Emery-Washington County UT Archives Biographies.....Nixon, James W. Sr. 1866 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/utfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 14, 2012, 1:55 am Source: See below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher JAMES W. NIXON, SR. James W. Nixon, Sr., who for many years was a prominent merchant and is now giving his attention largely to real estate interests at Huntington, where he is also engaged in bee culture, was born in St. George, Utah, September 7, 1866. During the period of pioneer development in this state his parents, James W. and Johanna M. (Schultz) Nixon, arrived in Utah, this being in the year 1852. They resided for a short time on the Weber and Mr. Nixon was then called to settle at St. George, where he continued to make his home. In the early days he made a trip to California to secure plumbing and blacksmith tools and later assisted in putting in the plumbing in the St. George temple. He was one of the early merchants in Pioche, Nevada, and was known as the Mormon trader. Later he became president of the United Order and operated the sawmills on Mount Trumbull and cut the timber for the completion of the St. George temple. His death, due to overwork, occurred when he was but forty-seven years of age. The mother is still living at St. George with two of her daughters. James W. Nixon, whose name introduces this review, pursued his education in the schools of his native city, passing through consecutive grades to the high school and after completing his course there made his way northwest to Price, where for a year he was engaged in teaching a school numbering seventy pupils of all grades, from the first to the eighth. In 1886 he was sent as a county normal pupil from Emery county to what was then the Deseret University, where he spent two years, completing a normal course. He then returned to Huntington, where he taught for eight years, and in the fall of 1888 became the principal of the district schools, thus continuing until 1896, when he was sent on a two years' mission to California. Following, his return he taught for a year at Wellington, near Price, and in 1900 again at Huntington for a year. It was during that year that he established a general merchandise business there and in the interest of the people handled alfalfa seed and honey. For years he had the largest mercantile house in eastern Utah, continuing in the business until May, 1919, when he sold to Edward G. Geary. He is still manager of the opera house and looks after his real estate interests, while at the same time he is quite extensively engaged in bee culture. He was one of the original incorporators of the Price Commercial & Savings Bank. His activities have thus been varied and important, contributing in substantial measure to the growth and development of the communities in which he has lived and labored. His judgment is sound, his sagacity keen and his industry has been a basic element in his success. On the 7th of September, 1888, at St. George, Utah, by John D. T. McAllister, Mr. Nixon was married to Miss Effie D. Woolley, a daughter of Franklin B. and Olive (Foss) Woolley. Her father was killed by the Indians on a trip with other Dixie people when going after goods to California. The mother died in Salt Lake City in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Nixon became the parents of eight children. James W., born in Huntington, June 5, 1889, and married at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is now practicing medicine at Hiawatha and is mentioned at length on another page of this work. Olive I., born in Huntington, December 21, 1891, has become noted throughout the state as a vocalist. She Is the wife of F. L. Hickman, of Provo, and has three children. Myrtle L. died at the age of fourteen years. Effie Nina, born in Huntington in 1895, is pursuing a course in nursing in the Latter-day Saints Hospital and will graduate in 1920. St. Clair, born in Huntington in 1897, was in training when the armistice was signed and is now filling a mission in the Central states. Grace Dean, born in 1901, Ezra J., in 1904 and Jesse O., in 1908, complete the family, and they now reside in a beautiful home in Provo. Mr. Nixon is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was bishop's counselor for two years, was bishop for four years and is now a memberof the high council, while for five years he was superintendent of the Sunday school of the stake. His political endorsement is given the democratic party and he has filled the position of president of the town board and member of the Commercial Club of the town and county. He has been a delegate to nearly all of the county and state conventions of his party and in fact is regarded as one of the most progressive supporters of democracy in Huntington and one of the most enterprising citizens. In 1911 he was nominated for the position of state auditor. His opinions have long carried weight in the councils of the party and in matters relative to the welfare and upbuilding of Huntington he has taken a most active and helpful interest. He has recognized and utilized opportunities that others have passed heedlessly by and his labors have ever been of a character that have contributed to public progress and prosperity as well as to individual success. The worth of his work in behalf of the church and of the state is widely acknowledged and the value of his citizenship is based upon the utilization of his opportunities for doing good. Additional Comments: Extracted from UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATED VOLUME IV CHICAGO-SALT LAKE: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/emery/photos/bios/nixon75gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ut/emery/bios/nixon75gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/utfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb