(Page last updated Feb 26, 2024)
Currently, we do not know where John Nix is buried, only that he was living in Union Co SC, where he was born, and died. He was a member of the Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, they has a large section of field stones, if lucky, relatives may had carved
initials or info on the stone, many folks were buried on their lands.
John was the son of Benjamin & Millicent "Milly" [Weeks] Nix, also of Union Co SC. They were both born and died in the same county. John was the grandson of Joseph and Ann Nix, of Union Co SC. Joseph & Ann are mentioned on a deed in Bute Co NC, 1766.
John's wife, Sarah was the daughter of Avery Howard and Mary Jolly Nix, the grand daughter of Rev Obadiah Howard & Priscilla Pason Breed. All once lived in Union Co SC.
Her parents both died in Union Co SC, her Grandparents died in Barren Co KY.
MARRIAGE RECORDS: Union County South Carolina from Early Newspapers 1851-1912 from Deed books and Probate Records, by T J Vaughan.
John Nix - Sally Howard Ref: 05-042 - Ref this probate record, is acceptable as proof of marriage. (05-042). John C Nix Sr - Sarah Howard Nix.
**Note: Marriage records were not required in SC until 1906.**
=======================================================
John & Sarah's known children were:
infant---------------------1819-1819------m. Died at birth
Polly----------------------1821-1855------m. Benjamin White----------------1840--8 Children
Sarah A-------------------1825-bef1860--m.1st cousin Benjamin Nix-abt1843--3 Children?
Ann "Anne"--------------1826-1903------m. Rodger Watson-----------------1849--1 child
Caroline------------------1828-bef1860--m. Napoleon B Butler------- -----1849--1 child
Ellen S-"Elinor" --------1834-1866-------m.James (John) G Hurt (Hirst)-1855--2 Children
--------------------------------------------------m.2nd Nathaniel F Jackson-----1861--1 Child
John Benj Clemmons-1835-1926-------m. Nancy Ann Akin----------------1859--8 Children?
--------------------------------------------------m. Eleanor Sutton-----------------1886--No Children
Martha---------------------Unk-Unkn------m. Nathan Jackson----------------Unk---1 Child
**There may have been other children, to each of the marriages above?**
=======================================================
**John Clemmons Nix Sr's, Known siblings may have been::
(The 1790 & 1800 census never show more than 10 in the household, this count
includes the Parents/Males/Females, possibly one left home bef1800 census)
Solomon---------------abt1785-abt1845
John Clemmons Jr--abt1788-abt1835
William-----------------abt1792-Unk
Tabitha Jane----------abt1793-abt1870
Wylie (Riley)-----------abt1794-Unk
Jabel--------------------abt1795-abt1850
Miles---------------------abt1796-Unk
Mark---------------------abt1797-Unk
Jobiah (Johiah)-------abt1799-Unk
**Note: The Census show more females? could have been 15 children total?**
**Census takers were notorious for making errors...**
=======================================================
**John Clemmons Jr is mentioned in his Grandfathers will:
"WILL OF ""See Original under Ben Nix section below Gen#2""
BENJAMIN NIX
UNION DISTRICT
In the name of God Amen, I Benjamin Nix, of the District aforesaid - being of Sound & disposing mind and Memory, but weak in Body, and Calling to mind the uncertainty of Life, and being desirious to dispose of all Such Wordly Estate as it has pleased God to bless me with, do make and ordain this my Last Will, in manner following ( ie ) ---- I desire that all my Personal Estate ( with the Exception hereinafter made ) be immediately Sold after my decease, and out of the moneys arising therefrom , all my Just Debts & Funeral Expenses be paid ---- After payment of my Debts & Funeral Expenses , I Give to my Grandson John Clemmon Nix, A certain Track of Land & all the Buildings & Belonging thereto formerly occupied by my son John Nix decd....
Recorded August 17th 1836
Recorded in Will Book B
Page 232 Box 23 Package 5"
"This is not the whole Will just John's part..."
John died 1835 his father in 1836, thus, it appears the will was made
before John died.
From the Estate Records, that was brought to my attention, John C Nix appears to have died before 1836, from the Estate records referenced below, I am changing the death year of John C Nix from 1836 to 1835, however, the estate was read in Feb 1835, thus, is it possibly John died in late 1834.
=======================================================
(**below is a probate entry is excepted as proof of marriage in SC ref 05-042**)
Estate of John C Nix:
Estate Date: 2 April 1835 -
Jason Greer - was the JP -
Read by Thomas Ray 22 Feb 1835
Sarah Nix was admin of her
husbands estate.
END OF WILL ESTATE RECORD.
