At the Cemetery

This is my first post for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks  and it has taken me a bit to collect my thoughts to write on this topic because it is so near and dear to my heart.

My maternal grandfather, who we called Pa, was a farmer who would take my oldest sister on "farm walks".  They would go all over the farm while he pointed out different things to her and talked about them. By the time I came along he and my Grandmother (Mom) had left the farm and moved to town. They had a beautiful garden in their backyard with lots of  flowers. Behind the garden was an old shed with a fence and lots of bushes growing and behind that was one of the town cemeteries.  This cemetery was where many from my father's paternal side were buried. So, we pick bunches of flowers and since the days of farm walks were over he took my 3 sisters and I on a cemetery walk. There was no way to get through the bushes behind the garden so we would walk down the road past the neighbor Grace's house to the back drive into the cemetery.  The gate was always locked so we would go through bushes and trees. One was a paw paw tree which was not familiar to these northern Indiana girls.  Past the Paw Paw tree was the opening into the cemetery.

As we walked past the old tombstones I began a lifetime love of cemeteries.  We placed flowers on our paternal grandfather's grave with Pa explaining that some day our Grandma would be buried beside him.  Near them was great great grandfather Colonel Tom, who was in the Indiana Militia, and great great grandmother Martha's grave, with great grandfather Oliver and Great Grandmother Moretta close by.  In another row great great great grandparents the Hadleys rested.  Sprinkled about
in this section of the cemetery were so many of my ancestors. Many of these people were pioneers, coming to this area when the Native Americans were still there, forging their homes and a new life out of the wilderness. Some of  them were soldiers fighting in the Civil War.  As we laid flowers on the graves Pa talked to us about each one.  Even though they weren't his blood relatives they were his family all the same. This is how I began to learn about history, not just my own, but the history of the United States, of these brave people who came here for a better life for them and their families.

We also visited the cemeteries where mother's family was buried.  Pa's parents, grandparents and great grandparents all were buried in the Clayton Cemetery and now he and my grandmother lie there too. There was also the Center Valley Cemetery where my mother's grandparents, great grandparents great great grandparents were laid to rest.

My love of cemeteries has never stopped, nor has my love of family and it's history. This is just a few of the cemeteries, in this place where my parents grew up, where family members were laid to rest. Because of this love, the visits to these cemeteries became weekend trips as I continues to look for my roots.   On one such trip my husband and I stopped at a cemetery in the town near where my father grew up.  I hadn't visited this one for awhile but the last time I was there it was so filled with weed and grass it was hard to see the tombstones. This time it was almost bare, as though someone had taken a Bush Hog through it, and pieces of broken tombstones lay strung about.  I knew about where the stone I was looking for was and sure enough I found it, the military marker for my great great grandfather, Thomas South.  As I was taking a picture of it my husband, bending over said, "what is this?" He lifted up a piece of a tombstone lying right by the military stone and then pulled another one out of  the dirt.  It was Thomas South's original family stone!  We never even knew there had been one, it had laid buried and broken for years. I took pictures of it and gently turned it over to preserve it.  Several years years ago the cemetery was restored.  I couldn't help but at the time, but one of my sisters did.  She got to work on cleaning this tombstone my husband had found along with others of some of his children who had died as infants.


A few years ago my sisters,a cousin and I were able to hike to the Nichols family pioneer cemetery where my great great great grandparents are buried. With the owner of the property we walked through woods and up and down hills, through ditches with water in them finally coming out on a hill where tombstones laid on the grounds.  A local cemetery preservationist had been there several years before us and she along with the owner dug the stones out, photographed them and then turned them back over to preserve them from the elements.  We turned them over to see the names,  and just quietly talked about this pioneer family who buried their loved ones here.  This cemetery trip was the highlight of many years of cemetery trips, starting with my grandfather when I was a small child who couldn't even read and culminating in these woods on a hill in central Indiana  looking down on these pioneers who I have such a connection too. This is what family and love is about.

"But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait ,The sky, not the grave, is our goal;Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!"           

