Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-12-11
The Ex-Justice Passes Quietly Away
at His Home in Mil
waukee.
Relatives and Many Friends i'm Mad
lson Will Mourn His
Loss.
He Will be Buried in Forest Hill
Cemetery Beside His
Children.

Judge Luther s. Dixon, ex-chief justice
of the Wisconsin supreme court, died of
pneumonia at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon
at his home, So Prospect avenue, Milwau
kee after short illness.
For some years past Judge Dixon has
been practicing law in Denver, where he
removed on account of asthma from which
he suffered, but his family has continued
to reside in Milwaukee. He
had recently been In the east on business,
and while there had contracted a severe
cold, which resulted in his death. He was
quite Ill when he arrived at home on
Wednesday, but his case was not Consid-
cred alarming until Saturday. He leaves
wife and three grown children, William
A. Dixon. who is 1racticing law
In Milwaukee,; Edward l.. Dixon, who is
| preaching in Denver, and one daughter.
Judge Dixon was born in Chittenden
county, VT, on June II, 1926. He finish
ed his education, after taking an academic
course, at the Norwich Military university,
andthen read law with Judge J. P. Poland,
| of Vermont. He was admitted to the bar
of Vermont in 1850 That same year he
came to Wisconsin and settled at Portage
City, where he began the practice of law
Almost Immediately he rose to promi-
nence, and for many years ranked among
the foremost jurists of the state
In 1851 he was elected district attorney of
Columbia county, serving four years. Gov.
Randall appointed him Judge of the Ninth
circuit in 1858, and in April of the next
year appointed him chief justice of the
supreme court to fill the vacancy made by
the death of Chief Justice Wilton. He
was then 80 years of age and had been
practicing law only eight years. He was
reelected to that position four times and
resigned June II, 1874, when he removed
to Milwaukee,
When he went to Milwaukee he was at
once engaged as counsel in important
cases. He was employed by the COVE IN
ment In the famous whisky cases, and by
the state in the noted granger cases to
test the states right to control the rail.
roads. He was afterwards extensively
employed In railroad litigation. The trial
of the case of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe railroad against the Denver q
Rio Gran0e railroad for the possession of
| the grand canon of the Arkansas took
him to Denver, where he found so much
relief for asthma, which he had contracted
in Milwaukee, that he decided to remove
to that city, which he did in 1881.
During the senatorial contest that re-
suited in the election of Angus Cameron,
and the defeat Of Matt Fl. Carpenter, the
United States senatorship was offered to
| DR.. Dixon, but he refused the office.
Judge Dixon's acquaintance in Madison
began in its early history, when, as dis
trict attorney of Columbia county, he very
| ably prosecuted the case of the state against
a noted half-breed Indian named Du Bay,
on trial for murder. The trial was before
the Daue county circuit court, and
among the able lawyers ptted against
him was Judge Harlow s. Orion, now on
the supreme bench. Many warm friend
ships were formed at thai time, ana when
deceased came to Madison to accept the
high position on the supreme bench he
was most cordially welcomed. Judge Dixon
was always cordial in his dealings
with mankind. He Was admired by all
who came in contact with him. He made
no distinction between the rich and the
poor, and the announcement of his death
caused much sadness in the Capital city.
He leaves daughter-in-aw, Mrs. Ella
nj. Dixon, widow of Henry Dixon, and a
young grand daughter in Madison to deep
y mourn his loss. Henry Dixon died sud
denly in the Capital city two years ago.