History: Mayor Robert G Thixton, Matawan (1895-1964)

The 24 Jun 1948 edition of The Matawan Journal contained this Oldsmobile advertisement sponsored by the Robert G Thixton dealership on Main Street in Matawan. The ad was promoting tune ups: Keep Your "Merry Oldsmobile" In Tune.

Below is a timeline of information available about Robert G Thixton, born Robert Gerard Thickstun, who served Matawan Borough as Mayor for one term (1945-1947) and Councilman for two consecutive terms (1936-1942). He was born in Plainfield, NJ on 5 Jan 1895 and died at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch on 11 Oct 1964.

As you can see above, he sold automobiles from a dealership on Main Street in Matawan for many years. He served in the military in World War I and worked for the War Department at Camp Kilmer early in World War II. He also clerked at a New York City brokerage.

His future wife, Theresa, was born 21 May 1898.

The 1900 Federal Census for New Jersey showed Robert G Thickstun living with his parents and siblings in the household of his great aunt Mary J Thickstun. The address was 407 Central Avenue, Plainfield, NJ. His father, William D Thickstun was a real estate agent. (The record has a number of errors. Perhaps the enumerator interviewed the aunt?)

The 1910 Federal Census for New Jersey showed Robert G Thickstun, 15 years old, living at 403 Central Avenue in the Plainfield household of William (43) and Elizabeth V Thickstun (38). William worked in real estate. His siblings were David B (20), William D (17), and Gerald Thickstun (13).

Robert Gerard Thickstun registered for the WWI draft on 5 Jun 1917. The form said he was born 5 Jan 1895 in Plainfield, NJ. He was living at 403 Central Avenue in Plainfield. He was working as a clerk at F S Moseley & Co, 26 Exchange Place, New York, NY. He had blue eyes and brown hair.

The 1920 Federal Census for New Jersey showed Robert G Thickstun, 24 years old, living at 403 Central Avenue in the Plainfield household of William D (53 yrs old) and Elizabeth V Thickstun (48). Robert's brother Gerald (23) and their grandmother Elizabeth Thickstun (84) lived in the household.

He lived at 403 Central Avenue in Plainfield, NJ in 1922, according to a local city directory. He was in the household of Elizabeth Thixton, widow of Daniel H Thixton. Others in the household were Gerald Thixton and William D Thixton, the latter in real estate. 

He bought the Main Street property of J August Sochl to be used for a "Chevrolet sales room," according to the 17 Feb 1928 edition of The Matawan Journal. He was due to take possession of the property on 1 Apr 1928.

He bagged a pheasant in Matawan, according to the 16 Nov 1928 edition of The Matawan Journal. The game warden had released 100 rabbits and a couple dozen pheasants in the Matawan area the previous summer. The hunting exploits of numerous members of the community are mentioned.

The 1930 Federal Census for New Jersey showed Robert Thixton, age 35, auto dealer, as head of household at 108 Main Street in downtown Matawan. His wife, Theresa, was 32 years old. They had $25,000 in property.

He and Samuel Bell, of Bell Beef Company, were involved in organizing two of Matawan's twilight league baseball teams, according to a rather amusing investigative article in the 23 Feb 1934 edition of The Matawan Journal.

At the same time Mayor Edward W Currie won his third term in Matawan Borough, Thixton won as Democratic councilman, according to the 8 Nov 1935 edition of The Matawan Journal. In a separate article, Thixton reported weekly sales at Thixton Chevrolet-Oldsmobile Sales and Service in Matawan reached the impressive level of 7 new automobiles. The front page article actually listed the names of those who purchased the cars. See also the 18 Nov 1935 edition of The Matawan Journal.

The Mayor named him to the Finances Committee for Matawan's 250th anniversary celebration, according to the 15 May 1936 edition of The Matawan Journal.

The 12 Jun 1936 edition of The Matawan Journal contained several Thixton ads, including one for used cars and another for Chevrolet trucks. An article towards the back of the paper said Thixton had sold 24 new cars in May 1936, listing a number of the customers and the cars they bought.

The 16 Jul 1936 edition of The Matawan Journal announced his sale of 110 Main Street for $30,000. The property included a dwelling, store, repair shop, and bungalow. Frontage on Main Street was 122.5 feet. The property was 316 feet deep and 63.5 feet across at the back of the lot. The same paper announced that the annual picnic of the Ladies Auxiliary of Matawan's American Legion post would be held at Mrs Thixton's summer home at Metedeconk, described by New Jersey History's Mysteries as "a fishing and shipping village located at the mouth of the Metedeconk River" in present day Brick Township.

He threw a 50th anniversary party for his parents at his home in Matawan, according to the 11 May 1939 edition of The Red Bank Register. His parents lived in Matawan. He was a councilman at the time.

