commercial enterprises engineered by his brother Seymour or himself. He made his first trip across the plains in 1861–a trip involving much hardship for that day. He was absent for about a year and then returned by way of the isthmus of Panama and by steamer to New York.
Major Hix was married at Sycamore, Illinois, December 7, 1864, to Miss Susan Ancelia Ring, who for more than forty years was a faithful and helpful companion to him, sharing with him in all of the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity which came to him.
In 1869, influenced largely by health considerations, he disposed of his De Kalb county interests and came to Iowa, settling on a farm in Richland township, Story county. That place remained the family home until 1883, when it became evident that Mr. Hix could no longer endure the hardship and exposure of farm life and he took up his abode in Nevada. Here he became a partner of M. C. Allen in the real-estate and abstract business. This relation was in force without intermission or disagreements to the time of his death, or for a period of nearly twenty-two years. He enjoyed to the fullest extent the high regard and confidence of his fellow townsmen, who recognized his worth and frequently honored him with local offices. He was a member of the city council in 1895 and 1896, and in 1897 and 1898 filled the office of mayor, giving to the city the benefit of his broad business experience and public spirit. In both positions he discharged his duties to the satisfaction of the public.
As previously stated, Major Hix was married in 1864 to Miss Susan Ancelia Ring. She was born in Huntington, Chittenden county, Vermont, June 30, 1840, and was but seven years of age when she accompanied her parents to Wheaton, Illinois, where she resided up to the time of her marriage. She pursued a course in the Wheaton College and afterward engaged in teaching school for nine years. Her people were among the pioneer settlers of Wheaton but her parents, Greenleaf and Betsey (Bunker) Ring, where natives of New Hampshire. Their last days were spent in California, to which state they removed in 1869. Their family numbered six children, three sons and three daughters. Her brother, Professor Orvis Ring, graduated in the first class from Wheaton College fifty years ago and his whole life has been devoted to teaching, while his means have largely been given to the education of poor boys. He was superintendent of the public schools of Reno, Nevada, for seventeen years, was county superintendent of schools for a number of years and state superintendent for twelve years, filling the last named position at the time of his death, which occurred September 19, 1910. Mrs. Hix has long lived in this part of the state. She was residing at Wheaton when the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was completed and she saw the first train which passed through that place. As the years have come and gone she has witnessed many changes in Illinois and Iowa as these comparatively unimproved and undeveloped states have been transformed into extremely productive regions, taking leadership among the agricultural states of the Union.