Horatio G. Spafford

The Will of James Nichols 1762 -- 1834

 A copy of James Nichols Will as transcribed by me from a copy of the original

            I James Nichols of the county of Hendricks and state of Indiana being weak in body but of sane and perfect mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making said all former wills by me at anytime hereafter made.

            First it is my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be in due time paid by my Executors thereafter named. And as to such Worldly Estate as it has pleased God to enable me to procure, I will and bequeath in the following manner, to wit, first it is my will that my sons Erasmus and Thomas and my daughters Sally, Betsey, and Jane have each one dollar over and above what they have already received from my hands to be paid by my Executors out of the proceeds of my personal Estate.

            Secondly, I will and bequeath unto my son Andrew the East half of the North East Quarter of section seven in Township fifteen North of Range and West in the district of Lands subject to sale at Crawfordsville, Indiana.  Also one horse beast, saddle and bridle to be taken out of my personal Estate, the horse beast to be worth thirty five dollars.  Thirdly I will and bequeath to my son James the West half of the North East quarter of section seven in Township fifteen North of range and West in the district of lands subject to sale at Crawfordsville, Indiana, with the exception of three acres lying in the North West corner of said half section which said three acres I did heretofore convey by deed to one Mareen Bonifield; I also will unto my sons James one horse beast to be taken out of my personal property to be worth thirty-five dollars also one saddle and bridle.

            Fourthly I will unto my daughter Harriett and Eleanor each, one feather bed furniture, a cow and calf, also one good side saddle and bridle each.  Fifthly, it is my will that whatever may remain of my personal Estate after paying off my debts and settling the expenses of my business and the legacies herein before bequeathed , remain in the hands of my beloved wife; It is also my will that my beloved wife remain in the possession of the house and farm in which I now live during her natural life.

            Lastly I do hereby make and ordain my sons Erasmus and Thomas Executors of this my last will and testament.

            In Witness whereof  I James Nichols the testator, have hereunto set my hand and  seal this 8^th day of September AD 1834.

                                                                                

                                                                     James  Nichols    Seal

                                                                     X his mark                                     

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named James Nichols as his last will and testament in presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of the said testator and in presence of each other, this 8^th day of September AD 1834

                                                                                                (J or S) T Hadley

                                                                                                Edward Strange

State of Indiana Hendricks County

            Be it remembered that on this 7^th day of February AD 1835 the within will of James Nichols deceased was produced by Erasmus Nichols one of the Executors therein named.                       


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Richardson Family Part Two

          On September 24, 1829,  Dorcus Barker daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Beeson Barker married Daniel Richardson,  son of Christian and Lovina Ingle Richardson, in Randolph County North Carolina.  The following is quoted from an article written in 1930 by a seventy year old grand-daughter of Dorcas and Daniel: Their honeymoon was a trip on horseback to  Indiana.  One horse carried them both with all their worldly possessions. It was a long and perilous journey through wilderness with only a blazed trail.  The dense forests were alive with wildcats, panthers and wolves.  One evening as they were riding late to find a shelter for the night, a piercing scream broke the stillness of the forest!  Looking up they saw a wildcat, ready to jump down on them. The horse seemed to sense the danger and lunged forward to safety, with only claw marks on his rump.  When they arrived in Indiana, they entered land near Center Valley in Hendricks County, where Dorcas sister Jane and her husband William Craven lived along with several of her brothers.   They put up a cabin, with help from the few neighbors.  One man came from White Lick, near Mooresville, another from Mill Creek, the others were nearer, seven in all.
     The following spring they sold this land at a profit and bought 80 acres a mile north of Hazelwood.  Here they lived in a rail pen and used a quilt for a door until they could get a house built.  The deed to this land is recorded in 1830.  Grandfather paid $1.25 an acre and earned much of the money by working on the National Road for 35 cents a day.  One evening as he was coming home through the forest a wildcat stalked him.  He built a fire and stayed by it all night.
     "When the cabin was first built it was one room, without floor or door.  Again the quilt was used until they could put up a door with leather hinges, then they felt rich indeed.  This cabin was in the woods, no clearing except as Daniel cut trees for use as wood, to split for rails, to make a puncheon floor for the cabin, to make crude farming implements, and make furniture,  Soon a second room was added with an attic. A brick chimney was built between the rooms with a stairs on one side and a pantry on the other side of the chimney."

