Among the first settlers around Dix were two brothers named Andrews or Anderson, who came from Rome, New York, in 1830

Among the first settlers around Dix were two brothers named Andrews or Anderson, who came from Rome, New York, in 1830. One of them established a post office called Jordan's Prairie, the name already given to the grassland to the south. Later he platted out a village, which he called Rome, after his home town. The post office was moved into the village in 1852, and the name changed.

Hiram Milburn of Kell, Illinois moved to Rome between 1853 and 1855. Milburn built a storehouse in 1853 and a hotel in 1854. It is said that, during the construction of the hotel, a wind blew the structure down into a pile, while two men were on the joists, but nobody was hurt. In 1855 Milburn purchased Lewty's Mill and moved it to Rome.

Although Rome Township still exists, the name of the town was changed to Dix when the village was incorporated in 1869. There was and still is another Rome, Illinois and the Post Office insisted that the name of this village be changed.