=======================================================
1790 Union Co SC Census page 90
Benj NICKS
1 - 3 - 6 - 0 - 0
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16- = 3
Free White Persons - Males - 16 & Over-= 1
Free White Persons - Females-------------= 6
Number of Household members---------= 10
1800 Census Union Co SC
Benjn Nicks
3 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 1
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:-------=3
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15:------=2
Free White Persons - Males - 45 & over:-------=1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10:----=1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15:---=2
Free White Persons - Females - 45 & over-----=1
Number of Household members under 16:- = 8
Number of Household members Over 25:----=2
Number of Household members:--------------=10
1810 Census Union Co SC
Benjamin Nix|
0 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1
Free White Person - Males -10 thru 25:-------= 3
Free White Person - Males - 45 & over :-------= 1
Free White Person - Females -10 thru 15-----= 1
Free White Person - Females - 45 & over-----= 1
Number of Household members under 16: = 4
Number of Household members Over 25:---= 2
Numbver of Household members:------------= 6
1820 Census Benjamin Nix Page 259
Benj Nix; 00001100101020000
1830 - Census Record:
John is on the 1830 Census, he died in 1835:
1830 Union Co SC Census Page 192 page 87
JOHN NIX 0000010000000-2200010000000
1830 - CENSUS NEIGHBORHOOD:
1830 Union Co SC Census Page 192 Ancestry image page 87
Thomas Brandon
JOHN NIX----------------0000010000000 2200010000000
Jeremiah WIX?---------0000100000000 0000100000000
Thomas White----------0100010000000 2100100000000
Elijah WIX----------------2000010000000 0000100000000
Benjamin Bolton
Jesse Holcomb jr
Jesse Holcomb sr
Mitchell Sparks
John Wright
Calib Greer
JOBIAH NIX----------------1010010001000 0000100000000
Gideon Jackson
WILLIAM BOATMAN------1000010000000 3200100000000
Amy Hart
John McBeth
SARAH WHITE-------------0001000000000 0000100010000 dau of Wm White decd.
**1835 - John C Nix Sr has died 16 Feb 1835, Union Co SC.
1840 Census not found:
=======================================================
1846 - John Jr's wife Sarah migrates to Texas, in Elias White's Wagon Train.
---------originally, she is in TX, the borders are changed, she is now in Ark.
=======================================================
1850 Lafayette Co AR Census Rea River Twp Page 168b
ED date 18th Oct 1850 by John D Hundy--#1 Rea River Twp.
26 - 26
Sarah Nix----44 F W head SC - wife of John C Nix Sr decd.
Ellen S--------16 F W--------SC
John B. C.----14 M W--------SC
Lewis Bobo--25 M W--------SC (Lewis is found! :o) -s/o Wm & Elizabeth White Bobo.
**Sarah was the wife of John C Nix, deceased, SC.
**John B C also went by Benjamin Clemmons Nix
**Lewis Bobo moved to Houston Co TX, where he married & died.
1860 Lafayette Co AR Census Page 95 Red River Twp
PO: Ronda - ED date: 1st Aug 1860 by C J Steel
665 - 665
John B Nix-----23 M farmer 935 SC (son of Sarah Nix)
Nancy A--------18 F----------------TX (Wife of John B)
Sarah Nix-------62 F----------------SC (Mother)
Ellen S Hutt----26 F----------------SC (Dau of Sarah Nix)
Margaret A G--05 F-----------------TX (Dau of Ellen)
James G Nix---02 M----------------AR (Son of Ellen)
=======================================================
1863 - **Sarah Howard Nix is thrown from a horse, injured and dies several days later.
=======================================================
REV. WAR: John's father Benjamin, and two of his brothers, served as patriots in the Revolutionary War, serving in Col Thomas Brandon's Regiment.
=======================================================
After John C Nix died, wife Sarah "Sally" Howard Nix, left SC, with Elias White's wagon train in 1846, and arrived in Bowie Co TX later that year, she was originally in TX,
but the borders were re-done between TX and AR, and she ended up in
what became, Texarkana AR, and the Whites, in Texarkana Bowie Co TX.
=======================================================
Sarah Howard Nix is considered the first White settler in Texarkana AR, and her nephew Benjamin White, who married Sarah's daughter Polly Nix White are considered by some to be the first White settlers on the Texarkana TX side...
=======================================================
Sarah Howard Nix's parents were Avery & Mary Jolly.
She was the grand daughter of Obadiah & Priscilla Avery Breed Howard.
Her father Avery died 4 Jul 1808 in Union Co SC, mother Mary died 31 Jan 1839,
also in Union Co SC, she had 5 known siblings; Clara, Dicey Emily, Clemmons, Jason, and Aaron Howard.
=======================================================
PADGETT'S CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH MINUTES FOR NIX'S - UNION CO SC - Nix's:
1794 to 1858
NIX's:
May 10,1794 Put Joseph Nix & Wm Wilbanks forward as Deacons
------------------being ordained of old & appointed Wm Wilbanks Jr. to assist...
Jul 13, 1799 Church appointed Robt White, Benj. Nix, Nathan Langston, Ralph
-------------------Jackson, Mark Murphy as a committee to try the matter the last
-------------------Saturday in the month of Caleb Smith.
Apr 18, 1800 Received Aaron Nix by Experience.
Jun 14, 1800 Received Rebecca Nix, Wm Wilbanks by Experience.
-------------------also Betty Boatman by Experience.
Jul ??, 1800 Received Moses Nix by experience.
Aug 16,1800 Received Milly Nix, Cassy Jackson, Delilah Jackson by Letter.