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The Richardson Family Part One

 My parents both had quite a lot of information about their families but I was especially interested in the Richardsons because my gggg grandfather's name was listed as Christopher Columbus Richardson and his wife Lovey English. These names intrigued me as well as the fact that supposedly Lovey English was German.   I also liked to hear about how Christopher and Lovey's son Daniel and his wife Dorcas rode together on horseback from North Carolina to Hendricks County Indiana.  In the mind of a young girl who was already enamored with the romanticism of early Americans and pioneers, this made for lots of daydreams.
     As I began researching this family the first thing I discovered was that there was no Christopher Columbus Richardson married to a Lovey English in North Carolina or anywhere else for that matter.  As I started checking marriage records I did find a Christian Richardson who married Lovina Ingle in Guilford County North Carolina.  I found and sent for information from the Randolph County NC Library and between that and other information I found I determined that I had a match, there was no Christopher Columbus but Christian, and Lovina's nickname was Lovey.  Somewhere along the line the German Ingle was anglicized to English but where Christopher Columbus came from is a mystery that only my ancestors know.  I do know that his son Daniel, my ancestor, had children named Christopher and Lovey.


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Francis (Frank) Edmondson

Francis Edmondson was born July 27, 1802 near Rheatown, Greene County, Tennessee to Samuel and Elizabeth Johnson Edmondson. Greene County is in the rolling foothills of eastern Tennessee in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains.  Francis was the fifth of ten children.   Samuel moved to Tennessee about 1780 from North Carolina with his parents, Solomon and Susannah Wilkinson Edmondson.
He and Elizabeth Johnson were married in Greene County on September 25, 1791.


Samuel Edmondson bought 200 acres at the head of Sinking Creek. This was adjacent to Solomon Edmondson and Wm. Handley (Deed Book 2, p. 254.ns )   On May 13, 1792 Solomon Edmondson (Samuel’s brother)  bought 200 acres at the head of Sinking Creek, adjoining Samuel.   On Dec. 6, 1806 Samuel Edmondson sold 200 acres on Sinking Creek.   His father Solomon Edmondson, sold 200 acres on Sinking Creek on Sept. 30, 1807.   At this time the family must have moved to Knox County because on  October 10, 1807.  Solomon Edmondson bought 93 acres in Knox County on the south side of Beaver Creek, and the north side of Beaver Ridge. The same day he bought another 150 acres adjoining the first tract. This was witnessed by Samuel Edmondson.

Sometime before 1827 Francis's mother Elizabeth died in Knox County.  His father Samuel married Rebecca White on January 7, 1827.

Francis Edmondson married Jane Grayson on February 3, 1828.  Jane was born December 12, 1800 in Knox County, Tennessee to John and Jane (Nancy) Grayson.

John Grayson was referred to as Big Ben so I am thinking his middle name must have been Benjamin.   Apparently the Edmondson’s and Grayson’s lived very close to each other because Francis’s brother John married Jane’s sister Sarah Grayson. 

Francis and his brother Solomon went to Indiana and settled in the same area.  They filed for Sections 27 and 28, 3 miles northeast of the village of Mooresville on December 17 and 18, 1829.  . Both Francis and Solomon are listed in theMorgan County in the 1830 census.

“When Frank left Knox County, Tennessee, he came by wagon, probably pulled buy oxen, because it took six weeks to drive from Beaver Creek, Tennessee, to his land in Morgan County. His young wife and small daughter, Caroline, came along, so the whole family, together with all of their possessions, came in that one wagon. Somewhere we have been told that Frank rode a horse, and his wife drove that one wagon. Their arrival was safely made through the mountains over the Cumberland Gap, across Kentucky on the Wilderness Trail, and they probably crossed the Ohio River at Madison. The only road northward was through Vernon, Columbus, and Franklin, where they could intercept the Whetzel Trace. They probably went westward to the bluffs of White River at Waverly. From there only a few miles were through a dense forest, and they probably had to cut a trail to reach the farm by wagon.
A cabin was built and the next fall Benjamin Grayson was born in that little cabin. The neighborhood was not to Frank's liking, too much work on Sunday, as a place to raise a family, so he began looking around for a better location.
Francis found land on the newly located Terre Haute Trail, west of Belleville on Mud Creek, which he entered in the land office at Crawfordsville. This entry was for eighty acres in section 10, Township 14 North, Range 1 West, in Liberty Township, Hendricks County, and was dated November 23, 1831.

