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John Dixon

Question: What happened to John Dixon after he served in Brigham Young’s Vanguard Company in 1847?

Answer: John Dixon was born in Cumberland, England on July 26, 1818. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and sailed to America in 1842.

John made it to Nauvoo, Illinois, where the Saints were gathering at that time. He helped build the Nauvoo Temple and was there at the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum. John recived his endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. He left Nauvoo in 1846 along with the other Saints, and journeyed to Winter Quarters.

At Winter Quarters in 1847 John, age 28, was asked to be in Brigham Young’s Vanguard Company. He was in the 5th Ten led by Stephen Goddard. He was one of the 50 men assigned to night guard duty. After reaching the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847, he helped in the erection of the fort and building the settlement.

John was called in 1850 to accompany George Q. Morris and other missionaries to the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands. He left from Salt Lake City on November 22, 1850. He returned to Salt Lake after that mission.

On August 17, 1853, he and three others were hauling wood to Snyder’s Mill near Parley’s Park in Salt Lake City, and a group of Indians fired on them. He and John Quayle, age 20, were killed. John Dixon was 35 years old. John was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Source: “Biographies of the Original 1847 Pioneer Company,’ Church News, Updated, 14 October 2009; FamilySearch.org; FindAGrave.com



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