The Jonas Family moved to Dorinda in 1836. They purchased 63% of Dorinda from the Dixon Family in 1839.  Dorinda began to flourish as a result of this purchase.  Hiram Dixon became frustrated because the Jonas Family was getting more credit for the building of Dorinda than the Dixon Family was. Cyrus Jonas devised a way to ease the tension between the Dixon Family and the Jonas family.

In 1859, Cyrus Jonas told Hiram Dixon about a business deal to build a steel manufacturing plant. The man that was supposed to be selling a plot of land to Cyrus and Hiram ran off with $500,000 from Cyrus Jonas and $750,000 from Hiram Dixon.

Hiram accused Cyrus of collaborating with the man that had stolen their money.  A big fight began between Hiram and Cyrus. The fight ended with Cyrus being shot dead and Hiram was jailed for murder.  Months later, Hiram was acquitted because the shooting was considered justifiable because of self-defense.

Cyrus' brother, Harvey Jonas, was thirsty for revenge. Harvey burned down the top producing steel mill owned by the Dixon Family, with this act, Harvey was thrust into a life of infamy. Although there were 154 people in the steel mill, everyone escaped the fire safely and no one was injured.

Dorinda Dixon, Tom W. Dixon's daughter saw a vision of the steel mill burning down weeks before the steel mill was burned down. She got word to the supervisor of the steel mill to be cautious. Everyone at the plant was on guard. One of the workers smelled smoke and sounded the alarm before the fire got out of hand.

The Dixon Family retaliated by burning down several of the Jonas owned businesses.  These kinds of incidents occurred until 1862.

In 1862, Hiram Dixon met with a member of the Jonas family and his own sons. Hiram asked them to stop the feud that was destroying the city. Although the two families had a truce at the time, two families did not associate with each other until after 1866.