Clara E. Nix (1898 - 1981)

Born 11 Dec 1898 in Lyndon, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 23 Jun 1981 at age 82 in Olean, New York

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

Biography

Clara E. Nix is born on December 11, 1898, in Lyndon Township, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA [1]. Lyndon is about 96 kilometres by road south of Buffalo. Clara is the daughter of George H. Nix (1868-1953) and Frances (or Frankie) Allen (1870-1939). She can be found in the 1900 census as a one-year-old living with her family on the farm in Lyndon [2]. She is also in the 1905 and 1910 census records living with her family on this farm [3][4].

On October 31, 1916, Clara marries Harold T. Chesbro in Hinsdale [5]. Clara went to high school for three years and she is 18-years old when she marries so it appears that the wedding was within a year of finishing school. Hinsdale is about 16 kilometres south of Lyndon. Harold is 20-years old and he works in a creamery in Ischua, New York. Ischua is between Lyndon and Hinsdale and that is where Harold was born.

Clara and Harold have three children: • Hal Nix Chesbro 1917-1962

• Frances Arvilla Chesbro 1918-2005 + (1939) Franklyn William Riggs c1914-2001

• Gweldolyn E. Chesbro 1920-2010 + Dick M. Sain 1914-2010

Clara and Harold can be found in the 1920 census records living in Ischua, just down the street from Harold’s parents [6]. Clara also has cousins living in the town. They now have two small children in their family and Harold is working for a milk plant -- presumably the same creamery noted on the marriage record – and it is thought that the name of this company is Sheffield Farms S. D.

In the 1930 census records the family is still in Ischua, now with three children, and Harold is working as a tax collector for “Internal Revenue” [7]. This is likely the Internal Revenue department of the New York state government.

In the 1940 census records they are still living in Ischua [8]. Harold is working as a tax consultant in Olean which is about 20 kilometres south of Ischau. There are only two children left living at home both of whom have jobs in Olean. By the time of the 1950 census, the family has moved to Olean [9]. Harold is still working for the “tax bureau” and his job is now a “tax consultant.” Their son, Hal, is still living at home at the age of 33 and he, too, is working for the tax bureau.

In 1953, Clara and Harold attended a Nix family reunion at a cottage on Cuba Lake and Harold took some of the attnedees for a ride in his motorboat [10].

Clara dies on June 23, 1981, in Olean and she is buried in the Hinsdale Cemetery in Maplehurst[11]. Maplehurst is about halfway between Olean and Ischua. Harold lives on until 1992 and is buried with her.

Sources

[1] "New York, Birth Indexes outside of New York City, 1881-1942", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FB2-759L : Wed Nov 15 06:47:16 UTC 2023), Entry for Clara E Nix, 11 Dec 1898. Clara E. Nix was born on 11 Dec 1898 in Lyndon, New York.

[2] "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS6Z-3LS : accessed 5 February 2016), Leslie G Nix in household of George H Nix, Lyndon Township, Cattaraugus, New York, United States; citing sheet 2A, family 17, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,011. The 1900 census record shows George H. Nix (30) living in Lyndon Township, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. He is a farmer. He was born in New York States in [?Aug 18??]; his father was born in England and his mother was born in New York State. His wife is Frankie E. (31). She was born in New York State in May 1869. Both her parents were born in New York State. She has had 5 children and all 5 are living. George & Frankie have 5 children living with them: [?Lew or Leon S.] (11) born May 1889; Leslie G. (9) born Dec 1890; Mildred (7) born Oct 1892; Ella (5) born Aug 1894; and Clara (1) born Dec 1898.

[3] New York State Census, 1905, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVBR-17C : accessed 5 February 2016), Leslie G Nix, Lyndon, A.D. 01, E.D. 01, Cattaraugus, New York; citing p. 10, line 36, county offices, New York.; FHL microfilm 584,496. The 1905 state census record shows Geroge H. Nix (36) living in Lyndon, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. George is a farmer. His wife is Frankie E. (36) and the couple has 5 children: Leon A. (16), Leslie G. (14), Mildred M. (12), Ella B. (10) & Clara E. (6).

