John Adams Dix (1798-1879)

He was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, and educated at Phillips Exeter Academy before joining the U.S. Army as an Ensign, serving under his father who was killed in the War of 1812. In 1826, he married Catherine, the adopted daughter of U.S. Congressman John J. Morgan, who introduced him into politics in New York. He was appointed Secretary of State for New York (1833-39); Member of the New York State Assembly (1842); U.S. Senator from New York (1845-49); Postmaster of New York City (1860-61); 24th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1861); 22nd U.S. Minister to France (1866-69); and, 24th Governor of New York (1873-74). During the Civil War, he served as a Major-General with the Union Army and was notable for arresting the pro-Southern Maryland General Assembly, preventing the divided border state from seceding. In addition, he arranged a system for prisoner exchange via the Dix-Hill Cartel, concluded in partnership with Confederate Major General Daniel Harvey Hill. His houses included 23 Washington Avenue in Albany; "Pine Needles" fronting the Hudson River on 95-acres ten miles west of Saratoga Springs, and the summer home he inherited from his father-in-law, "Locust Lodge" at Brookfield, New York. At the time he wrote his will, he gave his residence as "Seafield" West Hampton, L.I. He and his wife had seven children (listed).