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Below is a family biography included in The History of Hickman County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Hon. Orville A. Nixon, clerk and master of the chancery court, is a native of Centreville, Tenn., born May 23, 1834, son of Henry and Cordelia (Pavatt) Nixon, and is of Scotch-Irish and French origin. His father was born in South Carolina March 25, 1798, in Kershaw County, and in 1804 the family came to Wilson County, Tenn., where they resided one year, then removed to Rutherford County, where they remained until 1807, when they took up their abode in Maury County. In 1819 Henry Nixon, O. A. Nixon’s father, came to Hickman County, and in 1826 to Centreville. The father of our subject was the early attorney-general of this part of Tennessee, and by profession was a lawyer. He was a soldier under Jackson in the Seminole war, and died December 13, 1833. The mother was a native of Sumner County, Tenn., born February 15, 1812, and died in Centreville in 1854. Orville A. Nixon is the youngest of their family, and the rudiments of his education were obtained in Centreville Male Academy. In 1851 he entered Jackson College, at Columbia, and graduated from that school in 1853. Two years later he began reading law under Judge T. P. Bateman, and was admitted to the bar in 1856, and the same year was appointed clerk and master of the chancery court, and held that position until 1868. In 1884 he was appointed to the same, and is now discharging the duties of that office. Politically he was a Democrat, and voted with that party until 1876, when he became a member of the National party and cast his vote for Peter Cooper. He still adheres to the Greenback principles. In 1878 and 1879 he represented Hickman, Perry and Lewis Counties in the General Assembly, and in 1882-83 he represented Hickman County in the State Legislature. Cora C., Henry, Lizzie, Forest and Thomas are the children born to his marriage with Virginia A. Overton, which took place December 19, 1856. Mrs. Nixon was born in Dixon County, November 18, 1838. The Nixon family have been known in Tennessee for almost a century. They were noted for their energy and enterprise, and our subject is a fair representative of the family. He is a Mason, and has done much for the advancement and prosperity of the county.

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This family biography is one of 20 biographies included in The History of Hickman County, Tennessee published in 1886.  The History of Hickman County was included within The History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman & Lewis Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman and Lewis Counties of Tennessee

View additional Hickman County, Tennessee family biographies here: Hickman County, Tennessee

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