7. Amos Van Buren2 NICKERSON (Jeremiah S.1 NICKERSON) was born on 15 Aug 1836 in Dryden, Tompkins Co., New York. He appeared on the 1850 U.S. Census in the household of Levi GILBERT, Town of Berkshire, Tioga Co., New York. He died on 31 May 1919 in Cherry Grove Twp., Wexford Co., Michigan, USA. He died of a stroke and was buried in Cherry Grove Cemetery, Cherry Grove Twp., Wexford Co., Michigan. An obituary, presumably from the Cadillac Evening News, reads as follows:
Amos V. Nixon, one of Cherry Grove's oldest and most highly respected residents, died May 31, aged 82 years. Mr. Nixon was born Aug. 15, 1836 in Tompkins County, N. Y. In 1870 he married Miss Lucy Frances Rose, who, with five children and 15 grandchildren survive. During the Civil War, Mr. Nixon served one year and fought at Petersburg. He came to Wexford County in 1882 and had been a resident for 37 years of Cherry Grove Township.
Another obituary published in The Free Methodist magazine reads:
Amos V. Nixon was born August 15, 1836, in Tompkins county, [sic]New York, and departed this life May 31, 1919. He came to St. Joe county, [sic] Indiana, in 1870 and was married to Miss Lucy Frances Rose, daughter of Samuel J. Rose. To this union were born six children, three sons and three daughters. One daughter died in infancy; those living are Charley and Ray, of Cadillac; Frank of Cherry Grove; Mrs. W. G. Stewart, of Hobart; and Mrs R. M. Lambertson, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He served one year in the War of the Rebellion under Captain Bowens, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Infantry. He was in nine battles, the last at Petersburg, when General Lee surrendered. He came to Wexford county, [sic] Michigan, in 1882 and was a resident of this county thirty-seven years. He was a kind and loving husband and father, always thoughtful for the welfare of his family. He had a kind and generous heart, always ready to help the needy. He will be missed by his family, neighbors and a large circle of friends. Brother Nixon was for years a prominent member of the Free Methodist Church and had many times been a delegate to conference and served on the stationing committee. At the time of his death he was not a member of the church but his family feel that though he had at one time lost the Lord out of his soul yet during his sickness which was long he had again found favor with God. Funeral services were conducted by the writer at the old family home and the body laid to rest in the nearby cemetery. Their home was ever a "home" to the preacher and his family. It was ever a privilege with our brother to help God's cause along financially. [by] G. A. McGrath.
Rev. McGrath, who performed the funeral service, told about the time when he first came to Cherry Grove from Indiana. As the story goes, Amos was told of the need for financial assistance to build a church, and Amos wrote to John D. Rockefeller and identified himself by certain facts, and received money for the church. Amos had told that his sister had married a brother of John D. Rockefeller's father. [Mary Nickerson married Jacob Rockefeller, son of Godfrey]
It appears that he used the surname NICKERSON until he and his first wife separated. After that he went by NIXON. He was in the Union Army in the Civil War serving in Co. I, 179th New York Infantry from 29 August 1864 to 8 June 1865 under the name Amos Van Buren NICKERSON. He saw action in the Battle of Petersburg during that time. Amos appeared on the 1890 Special Census Schedule of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marine, and Widows, Etc., under the name Amos V. NIXON in Cherry Grove Township, Wexford Co., Michigan.
He was married to Lucy Emily ROSS about 1858 in Tioga Co., New York, most likely. The marriage date and place of Amos NICKERSON and Lucy ROSS are an estimate based on the birth of their first child and their residence in the 1860 census. Amos and Lucy Emily (ROSS) NICKERSON appeared on the 1860 U.S. Census living with Amos' parents in Richford Twp., Tioga Co., New York. Five years later they appeared on the New York State Census under the name NICOSON in the Town of Candor, Tioga Co., New York. In 1870 they appeared on the U.S. Census in the Town of Spencer, Tioga Co., New York. Lucy Emily ROSS was born about 1834 in New York, USA. Amos Van Buren NICKERSON and Lucy Emily ROSS had the following children:
29 i. Julia A.3 NICKERSON was born about 1859 in New York, USA. She appeared on the 1860 U.S. Census with her parents in Richford Twp., Tioga Co., New York. Ten years later she appeared on the census again with her parents, this time in the Town of Spencer, Tioga Co., New York.