 He had learned that a nearby settler had also picked out this same tract, so he started to the Land Office at Crawfordsville on horse back and rode all night. When the office opened for business the next morning, Frank was sitting on the doorstep waiting to enter this land. After the entry was made and he was leaving the office, this other settler rode up on a badly spent horse and learned that he was too late.” (C. V. Edmondson, Family Historian 1963)
“On this land Francis Edmondson built a cabin, and here his second daughter, Elizabeth was born.  This cabin was his home until about 1879, when it was burned to the ground with nearly all its contents.  The new home he built on the old site is still standing  (and still standing in 2011).  The children attended school at Chapel School located in what is now the Clayton Cemetery, then nearby Kinderhook or Mitchell school just south of the crossroads of the old National Road and Clayton Hazelwood Roads.  They all later attended the Belleville Academy.

Frank Edmondson became a man of considerable means and occupied a high place in the community.  He was a charter member of the First Baptist Church at Clayton, which he helped organize and is said to have donated the land on which it is built.
He was tall in stature and rather austere in looks, but is said to have a dry sense of humor.  In his later years, he wore a beard.  He was frugal in his habits, cautious in business, and honest in his commitments. His rule of business was never to let the sun set, owing any man, even his hired help whom he paid at the close of each day.  He had little confidence in banks, so he kept his money at home where he stored it in a wooden maul which was hollowed out and used as a doorstop.  During the Civil War he would accept only gold, but after the war, when paper money was greatly depreciated, he saw a day when it would be worth face value, so then he bought all he could with his gold.” (C. V. Edmondson, Family Historian 1963)
 
Francis and  Jane Grayson Edmondson had three children:  Belinda Caroline  born February 2, 1829, in Knox County Tennessee,  died January 26, 1900 in Putnam County Indiana;  Benjamin Grayson born September 10, 1831 in Morgan County Indiana, died March 12,  1919 in Hendricks County Indiana and Elizabeth Jane Edmondson born June 24, 1837 in Hendricks County and died June 14, 1931 in Hendricks County Indiana.

Jane Grayson Edmondson died on July 26. 1882 and Francis Edmondson died soon after on November 19, 1885.  They are both buried at Clayton Cemetery just down the road from where they lived for 54 years.

Will of Francis Edmonson 

Know all men by these presents, that I, Francis Edmonson, of Clayton in the County of Hendricks and State of Indiana, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time made heretofore.

First:

After the payment of my debts and funeral expenses I give to my son, Benjamin G. Edmondson one hundred and sixty acres of land described as follows: The North East Quarter of Section fifteen (15) Township fourteen (14) North of Range One (1) West in Hendricks County and State of Indiana.

Second:

I give to my daughter, Belinda C. Ader, the sum of Six Thousand Dollars in money.

Third:

I give to my daughter, Elizabeth J. Marley, One thousand Dollars in cash and all of the home farm on which I now live, containing one hundred acres be the same more or less, which lies in the South West corner of the South West Quarter of Section ten (10) Township Fourteen (14) North of Range one West in Hendricks County and State of Indiana.

Fourth:

I bequeath to my said three children, Benjamin G. Edmondson, Belinda C. Ader, and Elizabeth J. Marley all the balance of my estate to be divided equally among them.

