Nixon in Gonzales County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The John T. Nixon Ranch
Photographed by Mansfieldphoto.com, November 15, 2025
1. The John T. Nixon Ranch Marker
When the War Between the States erupted in 1861, John enlisted in Terry's Texas Rangers. This unit saw action on many battlefields from Kentucky to North Carolina.
He returned home after the war and settled in the community of Rancho. He married Lucinda Askey and had four children, with three dying early. His daughter Zela (Zettie), would later join her cousin Robert F. Nixon in the development of the town of Nixon.
John T. Nixon began to put his ranch together in 1890 and by 1895 his ranch had grown to over 2,700 acres. The cattle pens of the ranch were located near where the Nixon water tower now stands beside Rancho Road.
John T. died on October 23, 1904, only two months before survey crews for the railroad arrived. He is buried in the Rancho Cemetery. He had not lived to see the railroad cut across his ranch or the little town that would spring up and bear his name.
Captions
(Photo #1) Survey Crew
(Photo #2) Laying Track
(Photo #3) Nixon Ranch
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is July 12, 1836.
Location. 29° 16.095′ N, 97° 45.886′ W. Marker is in Nixon, Texas, in Gonzales County. It is at the intersection of North Nixon Avenue and E 2nd Street, on the right when traveling north on North Nixon Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 N Nixon Ave, Nixon TX 78140, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Nixon Depot and Cattle Pens (here, next to this marker); Southern Pacific Railroad Promotes Nixon Townsite (here, next to this marker); Nixon (here, next to this marker); The First Cotton Gins in Nixon (a few steps from this marker); Nixon Ice and Water Company and Poultry Processing Plants (a few steps from this marker); First Baptist Church of Nixon (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rancho (approx. 1.9 miles away); Site of Old Town of Union Valley (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nixon.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 54 times since then and 23 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on November 24, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker and the surrounding area together in context. • Can you help?
