JOHN ALBERT NICHOL / NICHOLS

Greenwood, Eaton, Clark Co., Wisconsin

 

 

John was born 6 May 1842, London Township, Ontario, Canada, and died Christmas Day 1914 in the town of Eaton, Clark Co., WI.  He married, 2 Oct 1861, to Miss Anna Shouldice.

 

He journeyed to Wisconsin in 1871 to purchase land in Eaton Twp., 5 mi. S. of Greenwood.  In 1872 he brought his family to this new home in the wilderness near a little log school house, just a few rods east of the McMahon’s corners.

 

His children were known as the boys and girls in the little "shanty" down by the creek, as active as the squirrels of the forest, and as joyful as the birds that sang in the tree tops.

 

During those long years of toil and sacrifice, it became almost a "proverb," that there was one man in the lumber camp that could drive a team of oxen while skidding logs, all winter without swearing even once, and it might also have been said that he came home every spring without having spent one cent of his wages in "drinking or smoking."  He lived and died a Presbyterian.  At the organization of the Presbyterian Church, of Greenwood, he was transferred from the Neillsville Church, and along with Robert McCalvy, Henry Huntzicker and A.F. Waterbury was elected a Ruling Elder of this church, worshipping most of the time at Rutger Chapel, on the Twenty-Six Road.

 

Ann Nichol died 20 Apr 1894, having been the mother of these: Isabelle (m. A.F. Waterbury, d. 20 Dec 1890), George B. Nichol, Maria (m. John Huntzicker), John E. Nichol, and "Dony"  (m. E.B. Carpenter).

 

Mr. Nichol married Helen Luchterhand, 8 Dec 1899.  She was the mother of Paul Alexander and Harry A.

 

John was neither emotional nor sentimental. He was conservative as well as firm. He mingled little in politics, but was often called upon to serve on the School Board, as well as on the County Board.  Burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery.

 

Historical Publications

 

The Hub of Clark County (1853 - 1934); V. Road-Bridges-Mail by Coach-Railroads-Electricity

 

In 1890 the town of Eaton graded and prepared the road beginning at the city limits and graveled south, John Nichol was town chairman and supervised the work. This stretch of graveled or surface road held up for many years, and proved Mr. Nichol's keen judgment and knowledge of road building.

 

 

News Clips

 

A dispatch from Greenwood dated June 28th says:  About 10:30 p. m. Saturday, Thomas Fahey was shot by John Nichols, Jr., as the outgrowth of an old grudge.  Both are young farmers living south of Greenwood, and had been attending an exhibition there in the evening.  After the show Fahey called Nichols out and asked him if he would retract a certain remark he had made.  Nichols replied that he would not, as it was true, whereupon Fahey, who is much the larger and stronger man, knocked Nichols down.  Nichols sprang to his feet, drew a revolver and shot Fahey through the neck, making a flesh wound, barely missing the jugular vein.  Nicholas immediately fled, and has not been seen since.  Source: Marshfield News July 7, 1892 p.4

 

Census

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Notes

 

 

 

(1) John Albert Nichol

Born: 1842 MAY 6, London Township, Ontario, Canada

Died: 1914 DEC 25, Eaton, Clark County, WI

            aged 72 years, 7 months and 19 days.

Married: 1861 OCT 2, to Miss Anna Shouldice.

1871 - moved to Wisconsin

1872 - Eaton

1897 APR 20 - Ann Shouldice Nichol died.  mother of 2 sons and 3 daughters

            b. 1863 - Isabelle (Mrs. A. F. Waterbury, m. 1886) died Dec. 20th, 1890,

            b. 1865 - George B. Nichol, Minocqua, Wis.,

            b. 1868 - Maria (Mrs. John Huntzicker, m. 1890), Greenwood, Wis.,

            b. 1874 - John E. Nichol, Duluth, Minn., and

                          - "Dolly" (Mrs. Edward B. Carpenter, m. 1907), Seattle, Wash

1899 DEC 8 - married Helen Luchterhand (b. DEC 1878), mother of 2 sons

            b. 1905 - Paul Alexander, aged 9 (b. FEB 1905)

            b. 1909 - Harry A., aged 5 (b. 1909)

Residence:

   1880 Census - as of June 1 - Eaton, Clark, WI

   1900 Census - as of June 1 - Eaton, Clark, WI

   1910 Census - as of April 15 - Eaton, Clark, WI

   1920 Census - as of January 1 - Greenwood, Clark, WI - Helen, Paul & Harry

 

Wisconsin Genealogy Index

 

John A., b. Canada

Death Record Details

Last Name: Nichols  First Name: Ann      Day: 20  Month: April  Year: 1897  County: Clark

Reel: 010   Volume: 01   Page: 0101   Image: 2171   Index Vol:           Sequence #: 277600

 

Marriage Record Details

Last Name: Waterbury  First Name: A F               Day: 19  Month: May  Year: 1886

--no match--  (Isabelle Nichol)                               County: Clark   Volume: 01  Page: 0265

Last Name:  Nichol  First Name: Isabelle L         Day: 14  Month: May  Year: 1856

--no match--  (A F Waterbury)                                County: Clark   Volume: 01  Page: 0265

 

Marriage Record Details

Last Name: Nichol   First Name: Marie Jane       Day: 28  Month: May  Year: 1890

Last Name: Huntzicker   First Name: John H      County: Clark  Volume: 02  Page: 0010

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