Lastly:

I appoint my said son, Benjamin G. Edmondson, to be the executor of this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in the presence of the witnesses named below, this 10th day of November 1885. Signed Francis Edmonson ....Seal The above instrument of one sheet was at the date thereof declared to us by the testator, Francis Edmonson, to be his last Will and Testament and then acknowledged to each of us that he had subscribed the same and we at his request signed our names hereto as attesting Witnesses. Wm. A. Ragen, Clayton, Indiana, Wm. C. Mitchell, Clayton, Indiana. Probated: November 23, 1885

                                                                      

 

Pictures of two of 

Francis' Siblings

  

 

 

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The Family of James Nichols

James Nichols was born June 1,1762 in Pennsylvania, and died Dec 18ember 25,1834 in Hendricks County, Indiana. He married Rachel Jackson. I have no marriage date. She was born April 12, 1775 in Pennsylvania, and died January 21, 1856 in Hendricks County, Indiana.

Notes for James Nichols:
1800 United States Federal Census
Name: James Nichols
Township: Pike Run
County: Washington
State: Pennsylvania
Free White Males Under 10: 1
Free White Males 26 to 44: 1
Free White Females Under 10 : 1
Free White Females 26 to 44 : 1
This matches the ages of the children born in Pennsylvania – Sarah and Erasmus
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1810 United States Federal Census
James Nicholas
Name: James Nicholas
Township: Bardstown
County: Nelson
State: Kentucky
Free White Males Under 10: 1
Free White Males 10 to 15: 1
Free White Males 26 to 44: 1
Free White Males 45 and Over: 1
Free White Females Under 10: 3
Free White Females 26 to 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 5
Number of Household Members Over 25: 3
Number of Household Members: 8

Could this be my Nichols family? It is possible since it is known the family came from the Bardstown area. In the known family records there are only 4 children under 16 in 1810, not 5. It has always been a belief of mine that there was probably a child between Thomas born in 1803 and Jane born next in 1808. Also there is a male between 26 and 44. Who was this man?
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More About James and Rachel Nichols

Burial: Nichols Cemetery Hendricks County Indiana
Moved to Nelson Co. Kentucky from Pennsylvania
Rachel joined the Cedar Lake Baptist Church while living in Kentucky. This church was located east of Bardstown, Kentucky about 5 miles. The family most likely lived in this area.

Children of James Nichols and Rachel Jackson are:
 Sarah (Sallie) Nichols was born 26 May 1798 in Pennsylvania, and died May 1861 in Grant Co. Indiana. She married Mincher Cox March 12, 1826 in Hendricks County, Indiana, son of John Cox and Lydia Littler, He was born 17 Feb 1801 in North Carolina, and died Aft. 1860.
Erasmus Nichols was born April 10, 1800 in Pennsylvania, and died June 25, 1878 in Hendricks County, Indiana. He married Elizabeth Stanley 08 Sep 1825 in Hendricks County, Indiana. She was born March 23, 1809 in North Carolina, and died November 25, 1880 in Hendricks County, Indiana.

Erasmus and Elizabeth Nichols are buried at Mill Creek Cemetery Hendricks County Indiana

Elizabeth Nichols was born 19 January 1802 in Pennsylvania and died February 12, 1878 in Hendricks County Indiana.  She married William Merritt December 25,1823 in Morgan County, Indiana. William was born about 1802 in North Carolina.  They are both buried at the Old Cemetery, Danville, Indiana.  As far as I have been able to determine there were no biological children.


Thomas A. Nichols was born November 5, 1803 in Nelson Co. Kentucky, and died November 22, 1895 in Hendricks County, Indiana. He married Martha Hadley December 4, 1828 in Hendricks County, Indiana, daughter of James Hadley and Mary Richardson. She was born April 23, 1809 in Chatham County, North Carolina, and died March 16, 1888 in Hendricks County, Indiana.

