Edward Algernon Dixon (1871-1955)
	
Edward Dixon was born in Buctouche, Kent County, New Brunswick.((Officers’ Declaration Paper.” Library and Archives Canada, 2019 website:  http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/image.aspx?Image=296678a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fdata2.archives.ca%2fcef%2fgpc002%2f296678a.gif&)) He joined the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) in 1893 and was stationed in Regina when he volunteered to go to the Yukon.(("Canyon City Interpretive Manual." Yukon Heritage Branch, page 49.)) Corporal Dixon was one of three officers stationed at Canyon City during the Klondike gold rush.((YRG1 Series 2 vol.40, 35143 Robert Lowe 1939-46, Vol. 47 30172 YRG1 Series 1 1912 - Water Rights McCauley.)) Sgt Joyce was in charge at the White Horse Rapids. The detachment numbered one NonCom Officer and three constables. Constable Dixon was acting as a pilot.((Report from Superintendent S.B. Steele to Commissioner of the Yukon for the month of August 1898. National Archives Canada RG 18.)) In September 1898, the Corporal and one constable were stationed at the Canyon and one constable was stationed at White Horse Rapids where there was a small shack. The detachment should have been five men but only three were available.((Report of Supt. Z. T. Wood, commanding Tagish District to the Comptroller, NWM Police Ottawa, September 1898.)) The police turned in their rations to Mr. Macaulay and got their meals at his Canyon City hotel.((YRG1 Series 2 vol.40, 35143 Robert Lowe 1939-46, Vol. 47 30172 YRG1 Series 1 1912 - Water Rights McCauley))
	
The police reported no more than thirty boats totally wrecked out of 7,000, five people drowned, and 300 boats damaged. No lives were lost and there were few accidents after a rule was applied that only licensed pilots could take boats through.((YRG1 Series 2 vol.40, 35143 Robert Lowe 1939-46, Vol. 47 30172 YRG1 Series 1 1912 - Water Rights McCauley)) Constable Dixon worked almost full time as a river pilot. He returned the five miles from White Horse by horseback along the tramway.((Helene Dobrowolsky, "A Sense of Detachments: Selected Yukon Police Post Histories." Yukon Government Heritage Studies Project, page 12.)) 
	
NWMP Superintendent Steele reported that Constable Dixon was of great assistance to parties running the rapids and with one exception brought every boat safely through. Dixon ran the //S.S. Goddard// through Miles Canyon and Whitehorse Rapids successfully, acting as head pilot. The sweeps were used, and rudders left on and a full head of steam kept up to the head of each rapid and then the engine stopped until the boat got through. The charges for piloting through the rapids were $150 for steamers and $25 for barge or scow or $20 for a small boat. In cases where people could not afford to pay, constables Dixon and others ran them through gratis.((Excerpt from Report from Supt. S.B. Steele to Commissioner of the Yukon for the month of June. 154 445-98 Tagish District - Periodical Reports, National Archives Canada RG 18)) A Mr. Dunleavy complained that while at White Horse Rapids, one of the police named Richards was canvassing orders for another named Dixon. Superintendent Steele investigated and found the charges to be unfounded.((Report of Supt. S.B. Steele to Commissioner, Y.T. for month of August 1898, headed Fort Herchmer, Dawson. Pages 2-3.)) Superintendent Steele denied reports that constables Fyffe and Dixon, serving at the Whitehorse Rapid, were taking money for lining up piloting jobs.((1898 NWMP Annual Report – Report of S.B. Steele, page 31.)) Dixon served seven years with the North-West Mounted Police.((Officers’ Declaration Paper.” Library and Archives Canada, 2019 website:  http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/image.aspx?Image=296678a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fdata2.archives.ca%2fcef%2fgpc002%2f296678a.gif&))

Dixon stayed in Whitehorse after he left the NWMP. He and partner John Smart built the Closeleigh Hotel and Saloon, later renamed the Pioneer Hotel, on Front St. early in 1900. Dixon sold out his interest later that year.((Helene Dobrowolsky and Rob Ingram, "A History of the Whitehorse Copper Belt." DIAND Open File 1993-1 (1):12-13; Yukon Archives, Series 6 Vol.36, f. YQ8479 (8); Series 8, vol. 1A, file 850.)) In 1901, Dixon and Smart owned the Closeleigh Hotel and Saloon Racine and Dixon was building a 26x60 building to operate the White Horse Steam Laundry. The building was close to the shore and near the boat building area. The building was replaced in 1901 by a 40x60 log structure. The laundry supplied power to the White Horse Hotel, and Dixon had plans to supply power to the entire town. The laundry took in private business as well as laundry from the hotels and steamers.((Helene Dobrowolsky and Rob Ingram, //Edge of the River, Heart of the City.// Whitehorse: Lost Moose Publishing, 1994: 12, 28-20.)) Dixon also managed the Regina Hotel.((Helene Dobrowolsky and Rob Ingram, "A History of the Whitehorse Copper Belt." DIAND Open File 1993-1 (1):12-13; Yukon Archives, Series 6 Vol.36, f. YQ8479 (8); Series 8, vol. 1A, file 850.))

Dixon acquired the Rabbit's Foot Extension and the Sadie mine in the Whitehorse Copper Belt around 1906.((Helene Dobrowolsky and Rob Ingram, "A History of the Whitehorse Copper Belt." DIAND Open File 1993-1 (1):12-13; Yukon Archives, Series 6 Vol.36, f. YQ8479 (8); Series 8, vol. 1A, file 850.)) In July 1910, E. A. Dixon, one of the owners of the Anaconda quartz claim in the Whitehorse region, bought Charles Ward’s interest in the claim for $4,000 cash.((//Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 15 July 1910.)) By 1916, he was co-owner of the Grafter mine together with Robert Lowe, John P. Whitney, and George Armstrong.((Helene Dobrowolsky and Rob Ingram, "A History of the Whitehorse Copper Belt." DIAND Open File 1993-1 (1):12-13; Yukon Archives, Series 6 Vol.36, f. YQ8479 (8); Series 8, vol. 1A, file 850.))

Dixon was chief of the volunteer fire department and president of the Whitehorse Conservative Association.  He was elected to the territorial council in 1915 as the member for Whitehorse. He enlisted to serve in the First World War in 1916 as a member of George Black's 104th Regiment. After the war he moved to British Columbia.((Helene Dobrowolsky and Rob Ingram, "A History of the Whitehorse Copper Belt." DIAND Open File 1993-1 (1):12-13; Yukon Archives, Series 6 Vol.36, f. YQ8479 (8); Series 8, vol. 1A, file 850.)) Lieutenant Dixon and his wife Clara visited Whitehorse in April 1920 to settle up Dixon’s business affairs.((“Is Here on Visit.” //The Weekly Star// (Whitehorse), 16 April 1920.)) Thirty-five years later, Edward Dixon’s ashes were spread over Miles Canyon.((Helene Dobrowolsky and Rob Ingram, "A History of the Whitehorse Copper Belt." DIAND Open File 1993-1 (1):12-13; Yukon Archives, Series 6 Vol.36, f. YQ8479 (8); Series 8, vol. 1A, file 850.))