JAMES NIXON was widely known as one of the honored citizens of Missaukee County, Michigan, where for many years he has been prominently identified with agricultural interest of his community.  Mr. Nixon was born to  John and Fannie (Wiggins) Nixon in Oswego, New York, on December 24, 1839.  The following spring he accompanied his parents to Detroit, Michigan, where he was reared to the age of about 17 years, receiving a good practical education in the common schools.  At the age mentioned he gave evidence of that independence which had characterized his subsequent life by bravely starting out in life on his own account.  He was variously engaged, in different places for a number of years.  In 1872, he made a definite and permanent location, coming to Missaukee County and taking up a homestead of 80 acres in sections 24, and 25, near Putnam, now known as Star City, in West Branch Township.  At once his energies were devoted to the task of clearing the land and rendering it fit for cultivation, a task involving an immense amount of labor. ; Mr. Nixon was the owner of 154 acres of land.  He was careful and methodical in his operations and allowed no detail of his work to escape his attention, the result being his farm was the equal of any in the township.  Good buildings adorned the place and in many ways Mr. Nixon had shown himself to be a man of good judgment and sound ideas.
In Cadillac, Michigan, Mr. Nixon was united in marriage with  Miss Jennie Becker, a native of Ontario, Canada, and to them have been born four children, Maggie and Emma, twins, and James McKinley and Eva. The shadow of sorrow was cast over him with the death of his faithful wife and loving mother, which occurred on May 2, 1898, in the forty-third year of her age.  On June 11, 1902, he married to Miss Minnie Louise Brace,the daughter of William Henry and Lydia (Gunn) Brace of Missaukee County . They were blessed with one son, Alfred James, who was born two months before Mr. Nixon's death.

Fraternally, Mr. Nixon was a member of Star City Grange, No. 1146, Patrons of Husbandry.  In local affairs of a public nature he was at all times taken a commendable interest and had been honored by his fellow citizens by election to several positions, having served as Justice of the Peace, Township Treasurer, Township Clerk and in several of the school offices. Mr. Nixon has an extensive acquaintance throughout the county and the name of his friends is legion.

Mr. Nixon on died Saturday, Dec. 11, 1909, at the age of 69, after an illness of only three days duration.  The funeral services, conducted by Rev. W. Sidebotham, were held at the Star City church and cemetery and were largely attended. Mr. Nixon was a well known and much respected pioneer of Missaukee County.

Information donated by Tracie Nixon