James Nimmo Baxter (1866 - 1942)

Born 30 May 1866 in Coromandel, Thames, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth McKinley (Mercer) Baxter — married 9 Oct 1889 in Bride's father's house at Sale Street, Freemans Bay, Auckland, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 7 May 1942 at age 75 in 7 Wilding Avenue, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand

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Biography

James Nimmo Baxter was born in 1866 In Coromandel, but spent most of his life in Auckland (when he wasn't playing sport in other parts of the country). He was employed as a Commercial Traveller (nowadays, travelling salesman) by Macky, Logan, Caldwell, Limited, (which accounts for his always being very well dressed) and later by the brewing company, Hancock and Co. Ltd. JNB was founder of the West End Rowing Club*, winning Senior and Junior single sculls championships in 1887. A forward for the Ponsonby Football Club, he represented Auckland against Otago in Dunedin in 1889. His two Caps were donated to the Ponsonby Rugby Club, and are displayed there. The New Zealand Herald reports "Commercial Traveller's Narrow Escape" on 13 November 1905 : "Mr. Baxter, representative for Hancock and Co., of Auckland, had a very narrow escape from a serious accident this afternoon. While riding up the Totatea range his horse stumbled and fell over the embankment. The animal got badly cut about the hindquarters, but Mr. Baxter escaped with a severe shaking, and was able to continue his journey on a fresh horse shortly afterwards." There is also a newspaper report of him performing a Herculean leap from the dock, onto the deck of a departing vessel In 1915 his Army Record records his being 51 years old, 6 foot, 1" tall (although the family believe he was 6'2"; the Baxters' were tall). It also records that he'd never taken a day off work for illness! Granddaughter (Shirley) recalls he always wore boots. Always, and they were handmade from kid leather. He passed away in 1942 at his home in 17 Wilding Avenue, Epsom.

Sources

• Shirley Edwards : James Nimmo Baxter was a founding member of the West End Rowing Club, and introduced his brother John Watson Baxter to the sport. Years later, when the Club put up a Board & photos of the Founding Members, they took J. Baxter to be one person, and posted a photo of John Watson Baxter. James Nimmo got in a big huff, and resigned – if they don’t know the difference, and who introduced the other to the sport, he wasn’t going to tell them. End of story! Not happy!!

Birth Certificate New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13022, 13 November 1905, page 5 Obituary, Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 110, 12 May 1942, Page 6