Notes for Thomas A Nichols:
Col Thomas Nichols, is one of the oldest settlers of Hendricks county and of Danville. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war and a colonel in the old Indiana State militia, and has been a prominent and honored citizen of Danville for many years. James Nichols, grandfather of our subject, was from Ireland, and settled at an early date in Pennsylvania. He was the father of James, Erasmus, Jane (who married a Mr. Hill), and these are the names of all his children now remembered. James Nichols, son of above and father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, at Hillsboro, about twenty-five miles from Wheeling, Va., and married Rachel Jackson, who was a second cousin of the famous confederate, Stonewall Jackson. Mr. Nichols was a farmer, and to himself and wife were born the following children: Erasmus, Sarah, Elizabeth (born in Pennsylvania), Thomas, Andrew, and James. Mr. Nichols moved to Kentucky in 1803 and settled in Nelson county, in the wilderness, and cleared up a farm. In 1821 he moved to Indiana being then about seventy years old, and lived on White river until February 1, 1822, when he moved to Hendricks county, settled in Guilford township, and entered eighty acres of land, which was one of the first farms entered in this county, but three families living here at that time. These were the families of Samuel Jessup, Thomas Lockhart, and a Mr. Kellum, all from North Carolina. In the fall of 1821, when Mr. Nichols was living on White river, eighty bark canoes sailed away bound west, all filed with Indians, and it was a remarkable sight. Mr. Nichols cleared his farm and lived there until he sold out and moved two miles west of Danville, where he bought eighty acres. Thomas and Andrew Nichols, sons of the above, also entered eighty acres each. Mr. Nichols remained here until his death in 1826, aged seventy-eight years. He was a large tall man, and a typical pioneer farmer. His wife lived to be eighty-one years old and died five years after her husband's demise.
Hendricks County History

Col. Thomas Nichols was born in Nelson County, Ky., near Bardstown, November 5, 1803; he received the usual education of the pioneer, but he gained through life a practical business education. He was seventeen years of age when he came with his father to Indiana, the journey being made with horses and wagons, and he well remembers the journey and seeing the Indians leave White river. In 1825 he had entered his first eighty acres in Center township, two miles north of Danville. In 1828, Col. Nichols was elected sheriff of this county, serving four years, and moved to Danville, then a small village of four or five houses, and he has since lived here. He was the second sheriff of Hendricks county, and a Mr. Cooper was the first. After this the colonel worked at the carpenter business thirty years and built many of the prominent buildings of the olden times. In 1833-34-35-36, Mr. Nichols represented the county in the state legislature, and in 1844 he was again elected sheriff, serving four years more. In 1860 he was once more elected sheriff, served four years, making a total service in that office of twelve years. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace, and has held this office longer than any other citizen in this county; he has tried many cases, and married, at least, 150 couples. In 1832, he raised a company of fifty-four men at Danville, was elected captain, and served in the Black Hawk war. He went to Chicago--then consisting only of old Fort Dearborn--and, Black Hawk being captured, he returned home. Col. Nichols has been a member of the Methodist church since 1847, and is the first Mason ever made in Hendricks county (in 1846) Western Star lodge, Danville; he has held all the offices and was master of the lodge twelve years. Politically he was first an old-line Whig, throwing his first vote for Henry Clay, for president in 1824, and later he was one of the original Republicans of Hendricks county. His sons, William and Erasmus, were soldiers in the Civil War.
Hendricks County History
Col. Nichols is probably the best known man in Hendricks county, and has always held the confidence of the people and been elected to many prominent offices. He has always stood high and maintained throughout his long and useful life, an unblemished character for integrity. He is now a venerable gentleman of ninety-two years. He was elected Colonel of the old State militia in 1825, and held the office until the state abolished the organization. Col. Nichols has always been a lover of temperance and a foremost advocate of the cause, being one of the foremost promoters of the "Sons of Temperance," which was organized thirty years ago. There were a few saloons in Danville early in its history, but they were well regulated by the people, and for thirty-five years no saloon has ever existed in the city. At a very early day liquor was sold in the pioneer stores and there was a good deal of drunkenness, but the "Friends" had a great deal to do with keeping out saloons and the advancement of morals among the people of the county.

