Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: A mụrụ Sherwood Dixon na Dixon, Lee County, Illinois, nwa Henry S. na Margaret Casey Dixon. Ọ bụ nwa nwa nke onye guzobere Dixon, "Nna" John Dixon. Dixon bụ onye gụsịrị akwụkwọ na 1920 na Mahadum Notre Dame, onye agha nke Agha Worldwa Mbụ na onye isi ndị agha na Illinois National Guard. Dixon bụ onye otu Illinois Democratic State Central Committee (1938), onye nnọchi anya na 1952 Democratic National Convention na onye nnọchi anya ọzọ na 1940 na
Mgbakọ mba nile nke Democratic na 1956.