Eli Dixon was the first settler in the township which bears his name, Dixon. Eli moved from Georgia and settled in Ohio in 1804. Little is known about him, besides than the fact that he was a captain in the Ohio Militia.

Originally, this covered bridge spanned Dixon Branch in Dixon Township. In 1963, a windstorm severely damaged this covered bridge. Preble County officials gave it to the Civitans of Lewisburg. They relocated it to Civitan Park in 1964.

Everett S. Sherman was born in 1831 in Delaware County, Ohio. He learned the bridge building trade from his family. In 1867, Sherman got his first bridge building contract. His bridges used the Childs Truss, which was invented by Horace Childs. He chose that truss because the patent had expired, which meant that no royalties had to be paid. He revived the outdated Childs Truss by improving the design. Sherman's bridges are believed to be the only Child Truss Bridges ever built in the United States. Sherman later moved to Eaton, Ohio and opened a bridge yard. He built numerous bridges throughout Preble County during his career. Everett S. Sherman died on July 16, 1897 at 66 years of age.