Robert Girard Thixton registered for the World War II draft in 1942. The draft form said he was born 5 Jan 1895 in Plainfield, NJ. He lived on Edgemere Drive in Matawan. He listed two phone numbers: Matawan 1970 and Matawan 2049. He worked for the War Department, US Engineers, NYDE, at Camp Joyce Kilmer, Stelton, NJ. (I had no luck with the NYDE acronym.)

He was to serve as a delegate to the state convention of the American Legion, representing the Matawan Post, according to the 30 Aug 1945 edition of The Matawan Journal.

As a local businessman and member of American Legion Post 176, he worked on Legionnaires Week, which included a fair at the high school on 30 Jun 1947 and 4th of July festivities, according to the 26 Jun 1947 edition of The Matawan Journal.

The 30 Oct 1947 edition of The Matawan Journal covered Mayor Thixton's third campaign appearance, the last one before the upcoming election. He was a Republican and was running against Democratic candidate John W Applegate.

The Thixton's daughter Jean Thixton attended Centenary Junior College, according to the 17 Mar 1949 edition and several other issues of The Matawan Journal. Centenary, located in Hackettstown, NJ, was founded by the Methodist church in 1867 as a co-educational preparatory school. It became a girls preparatory school in 1910 and then a women's junior college in 1940. Currently co-educational again, the school is now called Centenary College of New Jersey.

Robert G Thixton Olds ad appeared in the 5 Jan 1950 edition of The Matawan Journal. 

The 24 Sep 1953 edition of The Matawan Journal featured the dedication of the First Baptist Church of Matawan's new Sunday School building earlier that week. Mr. Thixton worked on the building committee, as reported on pg 4.

He served on the Board of Trustees of the Matawan Business Association, according to the 26 Jun 1952 edition of The Matawan Journal. His term was set to expire in 1955.

This Thixton Chevrolet ad appeared in the 3 Nov 1955 edition of The Matawan Journal.

 He and Theresa maintained a second residence at 231 NE 8th Boulevard in Boca Raton, Florida in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

He died 11 Oct 1964 and is buried in the Oak Hill section of Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent, NJ.

The 12 Oct 1964 edition of The Red Bank Register included this obituary for R G Thixton:

R. C. Thixton, Matawan, Dies
 

MATAWAN — Robert G. Thixton, 69, of 5 Edgemere Dr., died yesterday in Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch.

Mr. Thixton was a former mayor and a councilman here.
 

He was born in Plainfield, son of the late William D. and Elizabeth Taylor Thixton. He had lived here for 40 years.

Mr. Thixton was a retired automobile dealer. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Masons and American Legion of this place, Crescent Temple, Trenton, and was a past commander of the Monmouth County American Legion. He also was a veteran of World War I.
 

Surviving are his wife, Mrs Theresa Jocham; a daughter, Mrs. Jean May of this place; three brothers, Dr. David Thickstun of Plainfield, and William D. and Gerald Thixton, both of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Bedle Funeral Home, here, with Rev. Robert Addie, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Old Tennent, Cemetery, Tennent.

The 15 Oct 1964 edition of The Matawan Journal contained the following obituary:

Robert G. Thixton

Robert G. Thixton, 69, of 5 Edgemere Dr., Matawan, who formerly served as mayor of Matawan for two years and who was a member of the Borough Council for six years, died Sunday, Oct. 11, 1964, at Monmouth Medical Center.
 

Mr. Thixton was elected mayor of Matawan in 1945 and served from January 1945, for a two-year term. He served on the borough council for two three-year terms from 1936 through 1942.
 

Mr. Thixton was retired. He had been an automobile dealer of Chevrolet and Oldsmobile cars in Matawan for many years. He was a member of Matawan Masonic Lodge 192 of which he was a past worshipful master, and was affiliated with Crescent Temple, Trenton, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Matawan.

A veteran of World War I, Mr. Thixton was a past commander of Monmouth County Post American Legion and of Matawan Post 176 American Legion.
 

Son of the late William D. Thixton and Mrs. Elizabeth (Taylor) Thixton, he had resided in Matawan 40 years. He was born in Plainfield.
 

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Theresa (Jocham) Thixton, Matawan; a daughter, Mrs Jean May, Matawan; three grandchildren; three brothers, Dr. David Thickstun, Plainfield; William Thixton and Gerald Thixton, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
 

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Bedle Funeral Home, Matawan, with the Rev. Robert Addiss, pastor of the Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was in Old Tennent Cemetery.
 

Masonic funeral services were conducted by Matawan Lodge at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

The 26 Nov 1964 edition of The Matawan Journal listed those who received lowered property tax assessments from the Monmouth County Board of Taxation. Robert received adjustments on the following properties:

• 110 Main Street (building), Matawan - reduced from $29,200 to $28,000
• Rear of 5 Edgemere Drive (land), Matawan - reduced from $2,200 to $1,700
• 5 Edgemere Drive (building), Matawan - reduced from $31,900 to $30,200.

Theresa died 27 Aug 1985 in Tobyhanna, Monroe County, Pennsylvania and is buried in the Oak Hill section of Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent, NJ.