Nixon, John

Nixon, John, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in the County of Tyrone, Ireland, in April, 1789. His parents were converts of John Wesley. Young Nixon was much inclined to the reading of the Scriptures, and early experienced justifying grace. He soon commenced praying and exhorting in public, and after a time was employed to fill vacancies for the traveling preachers. He was finally appointed to a circuit, and traveled four or five years. In 1820 he emigrated to this country, and preached in Connecticut, under the presiding elder, until the next session of the New York Conference, when he was admitted on trial. For the term of about twenty years he continued in the regular work, filling many appointments on circuits with various success. For a number of years he was on the superannuated list, and in gradually declining health, resulting finally in his death, which occurred Dec. 18, 1859, at Caroline, Tompkins Co., N.Y. "He was," says his brother, "sensible to the last, and died extremely happy."