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IHfc FIRST JNLXONNixon became ‘Old’ with birthof nearby town by same nameEditor’s Note: This is a bonus article in a series leading up to a tour ofEastern Guadalupe County.Jessica Limmerjessica.limmer@sequinqazette.comIn the late 1800s, homes were lit by candlelight, Texas had just returned to the Union and the town of Nixon was located in Guadalupe County.Nixon — later known as Old Nixon — was founded by Robert Nixon, who in 1852 settled in far eastern Guadalupe County between Belmont and Luling.Fran Cheshire, wife of Robert Nixon’s great-grandson Billy Cheshire, said the town was a bustling place before the turn of the last century.“The town had a church, a general store, school and a cotton gin, but when the railroad came through everyone moved on to Luling,” Fran said.Most of the remnants of Old Nixon are gone, but the history of the turn-of-the-century town will be discussed during an upcoming tour of Eastern Guadalupe County to be held April 21. Billy and Fran Cheshire will discuss the early settlers while dressed in period attire.Robert was known to host Methodist circuit preachers at his home, who would then minister to the community during their stay.He also invested in education, Fran said, having a school built on the property.“When there wasn’t a circuit preacher visiting, they would have to get up before dawn to get to church in Belmont,” she said. “That was with 10 kids in a wagon goingBilly’s great-great grandmother Fannie Nixon was known to be so devout that a Luling Sunday School class had been named in her honor.The railroad that pulled Old Nixon residents to Luling also brought the rise of the present-day Nixon, located to the south in Gonzales County.According to information gathered by columnist Mary C. Bond, Robert’s brother John T. Nixon settled in a town called Rancho, just north of present-day Nixon in Gonzales County.“The name ‘Nixon, Texas’ was transferred from Guadalupe County to be used for a new town that was situated near the newly constructed San Antonio and Gulf Railroad.” she wrote. “This new town (Nixon) wa built on land owned by John T. Nixon. John T. Nixon.”While the railroad helped establish the town, trains no longer run through present-day Nixon.Here in Guadalupe County, all that remains of Old Nixon is the Old Nixon Cemetery — located on land originally given to the parents of William P. King after his death at the Alamo — and the Robert Nixon homeplace.“The home was a log building, and they didn’t use any nails,” Fran said. “They notched the wood so it would hold.”The original logs have been covered up, but the home’s original stone chimney is still visable.“After Billy’s great-grandpa died, his grandmother and her husband (Bula and Edmond Wood) moved to the homeplace to act as its caretakers,” Fran said. “Five of her 10 children were born there, including Billy’s mother Frannie, who wasm$WkVCourtesy photosTOP: Students pose outside the Old Nixon School with teacher Martha Huff and trustee John H. Ranft.ABOVE: Robert Thomas Nixon, who settled the Guadalupe County community known as Old Nixon.Billy’s mother passed away when he was a child, and after graduation and some time at Belmont College, he followed his father into the oil business. Fran and Billy married in 1951 and raised four children.The Cheshires inherited the family land in 1968 after the death of Bula, Billy’s grandmother. The couple built a retirement home there and was excited to have a chance to share the history of Billy’s family home.“Robert Nixon was raised Quaker and, although he became Methodist later, he kept many of the principals he’d learned early in life: Earn all you can, save all you can and give all you can,” Fran said. “We feel like we live by a lot of those same prin-
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Seguin Gazette
Seguin, Texas, US
Tue, Apr 17, 2012
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