The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-01-22

~ knew it would hoat. IL mao TO-
| made it to float
/ Once when the craft was broken by
running into handmade bridge over
an imaginary stream Lewis httle
! friends were in great dismay.
"'Oh, Lewis they cried. what shall
we do now the boat is brokenT
ITO which the young philosopher re-
piled: what of it? If made it. ex-
pect cap mend it,
"As boy Lewis Nixon was master
full. He dominated his playmates.
recollect particularly the way he man
aged a pair of redheaded twins that
were the terror of the community. The
twins were putty in Lewis young
hands. He was always at the head OF
his class. and his teacher used to groan
in spirit over his fertility in PROFOUND
ing extraordinary questions and his
persistency in sticking at them until he
got an answer. He played boats all
the time he spent in amusements, SO
far as can recollect. up to his four
teenth year, and no one was astonish-
ed when it was learned that Lewis
Nixon had gone himself to General
Eppa Hunton, the congressman from
the Eighth district, to use his influence
in getting him an appointment at An
napolis.
"NNe were all surprised when the APP
nointment came and the boy left us
to find that our inland baby shipbuild-
er was first in his class in the profess
sion which from his babyhood had so
allured him. At Annapolis Lewis Nix
on began TO take an interest in affairs
social, and when he visited his home
he was quite the beau of the Virginia
town, where he led germans and was
in his way the Elisha Dyer of the best
set
Mr.. Nixon has had but single love
affair, and that q most romantic one
In 1888 he met Miss Sally Lewis Wood,
a society belle and one of the most
beautiful girls of WashingtOn's smart
set. With the same singleness of pur-
pose that has characterized the young
Virginian from birth Mr.. Nixon pro-
ceeded to pay court. early, late and as
siduously, to the girl who had captured
him. But Miss Wood, daughter of the
late Colonel Wood of the army and a
direct descendant of the colonial gen
eral and friend of Washington, was a
young lady not to be had for the ask
ing.
According to the story as it is told
by those who should know, the country
is indebted to the blue eyed daughter
of colonial stock for the inspiration
that has given to young man some
right to the title of designer OF the
new American navy" The story goes
that when Lewis Nixon came a-woo-
ing the proud daughter of a long line
of famous progenitors said to him:
''Mr. Nixon, shall never marry a
man who has not made a name for
himself. The man l marry, If he does
not have a high position by inherit
ance, must acquire it through his own
eXertions."
And Nixon-so the tale IS told-look-
ed into the blue eyes of the girl who
held his heart prisoner and said:
and when | have made a name,
Miss Sally-a name which even Wood
will be proud of-what them
The answer to these all important
words can only be surInised. Mr.. Nix
on resigned from the navy to become
a designer with Cramp & Sons, the great
shpbuilders. He also designed the
Oregon. He was with the Cramps and
helped to make the warshipS New
York. Indiana. Massachusetts. Iowa,
Brooklyn. Minneapolis and the st.
Louis and st. Paul for the American
line He built the Holland submarine
| boat.
In 1898 Mr.. Nixon este blfshed ship
building plant of his own at Elizabeth
! nort. y. J. The concern has grown
greatly under his direction and is now
building large number of torpedo
boats and doing other work for the
! government.
/ 1. 1891. no longer an unknown young
man. Mr.. Nixon again paid court tc
! the blue eyed beauty. This time the
name Mr.. Nixon offered the lady of his
heart was one she might we'll exchange
! for her own. Mr.. Nixon was accepted
In his one romance Mr.. Nixon lived VI
| to his motto. He believed God would
help the man who helped himself.
The god of love Joined forces with the
indomitable Virginian and gave him thu
happiness of life union with the wo
man of his choice. One little son,
magnificent chapxof seven, who il
named Stanhope Wood Nixon and car
trace his ancestry in an unbroken line
for $40 years, is Mr. Nixon's sole heir
CAI OONC IN NEW WORK