Bridgeton pioneer., 1891-02-19
COL. j. o. NIXON.
The Estimation with Which HI
Was Held in the South.

The Estimation with Which He
Was Held in the South.
Col James Oscar Nixon, one of the
Oldest journalists and best known and
most highly esteemed of New Orleans
citizens, died yesterday morning, after
az illness of some months. Col. Nixon
had been a sufferer from gout for
years. but with this exception, his
health was apparently vigorous, and
his tall, manly form was to be seen
upon our streets almost every day un-
til a short time ago, when the fatal
Bright's disease manifested itself.
No man in New Orleans was more
intimately associated with its journal
ism than he in the stirring periods
which Immediately preceded and fol-
lowed the late civil war.
A native of New Jersey, where he
was born in 1929, he moved to New
Orleans in 1910 to engage in business
with his uncle. Mercantile pursuits,
however did not satisfy his ambition,
and soon after he came of age he left
them, and, in partnership with W. R
Adams, bought and re-estab ablished the
Crescent, which he soon made the
Wing organ of Louisiana.
From that time to the breaking out
of the war. during a stormy journal
istic period, Mr.. Nixon was at the head
of the Crescent and directed its AFFAIR.".
He made the paper a success in every
respect. It was one of the boldest and
most courageous of journals, and it
had one of the cleanest of records. 1t
never hesitated to expose what it
thought wrong or to denounce those
whom it believed should be held up
before the public
At the outbreak of the civil war Mr.
Nixon rendered his services to the
State of his adoption, and became
Lieutenant Colonel of the FRS. Louisi.
ana Cavalry. He served with distiuc.
ton in the Army of Tennessee, but
while near Bowling Green, KY, was
captured by the Federals and remained
prisoner until the end of the war.
Upon his return to New Orleans at
the end of hostilities, Col. Nixon re.
vived the Crescent and continued it for
three years. The new venture was
not as successful as his ante bellum
journalistic experience. and in 1869 the
Crescent was purchased and consoli
dated with the Times.
Col. Nixon then abandoned journal
ism, moved "sc-oss the Lake" living
at Mississippi City and Pass Christian,
dsvoting himself to improving his
properties at these two places, to hor-
ticulture and Horticulture. Some years
ago he moved to New Orleans, where
he has ever since resided with his
daughter-in-law, Mrs. J. Oscar Nixon,
Jr. Taken seriously ill two months
ago, his great vitality and wonderful
physique preserved his life for weeks
beyond what might have been ex-
pected.
Col. Nixon was prominent in all
matters affecting New Orleans. social
as we'll as political and journalistic, and
was one of the founders of the Pick
wick Club, as we'll as of La Variete AS
ISOLATION. which built the Varieties
Theatre, (now the Grand Opera
House).
Col. Nixon's only son, J. Oscar Nix
on, Jr.. died in the prime of manhood,
a few years ago, after making a most
successful career for himself at the
bar. OF the two daughters, one is
dead and the other married to James
&. Clark, president of the Council, and
a leading merchant of this city.
Col. Nixon was a useful citizen in
every way, public spirited, highly es.
teemed and loved by all who knew
him. He was fine type of the South
ern gentleman, brave as a lion, cour-
teous to all-inferiors as we'll as equals
above all suspicion, a strong defend
er of the peoples interests and not
afraid to speak in their behalf, kind,
tender-hearted and considerate OF
others. He passed unscathed through
the stormy period of Louisiana jour
nalism and the dark era that followed
the war -Neao Orleans Times Dtnao
crat, Feb. s, 1891
A minister has been elected to the