My Genealogy Hound

James F. Nixon, a leading citizen and assessor of Franklin County, Ark., is a native of Monroe County, Mo., where he was born September 18, 1837. His father, George W. C. Nixon, was of Scotch descent, and was born in Tennessee December 7, 1817, and died in Scott County, Ark., on the 19th day of April, 1885. He moved to Morgan County, Mo., at an early day, and was there married to Phoebe M. Burnard, who was a native of that county, born January 21, 1820, and died in Franklin County, Ark., March 9, 1858. They located in the latter county in 1844, the father moving to Scott County, Ark., in 1884. After his wife’s death he was married to Mrs. Martha Smith, a daughter of Miles Williams. Mr. Nixon was a farmer and stock raiser, and held the offices of justice of the peace, school commissioner and county treasurer. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. At the breaking out of the war he was captain in the State militia, and during that conflict served from 1864 until the close of the war. His first union resulted in the birth of eight children, four of whom are living: Mary E., wife of W. B. Wagoner; Nancy Isabel, wife of W. R. Duncan; Frankie G., wife of L. G. Huggins, and Joseph F. The latter is the eldest of the family, and received his rudimentary education in the district schools near his home. At the age of nineteen years he left home and was engaged in teaching school for some time, then returned home and turned his attention to farming, at which he has been quite successful. He now owns 180 acres of land. In 1875 he was elected county assessor, holding the position four years, and was re-elected in 1884. On the 12th of July, 1857, he was married to Julia A. Wilburn a native of Marion County, Ark., born November 8, 1841. Their union was blessed in the birth of eleven children: Ben F., George G., Lorenzo L., James C., Allen M. and John M. are living, and the rest of the children are deceased. Mr. Nixon and wife are members of the Primitive Baptist Church, and he is a member of the Wheel, the Farmer’s Alliance, and in his political views is a Democrat.