Nov 21,1800 Met on the Friday & agreed to put Benj. Nix to the work
------------------of a deacon Benj. Nix is appointed to cite Aaron Nix.
------------------Ralph Jackson to site Jas. Howard to next meeting.
Sep 19, 1801 ...agreed at the next church meeting to appoint a time for the
------------------ordination if Br. Nix has no objections.
Feb 20, 1802 met and put off the Ordination of Benj. Nix.
May 09,1802 In church Capacity met & Ordained Br. Benj. Nix a Deacon.
Jul 17, 1802--Received Solomon Nix, Anne Simmons by Experience.
May 19,1804..Br. Solomon Nix having been guilty of unseemly talk made an
------------------acknowledgement but not to the satisfaction of the church...
------------------committee found Br Solomon of saying that which he denies...
Jul 05, 1804 Br. Solomon Nix Excommunicated from our fellowship.
Apr 20, 1805-Received Amey Nix by Experience.
Nov 16,1805 Excommunicated Amey Nix from fellowship.
Aug 16,1806-Delegated to Bethel Assoc: Thos Greer Jr, Thos Ray, Benj Nix.
Nov 13,1806-Appointed Moses Nix to cite Jas Smith for non-attendance...
Mar 14,1807-Appointed committee to handle matter with Betty Prince,
-----------------Jas. Putman, Benj. Nix, Wm Greer, Thos Ray, Billy Wilbanks.
Dec 19,1807-Verbal petition from Tinker Crk. Church wanting help & we
-----------------appointed Benj. Nix, William Greer, W. White ...
Dec 19,1807-Verbal petition from Tinker Creek Ch. wanting helps & we
-----------------appoint Benj Nix, Wm Greer, W White... to assist....
Jun 18, 1808 ...appointed Robt. White B.S., Benj. Nix, Thos. Greer Junr,
-----------------Wm Greer to look into the difficulty between Sister Anne Little
-----------------and Elizabeth Howard & make report next church meeting.
Aug 19,1808-Delegated to Assoc: Thos Greer, Thos Ray, Benj Nix.
May 19,1810 Appointed Brethren Benj. Nix, Bird Murphy, Thos Norman...
-----------------to settle a matter between the church & Br James Smith.
Dec 15,1810 Benjamin Nix entered a complaint against Fredrick Jackson for
-----------------getting intoxicated with spirits.
May ??,1828 Charge laid against Br. Benjamin Nix by James Lawson.
Jun 14, 1828 Committee acquits Br. Nix of charge against him...
Dec 15,1833 Received Elizabeth Nix.
Aug 16,1834 Dismissed Thos Nix.
Jan 19, 1839 Dismissed Br. Miles Nix, his wife and daughter by Letter.
Jul 18, 1841 Received Sarah Nix, by experience.
Sep 30,1851 Sister Amy Nix has lain off from the church for some time, appointed
------------------br. Ben Lamb to see here ....
Oct ??, 1851--Church will bear with Sister Amy Nix...
Aug 19,1858--Received into fellowship by experience; Cassey Nix.
Aug 22,1858--Baptized; Cassey Nix, received into fellowship.
END of Minutes.
=======================================================
Lower Fairforest Baptist Church Minutes: became it own church 1809, once a
meeting house or branch of the Padgett's.
=======================================================
Jan 26, 1811 Laid over the matter of Br. Little & appointed brethren Philip Holcomb, William White, Robt. Bullington, Ben. Nix to endeavor to settle the matter & report to next meeting.
Dec 24, 1818 Received Nancy Nix by experience...
No other Nix's recorded after 1818, possible their were other females, that married?
=======================================================
John's wife Sarah was in a Texas Article 1948:
Pioneer Story
Sarah A. [Howard] Nix
[Tanscribed]
SOURCE: Article
From Chris Hobson's
Column: Texarkana Ark-Tex
Two States Press
Thursday, December 16th, 1948
Out of the long ago comes the Story of Sarah Nix, a courageous Pioneer, who made the first settlement inside the corporate limits of Texarkana. As Sarah Howard She was born in 1800 in Union District South Carolina, where her father had moved his family from Buncombe County, Virginia, during the latter part of the 18th Century. In 1816, she was married to John C. Nix and that she was the mother of seven children, all girls except the youngest, John B. The first Child died six months after birth, but the others lived to be grown and married. Mrs Nix became a widow when John B. was but three days old, which was on the 30th of November 1836.Some years later two of her daughters had married. One of them was the son of her cousin William Nix, and the other was with Benjamin White xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx And as Sarah Nix wanted to be near her daughters, she decided to migrate with them. Soon a company of five families, with 13 wagons, started overland to Texas, in the year of 1845. The Party consisted of the families of Mrs. Nix, William Nix, Benjamin White, Samuel and Jerry Bobo. After a long and tedious journey, beset by much trial and sickness, they at length arrived at the present site of Texarkana on Feb. 14, 1846. A considerable distance still lay between them and the place of destination. The season was growing late and they realized that they would be unable to grow a crop after getting to Houston county, so they decided to stop here and grow a crop, then go on to destination the following autumn. Sarah Nix stopped the first season at what was then known as the Dr, Birmingham place. Benjamin Nix rented farming lands from Eli Moore's. Samuel Bobo worked around from place to place at first, but later made a settlement on the Sulphur river, which became known as Bobo's Ferry. .Jerry Bobo settled about 12 miles west of Texarkana at first, but finally moved across the Sulphur River into what later became Cass
County, Texas. He died soon afterward.
