Etta Melissa Nix (1881 - 1959)

Born 13 May 1881 in Chinguacousy Township, Peel County, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Wright — married 4 Mar 1908 in Toronto Junction, Ontario, Canada

Died 25 May 1959 at age 78 in Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fred Nix [send private message]

Biography

Etta Melissa Nix is born on May 13, 1881, in Chinguacousy Township, Peel County, Ontario, Canada [1]. Her parents are Thomas Nix (1850-1933) and Ann Elizabeth Ward (1854-1934). Thomas Nix was born in Lincolnshire, England and had emigrated to Canada West (Ontario) with his parents in 1851. Ann Elizabeth Ward’s paternal grandfather – George Ward (1772-1847) -- was one of the first settlers in Toronto Gore Township, the township to the east of Chinguacousy. Ann Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather – William Woodill (1801-1836) – was another one of the original settlers in Toronto Gore.

Although born in Chinguacousy, Etta grows up in Toronto Gore – just south of the village of Grahamsville which, in today’s geography, is the intersection of Airport Road and Steeles Avenue in the city of Brampton. She can be found there as a 10-year-old in the 1891 census records [2]. And she is still there in the 1901 census [3]. One interesting point about the 1901 census records: the family next to the Nix family is the Wright family. And this family has a 26-year-old Robert Wright as a son.

Etta marries Robert Wright on March 4, 1908, in Toronto Junction (now a part of the city of Toronto)[4]. The couple can be found on a farm in Toronto Gore Township in the 1911 census records [5]. They are also on the farm in Toronto Gore in the 1921 census [6]. And they are still there in the 1931 census records [7]. Etta is now 50-years old and there is no evidence the couple ever had children. Etta dies on May 25, 1959, and is buried in the Brampton Cemetery [8]. Robert dies two years later and is buried with her.

Sources

[1] "Ontario Births, 1869-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FM7Q-X9B : accessed 14 December 2015), Etta Nix, 1881. The record shows that Etta Melissa Nix was born on May 13, 1881 in Chinguacousy Township, Peel County, Ontario, Canada and that her parents were Thomas Nix and Elizabeth Ward. The record shows Thomas Nix as a farmer.

[2] 1891 census, Ontario, 106 Peel, Toronto Gore, pg 11, household #46: Thomas Nix [both the collectionscanada and familysearch search engines translate the name as “Thamas Nise”] (38), born England, farmer; Ann Elizabeth (36); Etta Mallisa (10); John Write (30), domestic. All household members are Methodists. Thomas employs an average of 2 people during the year.

[3] 1901 census, Ontario, 103 Peel, Toronto Gore, pg 9, household #80: Thomas Nix (47), born in England in [?difficult to read, possibly 25 Oct] 1853, farmer; Hanna E. (46), born 15 (? Or 16) Jan 1854; Etta M (18), born 18 May 1882; Wilbert (8), born 18 Aug 1892, in school; Oscar (6), born .20 Jan 1895, in school. Hanna E [Ann Elizabeth] and the children were all born in Ontario. The family is labelled English, and their religion is shown as Methodist. The handwriting on the census record is difficult to read. The automatedgenealogy.com web site transcribes the surname as “Hess” and the collectionscanada search engine reads the surname as “Nice.” The census record shows that Thomas Nix immigrated to Canada in 1889 [he came in 1852]. Also, his actual birth date is Oct 11, 1850. Finally, the name of Thomas’ wife is Ann (sometimes Annie) Elizabeth Ward, not the “Hanna” that is shown in the census record. The next family in the census record is William & Emma Wright. They have a 26-yr old son, Robert Wright.

[4] Trinity (formerly Methodist) United Church Malton, Peel County, Ontario, Baptisms 1844-1925, Marriages 1858-1925, Burials 1912-1925: March 4, 1908 Robert Wright marries Etta Melissa Nix at Toronto Junction, York County. Etta is 26 and lives in Grahamsville and her parents are Thomas Nix & Elizabeth Ann Ward.

[5] 1911 census, Ontario, 109 Peel, Toronto Gore, pg 4, household # : Robert Wright (36), born April 1875, farmer; Etta M. (30), born May 1881; Fred Wright (30). born June 1880, brother [to Robert], labourer. All members of the household were born in Ontario and their religion is Methodist.

[6] 1921 census, Ontario, Peel, Toronto Gore, pg 13, family #145: Robert Wright (48), farmer ; Etta M. (40). The couple own their own wooden home. Their religion is Methodist.

[7] 1931 census, Ontario, Peel, 37. Toronto Gore, pg 1, family #14: Robert Wright (57), farmer; Etta Mellisa (50). They live in their own wooden [? 7 room] house, valued at $8,000. Robert was born in Ontario, as were his parents. Etta was born in Ontario, her father in England, her mother in Ontario. They go to the United Church.

[8] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175986878/etta_melissa-wright: accessed March 23, 2024), memorial page for Etta Melissa Nix Wright (13 May 1881–25 May 1959), Find a Grave Memorial ID 175986878, citing Brampton Cemetery, Brampton, Peel Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada; Maintained by Ruth Watkins (Pew) Jaynes (contributor 48360967).

Acknowledgements

This biography was written by Fred Nix, originally in 2016 with updates thereafter. Fred is the grandnephew of Etta..