30 ii. Bloomie A3 NICKERSON was born on 26 Jun 1861. She died on 2 Oct 1865. She was buried in Smith Valley Cemetery, Willseyville, New York. Her grave marker reads:
Bloomie A.
Dau of Amos V. & Lucy E. Nickerson
AE 4y's 3m's 4d's
31 iii. Florence3 NICKERSON was born about 1866 in New York, USA. She appeared on the 1870 U.S. Census with her parents in the Town of Spencer, Tioga Co., New York.
32 iv. Mary3 NICKERSON was born in Apr 1870 in New York, USA. She appeared on the 1870 U.S. Census with her parents in the Town of Spencer, Tioga Co., New York.
He was married to Lucy Frances ROSE (daughter of Samuel Jones ROSE and Frances HENDERSON) on 31 Jul 1875 in Lakeville, St. Joseph Co., Indiana. Their marriage occurred at the home of Lucy's parents and was witnessed by them. Amos and Lucy (ROSE) NICKERSON appeared on the 1880 US. Census in Liberty Twp. [Lakeville], St. Joseph Co., Indiana. They moved to Cherry Grove Twp., Wexford Co., Michigan in 1882 when Lucy's brother Seth moved north to "the pines" in hopes the clean air would be good for his tuberculosis. He died a few years afterward. Amos and Lucy appeared on the 1900 U.S. Census in Cherry Grove Twp. After Amos' death Lucy moved to Cadillac where she lived on Cherry Street until she died.
Lucy Frances ROSE was born on 12 Feb 1850 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana, most likely. She appeared on the 1850 and 1860 U.S. Censuses with her parents in Union Twp., St. Joseph Co., Indiana. She died on 6 Apr 1921 in Cadillac, Wexford Co., Michigan, USA. She died of a heart attack. An obituary of Lucy Nixon, presumably in the 6 April 1921 issue of the Cadillac Evening News, reads:
MOTHER OF SHERIFF DIES AT AGE OF 71
Mrs. Lucy Nixon died at her home, 606 Lynn street, at 8 a. m. today following an illness of two months. Death was due to heart failure.
Mrs Nixon was 71 years of age and had lived, until last fall, at Cherry Grove on the farm where she and her husband moved 35 years ago from their home in Indiana.
Five children survive the mother: Sheriff Charles Nixon, Ray Nixon, Frank Nixon of Cherry Grove, Mrs. William Stewart of Hobart and Mrs. Alma Lambertson of Edmonton, Alberta.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Another obituary of Lucy Nixon from The Free Methodist, 24 May 1921 reads:
Nixon - Lucy Frances Rose was born 12 February 1850, in St. Joseph County, Indiana. during her early life she lived in that community, teaching school for a number of years. On July 31, 1874 [sic], she was married to Amos V. Nixon and in October, 1882, they moved to Cherry Grove Township, [Wexford Co.,] Michigan, residing there until the death of Brother Nixon, May 31, 1919. At that time Sister Nixon's health began to fail and last fall she moved to Cadillac, Michigan, where she was taken ill in January and died April 6, 1921. Sister Nixon was converted early in life and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church remaining a member until about 1890, when she united with the Free Methodist Church. She was a noble Christian, loved by all who knew her and the life lived by her will continue to bless this section for years to come. Five grown children are left to mourn her loss, namely: Charles and Ray Nixon, of Cadillac; Frank Nixon of Cherry Grove; Mrs. Mable Stewart, of Hobart, and Mrs. Alma Lambertson, of Edmonston, [sic] Alberta; also eighteen grandchildren, all of whom were at her bedside. Funeral services were conducted by the writer, assisted by Rev. C. A. Watson and Rev. M. W. Hoyt, from the Church in Cherry Grove. Interment was made in Cherry Grove Cemetery, beside the remains of her husband.
[by] G. W. Bodine
Amos Van Buren NICKERSON and Lucy Frances ROSE had the following children:
+33 i. Charles Hubbard3 NIXON.
+34 ii. Frank Harlan3 NIXON.
35 iii. Fannie Elizabeth3 NIXON was born on 9 Apr 1879. She died on 7 Jan 1880. She died of Cholera Infantum.
+36 iv. Mabel Rose3 NIXON.
+37 v. Alma Arista3 NIXON.
+38 vi. Seth Raymond3 NIXON.