Born in Germany in 1859, Charles Henry Nix immigrated to America as a young man in search of opportunity. He learned English, built a life, learned a trade, and eventually made his way to Poseyville, Indiana.
In 1902, Charles purchased one of the town’s four existing blacksmith shops.
The NIX® story had begun.
Charles Henry Nix is born in Romsthal, Germany. He is the 12th of 14 children to parents, Christian and Magdalena.
Charles immigrates with two of his sisters, Juliann and Susan, and brother, Colestine. It is said they immigrated to escape the control of Kaiser's Army.
During this time, Charles learns to read and speak English by studying the signboards as he rides on horse carts to and from work.
At the age of 19, Charles moves to Ingraham, IL to work for his older brother, Colestein, on his farm. Most of his brothers and sisters, as well as his parents, are living in Ingraham.
During this time, Charles learns to read and speak English by studying the signboards as he rides on horse carts to and from work.
Charles marries Mary Barbara Weber at Holy Cross Church in Wendelin, IL.
During this time, Charles learns to read and speak English by studying the signboards as he rides on horse carts to and from work.
"The wagon making, repair and general blacksmith occupied by Mr. Nix is one of the best equipped of its kind in the county."
Charles and Babara move from Ingraham, IL to Poseyville, IN. This was a 70-mile journey by horse-drawn wagon.
Charles purchased a small, one-story blacksmith shop in Poseyville, Indiana.
At the time, there was no NIX® Industrial. No holding company. No portfolio of businesses.
Just a family, a trade, and a commitment to doing good work.
At the conclusion of Charles's career, his two eldest sons, Joe & George, took over and ran the business for several years.
Charles was elected to the Indiana General Assembly. Read the full news article here: 1913 Evansville Courier Article
Carl A. Nix takes over the shop as two older brothers step down.
Carl purchased the company’s first welding machine—an early example of something that would continue throughout NIX® history:
Respect where you came from. Be willing to evolve.
Carl A. Nix Welding Service, Inc. moves from the lost art of blacksmithing to working primarily with acetylene and arc welding.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE
In 1994, Bill Nix takes over the business.
Carl Jr., “Sonny”, joins his father and together build the shop on Endicott Street in Poseyville, IN. Carl A. Nix Welding Service, Inc. was formed.
Carl Sr. turns the shop over to Sonny due to illness.
Bill joined the family business after studying Machine Technology at Vincennes University and working at the Babcock & Wilcox plant in
Mount Vernon, Indiana.
2004
Matthew Nix joins the family business after graduating from Vincennes University.
2006
Matthew joins Bill in ownership.
2011
Adam Nix joins the business.
2013
Adam joins Bill and Matthew in ownership
The fifth generation didn’t set out to leave the past behind.
They set out to build on it.
Matthew purchases building on Fletchall Street in Poseyville to expand shop.
Nix Powder Coating and Painting, LLC. is formed.
Tri-County Equipment was acquired and Nix Equipment was formed.
What began as one family business was becoming something larger.
NIX® Companies, Inc. was established as the parent organization for a growing family of businesses—creating the structure for what would come next.
Joins as Structural Fabrication shop in Rockport, IN
Joins as machine shop in Princeton, IN. (Later consolidated machining to Poseyville, Frontage Road in 2023).
NIX® Companies and Casey Voelker form partnership to launch Captivated Content, a holding company.
NIX® Metals, NIX® Coatings, and subsidiary brands unite under a single name: NIX® Industrial.
The rebrand reflects how the legacy business had grown beyond its individual capabilities into a comprehensive industrial partner
Indiana Body Works, Elper’s Truck Equipment, and Midwest Trailer Sales unite under a single name: Fleet Service Partners (FSP).
A new platform business that brings together all of its truck, trailer, and fleet service operations under one cohesive brand.
More than a century after Charles Nix opened his blacksmith shop, the company is still investing, adapting, and building for what’s next.
The scale is different. The mindset isn’t.
More than a century of hard work, perseverance, family, and lessons learned along the way have shaped the NIX® story.
Discover the people, challenges, decisions, and defining moments behind a fifth-generation family business — and the values that continue to guide where we’re headed next.
Five generations got us here.
We’re building what comes next.
NIX® Companies Inc.
6751 Frontage Road
Poseyville, IN 47633
Phone: (812) 874-2422
