US Marshal. The son of a Confederate army officer, he moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1889. He ran a grocery store before he was appointed the first United States marshal over the lawless Oklahoma Territory by President Grover Cleveland. Nix hired the famous Three Guardsmen (Bill Tilghman, Heck Thomas, and Chris Madsen) and supervised over 150 lawmen. During his 3 years as marshal, he and his deputies recorded over 50,000 arrests and the killing of some 47 criminals, including Red Buck Waightman, "Little" Dick West and Bill Doolin. He was also the man who fired the shot that opened the Cherokee Strip on September 16, 1893. In 1896 he returned to civilian life, managing the Nix-Halsell Wholesale Grocery Company and also organizing and operating the first electric franchise in the area. Five years later he sold all his Oklahoma interests and moved his family to Joplin, Missouri, then later to St Louis where he became a partner in the H.J. Kattleman & Company brokerage firm. In 1914, the Eagle Film Company was organized by Bill Tilghman and Mr. Nix and the documentary "The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws" was made, which starred him and many of his old deputies. In later life he tried his hand at writing ("Oklahombres") and played roles in a few movies, one being "Get Along Li'l Doggies" with Gene Autry in 1939. He also appeared on an international radio program (Don Lee Broadcasting with Dixie Lee, wife of Bing Crosby). He died at the age of 84 in Riverside California.
US Marshal. The son of a Confederate army officer, he moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1889. He ran a grocery store before he was appointed the first United States marshal over the lawless Oklahoma Territory by President Grover Cleveland. Nix hired the famous Three Guardsmen (Bill Tilghman, Heck Thomas, and Chris Madsen) and supervised over 150 lawmen. During his 3 years as marshal, he and his deputies recorded over 50,000 arrests and the killing of some 47 criminals, including Red Buck Waightman, "Little" Dick West and Bill Doolin. He was also the man who fired the shot that opened the Cherokee Strip on September 16, 1893. In 1896 he returned to civilian life, managing the Nix-Halsell Wholesale Grocery Company and also organizing and operating the first electric franchise in the area. Five years later he sold all his Oklahoma interests and moved his family to Joplin, Missouri, then later to St Louis where he became a partner in the H.J. Kattleman & Company brokerage firm. In 1914, the Eagle Film Company was organized by Bill Tilghman and Mr. Nix and the documentary "The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws" was made, which starred him and many of his old deputies. In later life he tried his hand at writing ("Oklahombres") and played roles in a few movies, one being "Get Along Li'l Doggies" with Gene Autry in 1939. He also appeared on an international radio program (Don Lee Broadcasting with Dixie Lee, wife of Bing Crosby). He died at the age of 84 in Riverside California.
Bio by: Ron Mac
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