Mary Nixon Keck 1830-1899

NIXON, KECK, CAMPBELL, JACOBS, SPAW, STEVENS, ELLERTON, EASTER, TODD

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 10/1/2001 at 17:58:16

Mary Nixon, daughter of Isaac Nixon and Sarah Bryan, his wife, was born in Fayette Co. Pennsylvania, May 23, 1830. She with her father’s family, came to Iowa in 1846 and settled in Harrisburg township near the old homestead. She was one of a remarkable family of 15 children. An only brother-Joseph-laid down his young life for his country at the fiercely contested battle of Franklin, Tennesee.

Along back in the 50’s the “Nixon girls” were known far and wide for their unusual capabilities as good housekeepers. They were all deft with the needle and expert cooks. Year after year, at the county fair, some of them would carry off the premium for the finest quilt, or the most beautiful specimen of needle work.

There are but five sisters yet living. They are: Mrs. Sarah Campbell and Mrs. Clarinda Jacobs, of Van Buren Co., Mrs. Louisa Spaw, of Corydon, Wayne Co., Mrs. Eliza Stevens, of Quincy, Adams Co., Iowa, and Mrs. Ella F. Ellerton, of Aurora, Neb.

Henry Keck and Mary Nixon were married Dec. 13, 1855, by the Rev. I. P. Teter, a noted Methodist minister of that day. To them were born five children, four of whom survive. The oldest daughter, Ella Jane, died when 8 years old. Anna Belle Easter, Elmer Ellsworth Keck, Sarah Catherine Todd; and Henry Judson Keck, all live in Harrisburg township, and all are married and are members of some church.

After marriage they went to housekeeping at the present homestead, where they have always lived.

Mrs. Keck was converted at a meeting held at Utica in the fall of 1853, under the labors of Rev. Towne, of the Baptist denomination, and she has been a member of the Harrisburg Missionary Baptist church since that date. Her husband has been a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church and they sustained those relationships throughout their married life. Some of the children joined with the father, in religion, but there were all one family in Christ.

She led an exemplary christian life, always relying upon her walk and conversation to reveal to her associates, that she was an humble follower of the meek and lowly Nazarene. She never seemed to care to mingle in fashionable society, or to strive for literary honors. He tastes were largely domestic, and the love and affection of her husband and children, were appreciated by her, above all honors that fame could bestow. Solomon in the last Chapter of Proverbs, in describing the good wife, uses these words which are applicable here. “Her price is far above rubies, and the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also, and he praiseth her. Let her own works praise her in the gates.”

Mrs. Keck’s last illness was of short duration. She was first attacked with La Grippe, then Pneumonia set in and she ended her life in great suffering near midnight Feb. 6th. 1899. The funeral services were held at the old home Thursday at 10:30 A. M. Feb. 9, 1899. Rev. E. J. Smith of the M. E. church, read the latter part of the 15th Chapter of 1st Corinthians, pertaining to the resurrection of the body, and made the opening prayer. Rev. W. J. McCollom of the Baptist church reached the discourse for the text The choir was composed of Misses Lily and Loa Tade, Charles Dodds and S. W. McCullough; Mrs. Chas. Dodds presided at the organ. The pall-bearers were John Israel, Leroy Junk, John Frye, George Israel, Hugh Campbell and Milton Stillwell. The interment was at the Dibble cemetery, where lie buried, father, mother and four sisters. With her kindred dead, she was taken up her adode [sic] in that windowless place of rest.

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Source: Entler Scrapbook Collection, vol 4, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA