John Alden Dix

For the Governor of New York who served in the 1870s, see John Adams Dix.
John Alden Dix
38th Governor of New York
In office
January 1, 1911  December 31, 1912
Lieutenant Thomas F. Conway
Preceded by Horace White
Succeeded by William Sulzer
Personal details
Born (1860-12-25)December 25, 1860
Glens Falls, New York
Died April 9, 1928(1928-04-09) (aged 67)
New York City, New York
Political party Democratic
Religion Episcopalian

John Alden Dix (December 25, 1860 – April 9, 1928) was the 38th Governor of New York from January 1911 to December 1912.

Life

Born in Glens Falls, New York, Dix graduated from Glens Falls Academy and attended Cornell University from 1879 to 1882.[1] He was an initiated member of the Beta Charge of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity.

After college, Dix was employed in the Dix family businesses, including a quarry and a machine shop. He then began a career as the owner of several businesses in the lumber and paper making industry, the success of which made him wealthy.

He married Gertrude Alden Thomson, the daughter of Albany lumber merchant Lemon Thomson, who was Dix's business partner. Gertrude's sister, Nancy Sherman Thomson (1867–1927), was married to State Senator Curtis N. Douglas (1856–1919).[2]

Political career

Dixwas also became involved in politics, including serving as chairman of the Washington County Democratic Committee and the New York State Democratic Committee.

At the New York state election, 1908, Dix ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York on the Democratic ticket with Lewis S. Chanler, but was defeated.

At the New York state election, 1910, he ran for Governor of New York on the Democratic ticket and was elected. During his term, Dix established a New York State Factory Commission to investigate factory conditions, a reaction to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire; as a result of the commission's work, 32 worker safety laws were enacted by the legislature and approved by Dix. After a fire destroyed a large portion of the state capitol building, Dix successfully advocated state legislation that improved fire safety regulations and building codes.

Other Dix accomplishments in office included creation of the state Conservation Commission, the law authorizing direct primary elections, and a law limiting work weeks to 54 hours. In 1912 he lost the Democratic nomination for Governor to William Sulzer.

Death and burial

After leaving office Dix retired to Santa Barbara, California. Mrs. Dix died there in 1923; the couple had no children.

Dix died in New York City on April 9, 1928, and was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands.

The other Governor Dix

John Alden Dix had the same first and last name as Union General and Governor of New York John Adams Dix, and was often referred to in the press as a nephew or a first cousin once removed of John Adams Dix. In fact, John Alden Dix had no known family relationship with John Adams Dix.[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Alden Dix.
  1. "The Ten Year Book of Cornell University Volume 2 1868–1888 pp.87".
  2. Douglas-Thomson genealogy at schenectadyhistory.org
  3. "The Dix Ancestry" transcription of a letter to the New York Times by Warren R. Dix, of September 24, 1908
Party political offices
Preceded by
Lewis S. Chanler
1906
Democratic Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York
1908
Succeeded by
Thomas F. Conway
1910
Preceded by
William. J. Conners
Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee
1910
Succeeded by
Winfield A. Huppuch
Political offices
Preceded by
Horace White
Governor of New York
1911–1912
Succeeded by
William Sulzer


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