Mr. Butler was not a creditor, but Mr. Dix, senior, was
much the largest creditor. In fact he had furnished his son with the
chief part of the means of doing business. He was a tanner by trade,
and he had gradually enlarged his business by employing workmen to make
boots and shoes. A portion of his product of leather and all his
product of boots and shoes had been turned into the son's store.
The deficiency of means on the part of the son was represented at each
settlement by an addition to the debt due to the father. The debts
amounted to about five thousand dollars. Following the assignment Mr.
Dix left home, and he did not return until the spring or summer of
1836. Imprisonment for debt in a modified form then existed. He and
his family were proud, and he may have wished to avoid seeing his
neighbors and acquaintances while his misfortune was fresh upon him.
His wife was a granddaughter of General Ward, who had been the rival of
General Washington for the command of the army at the opening of the
War of the Revolution. Mrs. Dix was proud, very properly, of her
paternity, and of her grandfather's association with General
Washington, and neither from her, nor from either of two brothers whom
I subsequently met, did I ever hear a word of criticism upon the wisdom
of the selection of General Washington.
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