Charles W. Dix (1899)

DIX

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 2/10/2009 at 17:03:05

The Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, February 8, 1899
Page 8

St. Charles

On Sunday morning as section foreman Howard, of Hanley, was passing over his section to inspect the track, he found the dead body of a man lying under the trestle work of the south approach to the bridge that crosses Clanton creek near the residence of Mrs. Martin. It was seen to be the body of a man who had been at Hanley on Friday and Saturday with an ax, and ostensibly seeking employment as a wood chopper.

Coroner Martin was called by phone from this city, and responding promptly, reached the place of the discovery about one p.m. He promptly summoned J. G. Martin, Perry Lathrum and J. W. Baker as jurors, who examined the body and his effects and discovered his name to be C. W. Dix, and that he had lived at Greenfield a few years ago. He had a diploma from the normal school at that place. The inquest was then adjourned to St. Charles to which place the body was removed. M. I. Bean was appointed clerk and a number of witnesses examined.

The testimony developed that he was seen near the bridge about the time that the train which was due at Hanley at 9:50 would cross the bridge. It would seem that he most likely was caught by that train, but the position in which the body was found did not seem to warrant the decision that he had been struck by the train, neither was there evidence to establish any other theory. In consequence of these circumstances, the jury returned a verdict that his death was from the effects of a deep wound on the right temple, the result of a cause unknown to them.

His remains were then placed in charge of Undertaker Hoff by the Coroner. The remains were soon after put in presentable condition by J. G. Martin, J. L. Armstrong and other able and willing assistants and cared for during the night.

On Monday morning Mr. G. W. Shreeves, telephone agent, made diligent inquiries in Des Moines and other points. Parties were found who knew him, but did not know of the whereabouts of his relatives, he having apparently made strict efforts to keep his identity and whereabouts from them.

The only person who could give any clue in that direction was Mr. O. S. Wilson, an attorney of Stuart, Iowa, and an ex-Co. Supt. Of Adair county, who says he has known him for about fifteen years; that he was a man of education and a gentleman, but had apparently given way to dissipation, and the only relative he even spoke of was ex Gov. Dix of New York, who was his uncle.

He was decently buried by the people here in the St. Charles cemetery on Tuesday forenoon. Nothing further has developed in the matter at this time.
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Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, February 9, 1899
Page 1

Same obituary as Madisonian
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, February 10, 1899
Page 5, Column 3

Several paragraphs similar to the Madisonian description of how he was found, leading to this information about his background:

The Man's name was found to be C. W. Dix and he formerly lived at Greenfield and had taught school in Adair county. He was also admitted to the bar of Guthrie county and had practiced law in Des Moines.

The parties who gave the above information said that the man was a nephew of ex-governor Dix, of New York, and that drink had made a tramp of him. The body was buried at St. Charles.

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