Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix Sr (1898 - 1987)

Born 9 Aug 1898 in Orangeburg, Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States

Died 22 Jun 1987 at age 88 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Robert Nix Sr is Notable.

Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix Sr was an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1958 until 1979. He was the first African American to represent Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives. The Robert N. C. Nix Federal Building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is named in his honor.

Robert was born in Orangeburg in 1898. He was the third of four children born to Nelson Nix and Sylvia Robinson.

In 1900, 2-year-old Robert and his siblings were living with their parents, Nelson and Sylvia Nix on Treadwell Street in Orangeburg. His father was a teacher and a pastor at Mt Pisgah Baptist Church.^[1]

In the 1910 census Robert was the single son of Nelson C Nix in Orangeburg Ward 3, Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States.^[2]

Robert would move to New York to attend Townsend Harris High School. In 1918 he was 19 years old and living on 160th Street in the Bronx, NY where he was working as a porter for the Pullman Company. He was born August 9, 1899, and his next-of-kin was N C Nix of Orangeburg.^[3]

He would later enroll in Lincoln University in Oxford, PA.

In the 1920 census Robert (age 21), Student in Pennsylvania. He was listed the single son of Nelson C Nix in Orangeburg Ward 3, Orangeburg, South Carolina.^[4]

Robert graduated with a BA from Lincoln in 1921 and would continue his education at Pennsylvania Law School in 1924. After obtaining his degree, he would start a practice with E Washington Rhodes in Philadelphia. His son, Robert Nix Jr would later become a partner in Nix, Rhodes, and Nix.

Sometime prior to 1929, Robert would marry Ethel Lanier. In 1930 Robert and Ethel and their one-year-old son, Robert Nix Jr, were living on Fairmont Avenue in Philadelphia. Robert was the manager of a law firm.^[5]

The family would remain in the home on Fairmont, which they owned, through 1940 as Robert continued his law practice.^[6]

The same year, Robert registered for the draft. He was 42 years old and born August 9, 1899, in Orangeburg, SC. His law office was located on S 16th Street in Philadelphia. His next-of-kin was his wife, Ethel Nix.^[7]

Robert Nix Sr died on June 22, 1987, in Philadelphia and was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.^[8]

Political Career

1934-1938: special deputy attorney general of the Pennsylvania State Department of Revenue and special assistant deputy attorney general of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

1956: delegate to the Democratic National Convention

1958: elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-fifth Congress, by special election

May 20, 1958-January 3, 1979: 10 consecutive terms in Congress

chairman, Committee on the Post Office and Civil Service

Sources

1. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Orangeburg, Orangeburg, South Carolina; Page: 16; Enumeration District: 0067; FHL microfilm: 1241538
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7602 #59358419 (accessed 22 November 2021)
   Robert C Nix (2), single son in household of Nelson C Nix (36) in Orangeburg, Orangeburg, South Carolina. Born in South Carolina, USA.
2. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Orangeburg Ward 3, Orangeburg, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1469; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 0061; FHL microfilm: 1375482
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7884 #165116048 (accessed 22 November 2021)
   Robert C Nix, single son in household of Nelson C Nix (46) in Orangeburg Ward 3, Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA. Born in South Carolina.
3. ↑ Military: "U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918"
   Registration State: New York; Registration County: Bronx
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 6482 #16684203 (accessed 22 November 2021)
   Name: Robert N C Nix; Race: Black; Birth Date: 9 Aug 1899; Residence Date: 1917-1918; Street Address: 280 E. 160 St; Residence Place: Bronx, Bronx, New York, USA; Draft Board: 10; Physical Build: Medium; Height: Medium; Hair Color: Black; Eye Color: Black; Relative: N. C. Nix.
4. ↑ 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Orangeburg Ward 3, Orangeburg, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1704; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 48
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 6061 #52692114 (accessed 22 November 2021)
   Robert C Nix (21), single son, Student, in household of Nelson C Nix (53) in Orangeburg Ward 3, Orangeburg, South Carolina. Born in South Carolina.
5. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 0487; FHL microfilm: 2341872
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 6224 #55078330 (accessed 22 November 2021)
   Ethel Nix, wife, in household of Robert Nix (30) in Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Born in District of Columbia.
6. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1940; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: m-t0627-03745; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 51-1860
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 2442 #23773258 (accessed 22 November 2021)
   Robert N C Nix (42), married, Lawyer, head of household in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born in South Carolina.
7. ↑ Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
   National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Pennsylvania, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 1844
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 2238 #8731465 (accessed 22 November 2021)
   Name: Robert Nelson Nix; Race: Black; Age: 42; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Birth Date: 9 Aug 1899; Birth Place: Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA; Residence Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942; Registration Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Employer: Self; Height: 5 9; Weight: 175; Complexion: Dark; Hair Color: Black; Eye Color: Brown; Next of Kin: Ethel Nix;
   Household Members Age Relationship:
   Robert Nelson Nix 43 Self (Head).
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/220093555/robert-nelson_cornelius-nix : accessed 22 November 2021), memorial page for Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix Sr. (9 Aug 1898–22 Jun 1987), Find A Grave: Memorial #220093555, citing Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Find a Grave .

See also:

• Wikipedia contributors. (2021, September 19). Robert N. C. Nix Sr.. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:11, November 9, 2021, from Bio of Robert N C Nix Sr

• Cho, N. (2008, March 26). Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix Sr. (1898-1987). BlackPast.org. accessed 11-22-2021 Robert Nix Sr

• History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, “NIX, Robert Nelson Cornelius, Sr.,” Robert N C Nix Sr (November 22, 2021)

• The Philadelphia Tribune - 3 Sep 2011 Nix Men Involved in Political Scene website archive accessed 11-22-2021 Nix Men