Fonds - Dr. Beaumont Dixie fonds

Beaumont Wilson Bowen Dixie was born 27 March 1819 in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He and his family emigrated to Canada in 1831, establishing a home at Stamford, near Niagara. Dixie planned on becoming a physician and attended Upper Canada College. He married Anna Skynner in 1841, and received his medical license in 1843. The Dixies lived for a short time in both Oakville, Township of Trafalgar, County of Halton and Grahamsville, Township of Chinguacousy, County of Peel where Dixie established practices. They moved to Springfield (later known as Erindale), Township of Toronto, County of Peel sometime in the late 1840s. Their residence was called "Oakhill", which until the 1970s stood at 1437 Dundas Crescent.

Beaumont and Anna had six children, four of whom (Richard, Anna, Eleanor, and Wolston) died during the diphtheria epidemics of 1853 and 1854. Two daughters were born later, Margaret and Christianna. Anna Skynner Dixie died in 1867. The following year Dixie married Elizabeth (Bessie) Blakley. They had one daughter, Bertha.

Beaumont Dixie died on 27 March 1898 after suffering a stroke. His second wife died in 1913. Bertha remained in the house, and her father's dispensary and records were untouched until her death in 1951.

Dixie was highly respected, not just in Springfield (Erindale), but other parts of Toronto Township as well. In 1865 the village of Fountain Hill, located east of Cooksville, changed the name of its post office to "Dixie" to honour him.