Thomas Gates RIX

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Living with parents in Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New York
• Census: 1870, Living in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan
• Census: 1880, Living in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan
• Census: 1900, Living in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan
• Census: 1910, Living in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan

Notes:

Name:
Dr. Rix was a soldier of the great American Rebellion, having enlisted in Co. D, 1st. Mich. Inft., and was mustered in as Firs Lieutenant. He commanded his company at the first battle of Bull Run in 1861. He was mustered out at the expiration of his term of enlistment but on account of disability did not re-enlist. Soon after his discharge from the army he entered the American College of Dental Surgery, from which he graduated in 1863.

He lived in Clinton, Michigan, a short time after his marriage, then he removed to Dowagiac, same state, where he has practiced dentistry, his chosen profession, since, except the five years he was in Chicago, but kept his home in Dowagiac. He has served as Alderman; was elected Mayor in a city overwhelmingly Republican, and in his ward of 400 voters received every vote except two. He has been supported by his party (Democratic) for representative and senator, running many votes ahead of his ticket. He was president of the union Fair Association two years; secretary of the same association two years, and president of the Mutual Village Fire insurance Company twenty years. He is past master of Masonic Lodge, past high priest, thrice past illustrious master of the Council, has been deputy grand chancellor of the state, Knights of Pythias, and is a member of B.P.O. Elks, Knights of Honor and Legion of Honor.

In his earlier days Dr. Rix was a member of the theatrical profession and at times still appears before the public behind the footlights. He has acquired considerable distinction as an Irish comedian and has performed in the principal cities in the Union. He is the founder of the "Michigan Free Mason" and was editor and publisher for five years. He was for five years a professor in the American College of Dental Surgery, Chicago, Ill.

Thomas married Harriet PAGE on 5 Aug 1858. Harriet was born on 27 Jul 1839 in Medina, Medina Co., Ohio; died on 28 Mar 1905 in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan; was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John RIX was born on 30 Dec 1863 in Clinton, Michigan.
2. Adelaide RIX was born on 10 Dec 1869 in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan; died on 14 Jul 1950 in Los Angeles Co., California; was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan.
3. Gertrude Jane RIX was born on 4 Mar 1880 in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan; died on 16 Apr 1920 in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Nathaniel Rix and Rebecca Eastman
• Census: 1850, Living in Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New York
• Occupation: 1850, Blacksmith
• Census: 1860, Living in Manchester, Washtenaw Co., Michigan
• Census: 1870, Living in Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New York

Notes:

Name:
Mr. Rix like most young men was brought up on a farm, and in the ordinary acceptance of that term was not liberally educated, though he supplemented by careful study and voluminous reading and research education which the common schools afforded. To a strongly practical training he added by his own exertions unusual literary culture, acquiring among his other accomplishments an almost irresistible fascination for studying the classics. he had a very retentive memory, and could quote pages of almost all the works of which he was familiar.

In his early life he learned the trade of edge-tool making, and proved to be a skillful workman. He taught school nineteen winters, and while teaching in Barnston, Canada, in the winter of 1835, he moved his family there, and after his school closed, he removed to Compton in the same county, and went to work at his trade. The Canadian Rebellion breaking out in the winter of 1836-7, he returned to Littleton, N.H., and after the rebellion was crushed, he returned to Canada and located at king's Croft, in Barnston, and entered into business on his own account. His business here not proving so favorably as he had wished, he returned to the States and located in Rumney, N.H., where he built up a good business, but a financial panic coming on, he met with reverse of fortune, and removed to western Ne York, landing at Hartland, Niagara County, in June, 1844. In the fall of this year removed to Middleport, Oleans County, ten miles away, and in the fall of 1846, he removed to Jeddo, a little village in Orleans County, about five miles from Middleport. Here he did business on his own account till 1851, when he removed to Michigan, locating at Manchester. In 1864, while his son, Guy S., was in the hospital in Washington, with his eg amputated, his wife there taking care of him, Mr. Rix and wife returned to Jeddo especially to care for Guy's children, and remained until 1870, when they returned to Michigan and located in Dowagiac, where their son Thomas resided. Here they remained until death. he was lame from boyhood, caused by his hip being put out of joint, and never being set.

My father had weaknesses (and who of us do not possess many), but I am proud to say that he was a kind-hearted man, an exceedingly generous one - a man who never turned the distressed and disconsolate from his door, but prompt to act in their behalf. Although not an open worshiper of the Great Architect of nature - in fact, to the uninitiated he was completely the reverse in some respects, for which I pardon him through extenuating circumstances - yet his heat beat with almost the tenderness my deae mother possessed, and however rough his expressions, by many misjudged I Know he inwardly worshiped the Great Artificer at nature's shrine, and I hope to meet them both in the happy hunting grounds of that undiscovered country from which no traveler returns.

Guy married Martha GATES on 4 Jan 1826 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Martha (daughter of Thomas GATES, Sr. and Patty PLUMLY) was born on 5 Mar 1807 in Acworth, Sullivan Co., New Hampshire; died on 28 Apr 1892 in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan; was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 10 Aug 1807, St. Johnsbury, Vermont
• Census: 1850, Living with husband in Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New York
• Census: 1860, Living with husband in Manchester, Washtenaw Co., Michigan
• Census: 1870, Living with husband in Ridgeway, Orleans Co., New York
• Census: 1880, Living with daughter, Martha Farwell, in Dowagiac, Cass Co., Michigan