People: Joshua Augustus Dix

(From:) Warren R. Dix, A.M., LL.B., Superintendent.
To Addison B. Poland, State Superintendent :

The most notable event of the school year just closed was the death of Mr. J. Augustus Dix, the City Superintendent of Schools, who had held office continuously since May, 1880. His close identification with the school affairs of this city for so many years, and his great interest in educational matters, justify me in recording here a very brief outline of his career.

Mr. Dix was born in Albany, New York, April 13th, 1831, but was of Massachusetts lineage, both of his parents coming from the vicinity of Boston. He was educated at the famous school of Charles H. Anthony, and later at the Albany Academy. In 1847 he removed to New York City, expecting to enter the New York University and ultimately prepare for the legal profession, but after some two years' study circumstances compelled him to relinquish his plan and take up a business career. While studying he gave great attention to elocution and voice culture, at one time teaching elocution in a famous New York school. His fine presence and melodious and cultured voice always made him an agreeable speaker and reader, his rendering of the Bible and of Shakespeare being particularly notable.

After leaving the university, Mr. Dix traveled for George P. Put nam, the publisher, introducing into school libraries the works of Irving and Cooper. Later, in 1854, he took up the publishing business himself, forming a firm ultimately known as Dix, Edwards & Co., of which Frederick Law Olmsted and George William Curtis were members. They owned and published Putnam's Monthly. During the financial depression of 1857, he left the publishing business, engaging in life and fire insurance in New York City, but taking up bis residence in Elizabeth, where he remained until his death, with the exception of the interval between 1866 and 1874, when he resided in New York City. Mr. Dix represented his ward in the city council of Elizabeth from 1860 to 1862, acting as president part of the time. He was one of the incorporators and for some time president of the City Hospital. He was prominent in the Masonic fraternity, and in 1884 and 1885 was master of Washington lodge. He was a fellow of the Geographical Society of New York. For many years he was busily engaged in church work, acting as a lay reader in the Episcopal church. Mr. Due married in 1854, and a widow, son and daughter survive him. He had not been well for some time, bat his troubles were not considered serious, and his end came suddenly and unexpectedly October 13th, 1894. The community was greatly shocked and the expressions of sorrow and respect were universal.

The efficiency of his administration of the schools was unquestioned. I need only refer to the medal from the New Orleans Exposition, gold medal from the Paris Exposition, and medal from the Columbian Exposition at Chicago, as indicating the kind of work done in the Elizabeth schools during his term of service. Acting as his assistant in the work from the time he took office as city superintendent in 1880 until March, 1893, when professional and business cares demanded all my time, I was naturally very familiar with our school system and was induced to take the office of city superintendent October 29th, 1894, for the remainder of my father's term, actually remaining in office, however, until September 1st, 1895, when my resignation took effect.

Further details of the year's work will be found in the following extracts from the reports of the principals.

Annual Report of the Board of Education and of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of New Jersey, with accompanying documents, for the school year ending June 30, 1895

Source Document: https://dspace.njstatelib.org/items/86240765-3e88-480a-beab-7831ff4e3130

Born: April 13, 1831 | Died: October 13, 1894

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