[4] "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5CZ-6RC : accessed 4 December 2015), George H Nix, Lyndon, Cattaraugus, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 69, sheet 3B, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,939. The record shows George H. Nix (40) and his wife Frankie E. (40) living in Lyndon, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. George is a farmer. They have 5 children: Leon A. (20), Leslie G (19), Mildred M. (17), Ella B (15) & Clara E (10). The record shows that the father of George was born in England and that his mother was born in New York.

[5] "New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVGK-P9J : accessed 20 February 2016), Geo. Nix in entry for Harold T. Chesbro and Clara E. Nix, 31 Oct 1916; citing county clerk’s office, , New York, United States; FHL microfilm 583,818. The record shows that Harold T. Chesbro (20) married Clara E. Nix (18) on Oct 31, 1916, in Hinsdale, New York. Harold lives in Ischua, New York and his occupation is a “creamery man.” His parents are Chas. B. Chesbro & Minnie E. Moore, both of whom were born in the USA. Clara lives in Lyndon, New York and her parents are Geo. Nix & Frances Allen and they both were born in the USA.

[6] "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJK2-9MT : accessed 22 February 2016), Harold G Chesbro, Ischua, Cattaraugus, New York, United States; citing sheet 4A, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,087. The 1920 census record shows Harold T.. Chesbro (24) living in Ischua, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. He was born in New York State; his father was born in Connecticut; his mother in New York State. His occupation is a “Supt” at a milk plant. His wife is Clara E. (21) who was born in New York State as were both of her parents. They have 2 children: Hal N. (3) & Frances A. (1yr, 10m). Harold Chesbro is family #96 on the census record; his parents are family #89.

[7] "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7HD-KWC : accessed 22 February 2016), Herald T Chesbro, 1930. The 1930 census record shows Harold T. Chesbro (33) living in Ischua Township, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. He was born in New York State; his father was born in Connecticut and his mother was born in New York State. He owns his own house which is valued at $3,500. His occupation is a “collector” for Internal Revenue. His wife is Clara E. (31). She was born in New York State as were both of her parents. They have 3 children: Hal N. (13), Francis A. (12) & Gwendolyn E. (9). Several houses away is the family of Frank B. Nix, a cousin of Clara’s.

[8] "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQ19-CJT : accessed 22 February 2016), Harold I Chesbro, Ischua, Ischua Town, Cattaraugus, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 5-29, sheet 3A, family 8, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 2505. The 1940 census record shows Harold T. Chesbro (43) living in Ischua, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. The column showing level of education is difficult to read but it does not appear that Harold went to high school. His occupation is a tax consultant in Olean. The column showing income is blank. His wife is Clara (41). She had 3 yrs of high school education. They have 2 children living with them. Hal Chesbro (23) has 4 years of high school and has a clerical job in Olean. He made $1,500 in 1939. Gwendolyn Chesbro (19) also has 4 years of high school, and she works as a beautitician in Olean. Her income in 1939 appears to be $800 although this number looks as if it is crossed out. All residents of the household were born in New York State.

[9] United States Census, 1950, New York, Cattaraugus County, Olean, sheet #8: Harold T. Chesbro (53), occupation is a tax consultant for the tax bureau; Clara E. Chesbro (51), wife; Hal N. Chesbro (33), son, occupation is accounting in the tax bureau. All residents were born in New York. The address is difficult to read but might be 910 West Henley.

[10] The Cuba Patriot and Free Press, 16 July 1953, pg ? “Nix Family Reunion // A tureen dinner was served to 41 guests when the Nix family met in reunion at the Cuba Lake cottage of Gerald N. Mabey Sunday, July 11. The guest coming from the most distant point was Leon Nix from Ontario, Canada. During the afternoon Harold Chesbro took several guests for a speedboat ride on the lake. Plans for next summer’s meeting were to hold the gathering at the at the Chesbro cottage. // Guests included Mrs. and Mrs. Erve Osborne and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Chesbro of Olean; Mrs. Elvira Nix of Ischua; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Mabey of Franklinville, with their children and grandchildren.”

[11] www.findagrave.com Memorial #80121094 [thanks to RobMinteer57] Mrs Herald [Harold] Chesbro died June 23, 1981. She was born in 1899. She is buried in the Hinsdale Cemetery, Maplehurst, Cattaraugus County, New York, USA, Plot: Section 2 Lot 239 Grave 4.

Acknowledgements

This biography was written by Fred Nix, originally in 2016, with some revisions in February 2024. Fred and Clara are second cousins, twice removed.