Education was key to Dixon’s success

Wallace H. Dixon was principal of Palmyra’s Lincoln School from 1898 to circa 1909. This photo, dated circa 1913, is reprinted from the book “Palmyra Marion County, The People and Their History” published by Lee and Beverly Keck, Keck Enterprises, in September 1994.

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

Solomon Dixon, a 27-year-old slave of mulatto complexion residing in Missouri’s capital city, was about to be separated from his family. He had cash, earned as a private worker during his enslavement years, but in order to “buy” his freedom, he needed someone to vouch for his integrity.

I.C.J. Corwin had just arrived in Missouri from New York and found Dixon worthy of the utmost confidence. Corwin agreed to vouch for the slave, and circa 1857 Dixon was able to buy his own freedom. Dixon paid $1,000. (Information culled from the Sedalia Democrat, Sunday, Aug. 28, 1927, and other associated editions.)

Wallace H. Dixon (circa 1859-1947) was born to Solomon and Laura Dixon, about the same year as Solomon’s self-emancipation, circa 1857. Later in his adulthood, Wallace H. Dixon would play a key leadership role in Hannibal. 

In 1863, Solomon Dixon remarried,  to 20-year-old Hattie, who was born a negro slave of the Hogan family in Cooper County, Mo., circa 1844. At that time, Solomon’s son, Wallace, was about 4. Hattie Dixon lived to be 99 years old. (Source, her obituary, published in the Sedalia Weekly Democrat, Feb. 27, 1942.)

The 1870 census located Solomon Dixon and his family living in Sedalia, Pettis County, Mo. He was a 37-year-old hotel porter. He and Addie had under their charge two children at that time, the aforementioned Wallace Dixon, by now age 14, and Emma Dixon, age 8 months.

While Solomon Dixon didn’t have the opportunity to obtain a formal education, he was a firm believer in the educational institution, and encouraged his children in that direction.

Solomon’s son Wallace built his life upon a strong educational foundation that would pay dividends throughout his life span. Following the end of the Civil War, public schools - where only private schools previously existed - were established. In Missouri, a concern grew regarding how to educate the children of former slaves. The best candidates, it was determined, would be adults of the same race.

A school was established in Jefferson City as a means of educating black teachers to fill this role.

Richard Foster, a white abolitionist officer, opened the Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City in 1866. The state government provided $5,000 a year to train teachers for the state’s new public school system for blacks, including formerly enslaved men and women.

According to Wikipedia, additional funding came from the Civil War 62nd Colored Infantry regiment of the U.S. Army, largely recruited in Missouri, which set up educational programs for its soldiers. At the end of the war it raised $6,300 to set up a black school, headed by a white abolitionist officer, the aforementioned Richard Foster, and founded by James Milton Turner, a student and protege of John Berry Meachum.

In 1890, the school was designated a land-grant university, emphasizing agriculture, mechanics and teaching. The school was renamed Lincoln University in 1921. (Wikipedia.)

Wallace Dixon was among the early graduates of Lincoln Institute, completing a two-year course in June 1876, and by 1878, when he was about 19, he was teaching at the public colored schools at Warrensburg. The Sedalia Weekly Bazoo reported in its Oct. 1, 1878 edition, that Wallace H. Dixon had 78 scholars under his charge, and he was being paid $40 per month.

By 1887, he was the school’s principal.

In May 1887, he had the means to purchase a house, which was located on Lot 6, Block 11, Original Town of Sedalia, for $175.

That same year Wallace took a bride: Sarah W. Taylor, daughter of the Rev. Spencer Taylor, who during his lifetime had been pastor and founder of the Sedalia ME church, colored.

Move to Palmyra

Wallace Dixon relocated his family to Palmyra for the 1898-1899 school year, where he accepted a teaching position at Lincoln School.

The 1900 census identified Wallace as a professor, and his wife, Sarah, as a teacher, both working at Lincoln School. They were parents of one daughter, Thelma, born in 1895.

Wallace Dixon’s monthly salary as school principal was $50; and Mrs. Dixon was paid $35.

In 1902, Prof. Dixon told the Marion County Herald newspaper that there had been 15 graduates of Lincoln School in Palmyra since he had been in charge of the school. The school board granted Dixon’s request of an increase in his monthly salary to $60, for an eight-month contract. He agreed to remain at the school for another school term.

The enrollment of Lincoln School in March 1902 was 172 students. Mr. Dixon stated in a report published in the Marion County Herald on Jan. 2, 1902: “Realizing that a majority of our boys and girls will not be able to attend any of our high schools, we do some high school work.”

Lincoln School was situated in a four-room, two-story building, each room having a seating capacity of 40 children. Teachers in 1902 no longer included Mrs. Dixon. In addition to Mr. Dixon, were Miss Hamilton, Miss Shropshire and Miss Smiley.

Teachers for the black schools in Marion, Lewis and Monroe counties met for an institute at Douglass school, corner of Willow and Spruce Streets, in June 1907.  Prof. Pelham was in charge of the institute, assisted by Prof. Dixon of Palmyra.

The Dixons’ daughter, Thelma Mary Dixon, (circa 1895-1989) followed in the educational path of her parents. She attended Lincoln Institute, as did her father, and was among the teachers for Hannibal’s Douglass School circa 1915-1925. She was also a talented pianist. In 1925, while teaching at Douglass, she made her home with her parents, Wallace and Sarah Dixon, at 2105 Spruce.

She ultimately moved to California, and in the 1940s, she relocated her parents to that state in order live near her. 

W.H. Dixon died Jan. 21, 1947; and Sarah Dixon died May 21, 1948. They are buried together in Section H, Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, Calif.

Thelma Mary Dixon Taylor died in 1989, according to online genealogy sources.