The Union Army, en-root to Mexico, passed along the Boston road, & John B. Nix, then 9
years of age sold his crop of watermelons to the soldieries. In the fall of 1846, Mrs. Nix looked around for a suitable site for a homestead, and selected section 39, township 15, range 28, in the present Miller county Arkansas. Soon a small house , made of pine poles, was erected. Mrs. Nix lived there until John B. was grown, and then he built a hewed log house for her. When she reached this part of The country, Mrs. Nix had little money, and depended on obtaining her home by homestead or public entry. In 1853 congress made a public grant of lands to the Cario and Fulton railroad, to aid Them in building a road, and all lands were withdrawn from the market, however, actual settlers already on a settlement were permitted to file claims in the land office to perfect titles by payment of the government price when the Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Her claim according to law in 1863, When the railroad came to Texarkana in 1873, the charter had passed from the Cairo and Fulton to the Iron Mountain, and it was not possible for her to obtain a perfect title under 20 years from the time when she filed her claim at the land office in Washington Ark. When John B. Nix was an infant, his grandfather in South Carolina made a deed of gift to forty acres of land in the state, which was for his grandson. The land could not be sold until John B. was old enough to select his own guardian, which he did in 1852. His brother-in-law, Ben Nix, was chosen, and he in turn, employed a lawyer in South Carolina to attend to the sale. The property was worth $1200. It was sold and the lawyer sent Nix a check for $50, which was cashed by Cuily and Edwards who had a short time before, begun a mercantile business at Rondo. In his anxiety to secure a home for his mother, Nix requested that the money be put on deposit in the land office at Washington Ark., to be held in trust until such time as it could be used in the purchase of their home. The $50 was all he ever received from the sale of the land in South Carolina. The government held that money in trust for 20 years, under pledge to keep Mrs. Nix's claim in trust until such time as she could be allowed to take a full and final payment, but eventually the government compelled her to accept a title to only one-fourth of the file claim, on the plea that she had paid for that amount at a time when the government denied her right to make purchase at all. Sarah Nix braved the trails of frontier life, and had endured the hardships that went with the making of a settlement in a wilderness country. She had traveled hundreds of miles overland, in the midst of high waters, with but few facilities for crossing them, endured the discomforts of winter and sickness to open up a new home for herself and her children, yet, through a plea that was justifiable on Mrs. Nix's failure to comply with red tape requirements, much of her property was taken from her. John B. Nix made an outstanding fight to secure a just settlement, and the money for his fight was earned by hard arduous labor by his blacksmith shop which was at that time situated near the present site of the water works on East Ninth Street. Finally, he realized that the fight was hopeless, and submitted to the ruling. Mrs. Nix remained a widow to the end of her life. When in her 63rd year, an accident caused her death as she rode horseback. She was on her way to visit her daughter. Mrs. Nathan Jackson, when rain began falling. As she endeavored to open her umbrella the umbrella the horse became frightened and ran away. When the excited animal brushed under a slooping tree, Mrs. Nix was fatally injured. She was found and cared for, but lived only a short time three of her daughters, who were single when she came to this part of the country, married, One became Mrs. N. B Thomas, another Mrs. Rodger Watson, and the third, Mrs. Nathan Jackson, John B. Nix marred and had four daughters xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Crow, Mrs. Julia Tullus, and Mrs. Martha E. McDonald, S. R. McDonald, who married Martha E. Nix, was Texarkana's first machinist of importance. He established the Twin City Foundry and Machine Company, which is now operated by his sons, Charles P. and Sam Jr. Other sons and daughters of the McDonald's are Douglas, Allen Idele, Chris, Clarence, Lofton, of Shreveport, and Doris, Mrs. P. O. Baxter. Sam McDonald married Ethel Williams, and they have a daughter, Martha J. and a son William Howard (the Howard is in honor of the family of Sarah Nix) Charles P. married the former Gertrude Slaughter, and they recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. Many years have passed since the widow Nix and her fellow pioneers drove their wagons to what is now Texarkana. At that time they thought their stay was but for a season, but they remained to help blaze the trail for a bright and prosperous future for a proud
city. There were no – Flowersy beds of ease in the frontier life of Sarah Nix. She knew hard work, trails, and disappointments, but she walked tall in the sum, fearless, indomitable, honorable. And so 102 years later, we salute the arrival in Texarkana of Sarah Nix, the courageous pioneer who made the city's first settlement.
=======================================================
Notes From Mike White:
Sarah is my 3xGr Grandmother, mother of Polly [Nix} White wife of Benjamin White.
lines marked 'xxxxxxx' Equal=missing text, or I just couldn't figure it out...
I had volunteer's at a local Texarkana college attempt to locate and send me a copy
of this article, they couldn't locate this article???.If the article is lost this may be
the only record we have...
