Gideon Cooley Hixon (March 28, 1826 – September 23, 1892) was an American businessman and Republican politician.

[1] Learning of the many business opportunities in the west, and having a significant amount of capital from his tinning work, he decided to form a partnership with William Wheeler Crosby—the half-brother of his wife—to establish a lumber mill venture in the vicinity of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

They dealt timber lands and mills around La Crosse and ran the products down the Mississippi River to Missouri, where they also operated a lumber yard.

[2] In addition to his elected offices, Hixon was involved in many business ventures in and around the city of La Crosse.

After prospering in his initial lumber ventures, he ultimately owned several productive mills, producing flour, wool, paper, and other goods.

[2] He was also a founder of the short-lived La Crosse Petroleum Company which sought to exploit the oil reserves which were believed to exist in west central Wisconsin.

Hixon suffered from heart disease for many years, and largely retired from business and politics in the early 1880s, turning over his affairs to his sons.

He left an extensive estate to his wife and sons, which became the basis for generations of successful business ventures, and a charitable foundation which still exists today.