poerty, "Plateau Pauses and Other Poems")

(First) Baptist Church in Forsyth Georgia, as it appeared when ASD was pastor in 1903
 

Submitted by Eugenia B. Hobday

Dr. A. S. Dix at 2nd Baptist Church, April, 5 1907 
Macon Weekly Telegraph, published as Macon Daily Telegraph

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Submitted by Lyn Siminton
First Baptist Church of Forsyth GA
The church has been remodeled.  this photo made in 2001
 

Ruth (Dix) Whigham, May, 1975 in front of her childhood home in Forsyth GA.

Nelle Graduated from Bessie Tift College on May 28, 1907, in Forsyth GA.  In June, the family moved to Macon, where ASD had accepted the position of  Manager of The Georgia Industrial Home.

Isadora's mother, Mary Jeniluska "Jennie" (Holipeter) Nicoles, died on August 18, 1907 and was buried at Riverside Cemetery, Macon GA. 

At age 15, Ruth Dix enrolled at Bessie Tift College Academy, in Forsyth GA for the 1907-1908 term.  Upon completion of her studies there, Ruth  continued her studies as a student at Wesleyan College, Macon GA from 1908-1910. 

The last child of the family, Eleanor (Dix) Smith, was born in Macon GA on March 13, 1909.

On April 14, 1909, the kids lose their other grandmother, Helen "Nellie" (Beach) Dix, when she died in Montgomery.  She is buried at East Oakwood Cemetery, Montgomery AL.

On November, 7, 1909, Nelle (Dix) Smith's daughter,  Nelljie (Smith) Newman, born. 

Albert Sidney Dix (Standing in back), Alexander Franklin Dix, Nelljie Dix Smith, and Nelle Dix Smith (21) (holding Nelljie).  Note: Nelljie was born November 7, 1909, so the picture was made sometime in 1910. Please note that this photo has four generations of Dix family.

On November 14, 1910, ASD was called as pastor for the coming year at Roberta Baptist Church (near Knoxville GA).

Again, from Lyn Simonton:

Now, back to the listing of pastors serving the Roberta Baptist Church (this is very near Knoxville).  It states that Brother A.S. Dix was "called as pastor for ensuing 12 months" on November 14, 1910, and "accepted." This was only about six weeks before A.S. Dix's death on December 27, 1910.  I had always thought that he had pastored a church while in Macon, and it seems that I was right, although for a very short time. (Rehoboth Baptist Association Minutes of October 16-17, 1900, we found in the "Statistical Report")

Macon Weekly Telegraph 1910-05-15

Submitted by Eugenia B. Hobday

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Albert Sidney Dix died in Macon GA on December 27, 1910.  He is buried Riverside Cemetery, Macon GA.  We have several disparate accounts of the specific circumstances of his death. 

Version 1:  Martha Picardy recounted that, as a teen, she was picking at a scourge of adolescents -- a pimple on her face -- in the presence of her grandmother, Ruth Dix Whigham, who  admonished her in the strongest of terms, NOT to "pick at that".  She then went on to tell Martha that her father (ASD) died of toxemia -- commonly known as blood poisoning -- as a result of picking at a bump on his face or neck that became infected.  Of course, this was long before anyone knew about antibiotics. Left untreated, the infection led to his demise.

Version 2:  Lyn Simonton writes: 

Yes, I did know how Albert Sidney died, but I wanted to add one more gruesome detail from my mother's version of his death. He not only picked at a pimple on his forehead, he picked at it with a pocket knife! It seems that I heard somewhere that his death was connected to uremic poisoning, possibly a result of the blood poisoning from the infected pimple.  Lyn

Pop (Will Allie "Billy" DIX Sr.) told me he stepped on a nail at the construction site and got the infection.  The doctor did not tell Granny Dix [or] anyone about this.   "Florida" Billy -- Will Allie Dix Jr.

The letter from Billy Dix (from Florida) was interesting. I had never heard the story about Grandfather Dix (Albert Sidney) stepping on a nail at a construction site. The pimple story was the only one I'd ever heard anyone mention (my mama and Aunt Ruth, mainly). I'd love to know which one is correct. I guess the blood poisoning part still stands, however. If the doctor "never told Granny Dix or anyone else" what really caused his death, then where did Uncle Billy get the story? 

Version 4:  From Alice Newman Shannon

 Can you stand to hear another story about why or how A.S. Dix died so young?!!  I remember my Mom (Nelljie Smith Newman) telling me  that the doctors had told him to stop eating "red meat" (heart or kidney disease) and he refused to follow their directions.

  Submitted by Eugenia B. Hobday

Because the family had lived in the manager's residence of the Georgia Industrial Home, and because ASD's successor would soon be occupying the home, Isadora (and her seven children still living at home), were forced to find a new home.

Early in 1911, "Granny Dix"and family, including the widowed grandpa Nicoles who was also living in Macon at the time, moved to Montgomery at 12 Marshall Street. 

According to the 1910 Montgomery City Directory, ASD's brother, Lell and family lived at  24 Marshall St., Montgomery AL.  The 1911 City Directory, is tantalizingly missing, but the 1912 edition lists Lell at 24 Marshall St., and Isadora as "head of household" at 12 Marshall St.  I think it would be safe to assume that Lell was instrumental in helping his late brother's family relocate to Montgomery.

While in Montgomery, one-by-one,  her children completed their education, married, and moved away to begin their lives with their spouses.  In 1929, Eleanor married and moved from Montgomery to Atlanta and took Granny Dix to live with her.  From 1929 until her death in 1952, Granny Dix lived a year at a time with her children.

Annual Meeting   The 18th annual meeting of the Woman's Missionary Union, auxiliary to the Montgomery Baptist Association, will be held at the Ramer Baptist church, Thursday, October 11, from 10 to 4 o'clock.  Following is a list of delagates from the seven Baptist Churches in Montgomery: Mrs. W. T. Hannon, superintendent; Miss Olive Rushton, sect-treasurer; Mrs. Albert Winterath, corr. sec.; Mrs. S. B. Davis, Mrs. J. M. Savage, Mrs. J. L. Cobbs, Mrs. E. W. Gay, Mrs C. A. Stakely, Miss Addie Cox, Mrs. H. E. Jacob, Mrs. W. G. Yelverson, Mrs. W. C. Bowick, Mrs. W. R. Seymore, Mrs. C. R. Howell, Mrs. J. B. Upchruch, Mrs, A. R. Goosdon, Mrs. Hugh Day, Mrs. E. T. Pittman, Mrs. R. T. Basemore, Mrs. Geo. Bayzer, Mrs. Albert Dix, Mrs. L. A. Jones, Mrs. ?. E. Smith, Mrs H. E. Wadsworth, Mrs. J. H. Wallace, Mrs. T. J. Baker, Mrs Z. E. Everett. Delagates and visitors will leave on the 4:40 train Thursday morning over the A. C. L. and returning will reach Montgomery at 5:40 p.m. [The characters in red are my best guesses.  Corrections welcome.  The A. C. L. must be the Atlantic Coast Line railroad.  The 4:40 departure time is based a 4:00 end to the meeting and about a one hour trip from Ramer to Montgomery.]

On March 29, 1951, Granny Dix died in Robinson Springs AL; She is buried Riverside Cemetery, Macon GA