=======================================================
(Page last updated Feb 26, 2024)
Currently, we do not know where John Nix is buried, only that he was living in Union Co SC, where he was born, and died. He was a member of the Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, they has a large section of field stones, if lucky, relatives may had carved
initials or info on the stone, many folks were buried on their lands.
John was the son of Benjamin & Millicent "Milly" [Weeks] Nix, also of Union Co SC. They were both born and died in the same county. John was the grandson of Joseph and Ann Nix, of Union Co SC. Joseph & Ann are mentioned on a deed in Bute Co NC, 1766.
John's wife, Sarah was the daughter of Avery Howard and Mary Jolly Nix, the grand daughter of Rev Obadiah Howard & Priscilla Pason Breed. All once lived in Union Co SC.
Her parents both died in Union Co SC, her Grandparents died in Barren Co KY.
MARRIAGE RECORDS: Union County South Carolina from Early Newspapers 1851-1912 from Deed books and Probate Records, by T J Vaughan.
John Nix - Sally Howard Ref: 05-042 - Ref this probate record, is acceptable as proof of marriage. (05-042). John C Nix Sr - Sarah Howard Nix.
**Note: Marriage records were not required in SC until 1906.**
=======================================================
John & Sarah's known children were:
infant---------------------1819-1819------m. Died at birth
Polly----------------------1821-1855------m. Benjamin White----------------1840--8 Children
Sarah A-------------------1825-bef1860--m.1st cousin Benjamin Nix-abt1843--3 Children?
Ann "Anne"--------------1826-1903------m. Rodger Watson-----------------1849--1 child
Caroline------------------1828-bef1860--m. Napoleon B Butler------- -----1849--1 child
Ellen S-"Elinor" --------1834-1866-------m.James (John) G Hurt (Hirst)-1855--2 Children
--------------------------------------------------m.2nd Nathaniel F Jackson-----1861--1 Child
John Benj Clemmons-1835-1926-------m. Nancy Ann Akin----------------1859--8 Children?
--------------------------------------------------m. Eleanor Sutton-----------------1886--No Children
Martha---------------------Unk-Unkn------m. Nathan Jackson----------------Unk---1 Child
**There may have been other children, to each of the marriages above?**
=======================================================
**John Clemmons Nix Sr's, Known siblings may have been::
(The 1790 & 1800 census never show more than 10 in the household, this count
includes the Parents/Males/Females, possibly one left home bef1800 census)
Solomon---------------abt1785-abt1845
John Clemmons Jr--abt1788-abt1835
William-----------------abt1792-Unk
Tabitha Jane----------abt1793-abt1870
Wylie (Riley)-----------abt1794-Unk
Jabel--------------------abt1795-abt1850
Miles---------------------abt1796-Unk
Mark---------------------abt1797-Unk
Jobiah (Johiah)-------abt1799-Unk
**Note: The Census show more females? could have been 15 children total?**
**Census takers were notorious for making errors...**
=======================================================
**John Clemmons Jr is mentioned in his Grandfathers will:
"WILL OF ""See Original under Ben Nix section below Gen#2""
BENJAMIN NIX
UNION DISTRICT
In the name of God Amen, I Benjamin Nix, of the District aforesaid - being of Sound & disposing mind and Memory, but weak in Body, and Calling to mind the uncertainty of Life, and being desirious to dispose of all Such Wordly Estate as it has pleased God to bless me with, do make and ordain this my Last Will, in manner following ( ie ) ---- I desire that all my Personal Estate ( with the Exception hereinafter made ) be immediately Sold after my decease, and out of the moneys arising therefrom , all my Just Debts & Funeral Expenses be paid ---- After payment of my Debts & Funeral Expenses , I Give to my Grandson John Clemmon Nix, A certain Track of Land & all the Buildings & Belonging thereto formerly occupied by my son John Nix decd....
Recorded August 17th 1836
Recorded in Will Book B
Page 232 Box 23 Package 5"
"This is not the whole Will just John's part..."
John died 1835 his father in 1836, thus, it appears the will was made
before John died.
From the Estate Records, that was brought to my attention, John C Nix appears to have died before 1836, from the Estate records referenced below, I am changing the death year of John C Nix from 1836 to 1835, however, the estate was read in Feb 1835, thus, is it possibly John died in late 1834.
=======================================================
(**below is a probate entry is excepted as proof of marriage in SC ref 05-042**)
Estate of John C Nix:
Estate Date: 2 April 1835 -
Jason Greer - was the JP -
Read by Thomas Ray 22 Feb 1835
Sarah Nix was admin of her
husbands estate.
END OF WILL ESTATE RECORD.
