Gideon Hixon

Gideon Cooley Hixon
Born	Template:Birth date Roxbury, Vermont, U.S.
Died	September 23, 1892(1892-09-23) (aged 66) La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, politician
Years active	1850s–1880s
Known for	Lumber industry, Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly member, La Crosse National Bank president

Gideon Cooley Hixon (March 28, 1826 – September 23, 1892) was an American entrepreneur and a member of the Republican political faction. As an early settler of La Crosse, Wisconsin, he served in both the Wisconsin State Senate and the Wisconsin State Assembly. His surname is occasionally recorded as "Hickson."

Biography

Originally from Roxbury, Vermont, Hixon relocated with his family to Massachusetts, where he received his education. Following the death of his father in 1836, he lived with his grandfather and initially worked on a farm before transitioning to factory labor and apprenticing as a tinsmith. He gained experience as a tinning contractor within a hardware enterprise in Chicopee, Massachusetts, which eventually prompted his move westward to St. Louis in 1856. Utilizing capital accumulated from his tinning endeavors and drawn by prospects in the western markets, he joined forces with William Wheeler Crosby—his wife’s half-brother—to launch a lumber mill near La Crosse, Wisconsin. Crosby had settled there in 1854; the Hixon family followed two years later in 1858, where Gideon remained for the duration of his life.

After the passing of his first wife in 1856 and the destruction of his original mill by fire in 1862, Hixon established a new lumber partnership in 1863 known as Hixon & Withee, later renamed G. C. Hixon & Company. This enterprise managed timberlands and sawmills around La Crosse and transported lumber products down the Mississippi River to Missouri markets. During the 1860s, he became active in local governance, serving on the La Crosse Common Council in 1863 and holding the position of city assessor in 1865.

In 1870, Hixon was elected as a Republican to the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing La Crosse County’s first district. After redistricting in 1871, he represented the merged district during the 1872 session. Later that year, he secured a seat in the Wisconsin State Senate for the 31st district by defeating Liberal Republican Gilbert M. Woodward; he completed one two-year term and opted not to run for re-election.

Following four years in state government, Hixon held multiple terms on the La Crosse school board, serving as its president in both 1877 and 1878. Beyond his political career, he diversified his business interests by owning mills that produced flour, wool, paper, and various other products. He reinvested earnings into enterprises such as founding the La Crosse National Bank in 1877—where he served as president—and supporting the La Crosse Street Railway company. Additionally, he co-established the short-lived La Crosse Petroleum Company aimed at exploiting local oil resources.

After enduring heart disease for several years, Hixon largely withdrew from business and political activities during the early 1880s, delegating responsibilities to his sons. He passed away from heart failure on September 23, 1892, at his residence in La Crosse.

Personal life and family

Gideon Hixon was born to Joseph Hixon and Electa (Template:Nee Cooley), with his maternal grandfather Green Cooley recognized as one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts.

He married twice: initially to Sarah E. Crosby of Maine in 1850 (who died in 1856), then to Ellen Jane Pennell—a schoolteacher—in 1861. Together they had five sons who inherited his substantial estate that supported several thriving business ventures and established a philanthropic foundation that remains active today.

His home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wisconsin Assembly (1870, 1871)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 8, 1870

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 7, 1871

Wisconsin Senate (1872)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 5, 1872

External links

• Official Site of the Gideon Hixon Fund

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