=======================================================
1790 Union Co SC Census page 90
Benj NICKS
1 - 3 - 6 - 0 - 0
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16- = 3
Free White Persons - Males - 16 & Over-= 1
Free White Persons - Females-------------= 6
Number of Household members---------= 10
1800 Census Union Co SC
Benjn Nicks
3 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 1
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:-------=3
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15:------=2
Free White Persons - Males - 45 & over:-------=1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10:----=1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15:---=2
Free White Persons - Females - 45 & over-----=1
Number of Household members under 16:- = 8
Number of Household members Over 25:----=2
Number of Household members:--------------=10
1810 Census Union Co SC
Benjamin Nix|
0 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1
Free White Person - Males -10 thru 25:-------= 3
Free White Person - Males - 45 & over :-------= 1
Free White Person - Females -10 thru 15-----= 1
Free White Person - Females - 45 & over-----= 1
Number of Household members under 16: = 4
Number of Household members Over 25:---= 2
Numbver of Household members:------------= 6
1820 Census Benjamin Nix Page 259
Benj Nix; 00001100101020000
1830 - Census Record:
John is on the 1830 Census, he died in 1835:
1830 Union Co SC Census Page 192 page 87
JOHN NIX 0000010000000-2200010000000
1830 - CENSUS NEIGHBORHOOD:
1830 Union Co SC Census Page 192 Ancestry image page 87
Thomas Brandon
JOHN NIX----------------0000010000000 2200010000000
Jeremiah WIX?---------0000100000000 0000100000000
Thomas White----------0100010000000 2100100000000
Elijah WIX----------------2000010000000 0000100000000
Benjamin Bolton
Jesse Holcomb jr
Jesse Holcomb sr
Mitchell Sparks
John Wright
Calib Greer
JOBIAH NIX----------------1010010001000 0000100000000
Gideon Jackson
WILLIAM BOATMAN------1000010000000 3200100000000
Amy Hart
John McBeth
SARAH WHITE-------------0001000000000 0000100010000 dau of Wm White decd.
**1835 - John C Nix Sr has died 16 Feb 1835, Union Co SC.
1840 Census not found:
=======================================================
1846 - John Jr's wife Sarah migrates to Texas, in Elias White's Wagon Train.
---------originally, she is in TX, the borders are changed, she is now in Ark.
=======================================================
1850 Lafayette Co AR Census Rea River Twp Page 168b
ED date 18th Oct 1850 by John D Hundy--#1 Rea River Twp.
26 - 26
Sarah Nix----44 F W head SC - wife of John C Nix Sr decd.
Ellen S--------16 F W--------SC
John B. C.----14 M W--------SC
Lewis Bobo--25 M W--------SC (Lewis is found! :o) -s/o Wm & Elizabeth White Bobo.
**Sarah was the wife of John C Nix, deceased, SC.
**John B C also went by Benjamin Clemmons Nix
**Lewis Bobo moved to Houston Co TX, where he married & died.
1860 Lafayette Co AR Census Page 95 Red River Twp
PO: Ronda - ED date: 1st Aug 1860 by C J Steel
665 - 665
John B Nix-----23 M farmer 935 SC (son of Sarah Nix)
Nancy A--------18 F----------------TX (Wife of John B)
Sarah Nix-------62 F----------------SC (Mother)
Ellen S Hutt----26 F----------------SC (Dau of Sarah Nix)
Margaret A G--05 F-----------------TX (Dau of Ellen)
James G Nix---02 M----------------AR (Son of Ellen)
=======================================================
1863 - **Sarah Howard Nix is thrown from a horse, injured and dies several days later.
=======================================================
REV. WAR: John's father Benjamin, and two of his brothers, served as patriots in the Revolutionary War, serving in Col Thomas Brandon's Regiment.
=======================================================
After John C Nix died, wife Sarah "Sally" Howard Nix, left SC, with Elias White's wagon train in 1846, and arrived in Bowie Co TX later that year, she was originally in TX,
but the borders were re-done between TX and AR, and she ended up in
what became, Texarkana AR, and the Whites, in Texarkana Bowie Co TX.
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Sarah Howard Nix is considered the first White settler in Texarkana AR, and her nephew Benjamin White, who married Sarah's daughter Polly Nix White are considered by some to be the first White settlers on the Texarkana TX side...
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Sarah Howard Nix's parents were Avery & Mary Jolly.
She was the grand daughter of Obadiah & Priscilla Avery Breed Howard.
Her father Avery died 4 Jul 1808 in Union Co SC, mother Mary died 31 Jan 1839,
also in Union Co SC, she had 5 known siblings; Clara, Dicey Emily, Clemmons, Jason, and Aaron Howard.
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PADGETT'S CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH MINUTES FOR NIX'S - UNION CO SC - Nix's:
1794 to 1858
NIX's:
May 10,1794 Put Joseph Nix & Wm Wilbanks forward as Deacons
------------------being ordained of old & appointed Wm Wilbanks Jr. to assist...
Jul 13, 1799 Church appointed Robt White, Benj. Nix, Nathan Langston, Ralph
-------------------Jackson, Mark Murphy as a committee to try the matter the last
-------------------Saturday in the month of Caleb Smith.
Apr 18, 1800 Received Aaron Nix by Experience.
Jun 14, 1800 Received Rebecca Nix, Wm Wilbanks by Experience.
-------------------also Betty Boatman by Experience.
Jul ??, 1800 Received Moses Nix by experience.
Aug 16,1800 Received Milly Nix, Cassy Jackson, Delilah Jackson by Letter.
Nov 21,1800 Met on the Friday & agreed to put Benj. Nix to the work
------------------of a deacon Benj. Nix is appointed to cite Aaron Nix.
------------------Ralph Jackson to site Jas. Howard to next meeting.
Sep 19, 1801 ...agreed at the next church meeting to appoint a time for the
------------------ordination if Br. Nix has no objections.
Feb 20, 1802 met and put off the Ordination of Benj. Nix.
May 09,1802 In church Capacity met & Ordained Br. Benj. Nix a Deacon.
Jul 17, 1802--Received Solomon Nix, Anne Simmons by Experience.
May 19,1804..Br. Solomon Nix having been guilty of unseemly talk made an
------------------acknowledgement but not to the satisfaction of the church...
------------------committee found Br Solomon of saying that which he denies...
Jul 05, 1804 Br. Solomon Nix Excommunicated from our fellowship.
Apr 20, 1805-Received Amey Nix by Experience.
Nov 16,1805 Excommunicated Amey Nix from fellowship.
Aug 16,1806-Delegated to Bethel Assoc: Thos Greer Jr, Thos Ray, Benj Nix.
Nov 13,1806-Appointed Moses Nix to cite Jas Smith for non-attendance...
Mar 14,1807-Appointed committee to handle matter with Betty Prince,
-----------------Jas. Putman, Benj. Nix, Wm Greer, Thos Ray, Billy Wilbanks.
Dec 19,1807-Verbal petition from Tinker Crk. Church wanting help & we
-----------------appointed Benj. Nix, William Greer, W. White ...
Dec 19,1807-Verbal petition from Tinker Creek Ch. wanting helps & we
-----------------appoint Benj Nix, Wm Greer, W White... to assist....
Jun 18, 1808 ...appointed Robt. White B.S., Benj. Nix, Thos. Greer Junr,
-----------------Wm Greer to look into the difficulty between Sister Anne Little
-----------------and Elizabeth Howard & make report next church meeting.
Aug 19,1808-Delegated to Assoc: Thos Greer, Thos Ray, Benj Nix.
May 19,1810 Appointed Brethren Benj. Nix, Bird Murphy, Thos Norman...
-----------------to settle a matter between the church & Br James Smith.
Dec 15,1810 Benjamin Nix entered a complaint against Fredrick Jackson for
-----------------getting intoxicated with spirits.
May ??,1828 Charge laid against Br. Benjamin Nix by James Lawson.
Jun 14, 1828 Committee acquits Br. Nix of charge against him...
Dec 15,1833 Received Elizabeth Nix.
Aug 16,1834 Dismissed Thos Nix.
Jan 19, 1839 Dismissed Br. Miles Nix, his wife and daughter by Letter.
Jul 18, 1841 Received Sarah Nix, by experience.
Sep 30,1851 Sister Amy Nix has lain off from the church for some time, appointed
------------------br. Ben Lamb to see here ....
Oct ??, 1851--Church will bear with Sister Amy Nix...
Aug 19,1858--Received into fellowship by experience; Cassey Nix.
Aug 22,1858--Baptized; Cassey Nix, received into fellowship.
END of Minutes.
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Lower Fairforest Baptist Church Minutes: became it own church 1809, once a
meeting house or branch of the Padgett's.
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Jan 26, 1811 Laid over the matter of Br. Little & appointed brethren Philip Holcomb, William White, Robt. Bullington, Ben. Nix to endeavor to settle the matter & report to next meeting.
Dec 24, 1818 Received Nancy Nix by experience...
No other Nix's recorded after 1818, possible their were other females, that married?
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John's wife Sarah was in a Texas Article 1948:
Pioneer Story
Sarah A. [Howard] Nix
[Tanscribed]
SOURCE: Article
From Chris Hobson's
Column: Texarkana Ark-Tex
Two States Press
Thursday, December 16th, 1948
Out of the long ago comes the Story of Sarah Nix, a courageous Pioneer, who made the first settlement inside the corporate limits of Texarkana. As Sarah Howard She was born in 1800 in Union District South Carolina, where her father had moved his family from Buncombe County, Virginia, during the latter part of the 18th Century. In 1816, she was married to John C. Nix and that she was the mother of seven children, all girls except the youngest, John B. The first Child died six months after birth, but the others lived to be grown and married. Mrs Nix became a widow when John B. was but three days old, which was on the 30th of November 1836.Some years later two of her daughters had married. One of them was the son of her cousin William Nix, and the other was with Benjamin White xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx And as Sarah Nix wanted to be near her daughters, she decided to migrate with them. Soon a company of five families, with 13 wagons, started overland to Texas, in the year of 1845. The Party consisted of the families of Mrs. Nix, William Nix, Benjamin White, Samuel and Jerry Bobo. After a long and tedious journey, beset by much trial and sickness, they at length arrived at the present site of Texarkana on Feb. 14, 1846. A considerable distance still lay between them and the place of destination. The season was growing late and they realized that they would be unable to grow a crop after getting to Houston county, so they decided to stop here and grow a crop, then go on to destination the following autumn. Sarah Nix stopped the first season at what was then known as the Dr, Birmingham place. Benjamin Nix rented farming lands from Eli Moore's. Samuel Bobo worked around from place to place at first, but later made a settlement on the Sulphur river, which became known as Bobo's Ferry. .Jerry Bobo settled about 12 miles west of Texarkana at first, but finally moved across the Sulphur River into what later became Cass
County, Texas. He died soon afterward.
The Union Army, en-root to Mexico, passed along the Boston road, & John B. Nix, then 9
years of age sold his crop of watermelons to the soldieries. In the fall of 1846, Mrs. Nix looked around for a suitable site for a homestead, and selected section 39, township 15, range 28, in the present Miller county Arkansas. Soon a small house , made of pine poles, was erected. Mrs. Nix lived there until John B. was grown, and then he built a hewed log house for her. When she reached this part of The country, Mrs. Nix had little money, and depended on obtaining her home by homestead or public entry. In 1853 congress made a public grant of lands to the Cario and Fulton railroad, to aid Them in building a road, and all lands were withdrawn from the market, however, actual settlers already on a settlement were permitted to file claims in the land office to perfect titles by payment of the government price when the Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Her claim according to law in 1863, When the railroad came to Texarkana in 1873, the charter had passed from the Cairo and Fulton to the Iron Mountain, and it was not possible for her to obtain a perfect title under 20 years from the time when she filed her claim at the land office in Washington Ark. When John B. Nix was an infant, his grandfather in South Carolina made a deed of gift to forty acres of land in the state, which was for his grandson. The land could not be sold until John B. was old enough to select his own guardian, which he did in 1852. His brother-in-law, Ben Nix, was chosen, and he in turn, employed a lawyer in South Carolina to attend to the sale. The property was worth $1200. It was sold and the lawyer sent Nix a check for $50, which was cashed by Cuily and Edwards who had a short time before, begun a mercantile business at Rondo. In his anxiety to secure a home for his mother, Nix requested that the money be put on deposit in the land office at Washington Ark., to be held in trust until such time as it could be used in the purchase of their home. The $50 was all he ever received from the sale of the land in South Carolina. The government held that money in trust for 20 years, under pledge to keep Mrs. Nix's claim in trust until such time as she could be allowed to take a full and final payment, but eventually the government compelled her to accept a title to only one-fourth of the file claim, on the plea that she had paid for that amount at a time when the government denied her right to make purchase at all. Sarah Nix braved the trails of frontier life, and had endured the hardships that went with the making of a settlement in a wilderness country. She had traveled hundreds of miles overland, in the midst of high waters, with but few facilities for crossing them, endured the discomforts of winter and sickness to open up a new home for herself and her children, yet, through a plea that was justifiable on Mrs. Nix's failure to comply with red tape requirements, much of her property was taken from her. John B. Nix made an outstanding fight to secure a just settlement, and the money for his fight was earned by hard arduous labor by his blacksmith shop which was at that time situated near the present site of the water works on East Ninth Street. Finally, he realized that the fight was hopeless, and submitted to the ruling. Mrs. Nix remained a widow to the end of her life. When in her 63rd year, an accident caused her death as she rode horseback. She was on her way to visit her daughter. Mrs. Nathan Jackson, when rain began falling. As she endeavored to open her umbrella the umbrella the horse became frightened and ran away. When the excited animal brushed under a slooping tree, Mrs. Nix was fatally injured. She was found and cared for, but lived only a short time three of her daughters, who were single when she came to this part of the country, married, One became Mrs. N. B Thomas, another Mrs. Rodger Watson, and the third, Mrs. Nathan Jackson, John B. Nix marred and had four daughters xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Crow, Mrs. Julia Tullus, and Mrs. Martha E. McDonald, S. R. McDonald, who married Martha E. Nix, was Texarkana's first machinist of importance. He established the Twin City Foundry and Machine Company, which is now operated by his sons, Charles P. and Sam Jr. Other sons and daughters of the McDonald's are Douglas, Allen Idele, Chris, Clarence, Lofton, of Shreveport, and Doris, Mrs. P. O. Baxter. Sam McDonald married Ethel Williams, and they have a daughter, Martha J. and a son William Howard (the Howard is in honor of the family of Sarah Nix) Charles P. married the former Gertrude Slaughter, and they recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. Many years have passed since the widow Nix and her fellow pioneers drove their wagons to what is now Texarkana. At that time they thought their stay was but for a season, but they remained to help blaze the trail for a bright and prosperous future for a proud
city. There were no – Flowersy beds of ease in the frontier life of Sarah Nix. She knew hard work, trails, and disappointments, but she walked tall in the sum, fearless, indomitable, honorable. And so 102 years later, we salute the arrival in Texarkana of Sarah Nix, the courageous pioneer who made the city's first settlement.
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Notes From Mike White:
Sarah is my 3xGr Grandmother, mother of Polly [Nix} White wife of Benjamin White.
lines marked 'xxxxxxx' Equal=missing text, or I just couldn't figure it out...
I had volunteer's at a local Texarkana college attempt to locate and send me a copy
of this article, they couldn't locate this article???.If the article is lost this may be
the only record we have...
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