"A Biographical History of Hendricks County" (1895): Page 929


DEATH OF COL. NICHOLS

One of the Few Pioneer Passed Away Friday Night
Col Thomas Nichols passed away Friday evening, quietly and peacefully his strong constitution weakening gradually under the burden of years. The county has had no more prominent or better known citizen, he being one of the pioneers that felled the forest and assisted greatly in establishing the county organization. He was born in Kentucky Nov. 5th, 1803, and at the age of 17 came with his father to Indiana. They first settled on White River whence they saw the Indians depart for the west. in 1822 they moved to Guilford Township and the elder Nichols entered 80 acres of land, his family being one of four in that section - Samuel Jessup, Thomas Lockhart, and a Mr. Kellum being the others. In 1825, Col. Nichols entered 80 acres of land two miles north of Danville. In 1827 he and Martha Hadley were married and to them were born 9 children, four of whom are living. The following year he was elected sheriff of the county, serving four years. He then moved to Danville where he has resided since. He was the second sheriff the county had. When his term of office expired he worked at the carpenter's trade and many of the older houses in Danville are monuments to his skill. In 1833-1836 he served in the legislature representing the county. He there became acquainted with the Hon. R. W. Thompson of Terre Haute, who is not the only survivor of those sessions. In 1844 he was again elected sheriff for four years and again in 1860 Making twelve years in that office. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace serving until age made it impossible to fill the office longer. In those years he tried many cases and married at least 150 couples. In 1832 he raised a company of fifty four men for the Black Hawk war and was elected captain. This company went to Fort Dearborn, now the site of Chicago, and Black Hawk having then surrendered, the company was disbanded. Since 1847 he has been a member of the Methodist church. in 1846 he was made a Mason, the first in Hendricks county, and he has since filled all the offices of the order, serving as Master 12 years. Politically he was originally a Whig, casting his first vote for Henry Clay in 1824. Later he became a Republican and assisted in organizing the party in this county. Two of his sons served in the Union army.
Col. Nichols was probably the best known man in this county, being so long identified with its history. He has seen it develop from a wilderness into a garden, from the hunting grounds of the Indiana, to a cultured community. These changes have occurred under his eye and he was active in bringing many of them about. He has long held the esteem of his fellow citizens. His title of "Colonel"by which he was best known was received by virtue of his position as Colonel in the state militia to which he was elected in 1825 and served until the organization was disbanded by the legislature. When the "Sons of Temperance" was organized years ago he was an active member of it.
Col. Nichols was the fortunate possessor of a rugged constitution which enabled him to carry into old age the strength and vigor of youth. His family are of strong constitution which and only a few nights ago his brother, aged eighty, sat up with him all night, a sight rarely seen of a brother so old sitting up with another brother, approaching the century mark. A few years ago, Col. Nichols lost the wife of his youth and her death was a constant sorrow with him. His life was rounded out by a green old age in which he retained his faculties to the end. His was an ideal ending of a life full of years and deeds. The ties that bound him to earth gradually loosened and the end came peacefully as if he were falling to sleep.
Five children survive their aged father of nine born to him- Mrs. Nancy Powell, W.H.Nichols, county auditor, O.E. Nichols and E.D. Nichols, druggists, all of the city and Mrs. R.H. Harney, of Lebanon.
The funeral was Sunday afternoon at the Methodist church, there being a large attendance of friends of the departed, the number of older people present being particularly noticeable. Rev. Walder read a sketch of the life of the deceased and Rev. Hull talked feelingly for a few minutes being almost overcome with his sense of loss. The Masonic fraternity, which attended in a body, then took charge of the services and their exercises were completed at the grave in the South Cemetery. All the Masonic lodges in the county were represented and the solemn procession, headed by the band was very long.
The Republican (Danville IN) Nov. 28, 1895

Thomas A and Martha Nichols are buried at South Cemetery, Danville, IN


Jane Nichols was born April 21, 1808 in Nelson Co. Kentucky, and died 1888 in Hendricks County, Indiana. She married DAVID STUTSMAN February 7, 1825 in Hendricks County, Indiana. He was born 1799 in Pennsylvania, and died 11 Dec 1886 in Hendricks County, Indiana.

Jane and David Stutsman are buried at South Cemetery, Danville, Indiana

Eleanor Nichols was born September 27, 1813 in Nelson Co. Kentucky, and died in Indiana. She married Lindsey Jeffers August 11, 1835 in Hendricks County, Indiana. He was born February 5, 1811 in Kentucky, and died May 20, 1866 in Hendricks County Indiana.

Andrew J Nichols was born December 27, 1815 in Nelson Co. Kentucky, and died December 11, 1902 in Hendricks County, Indiana. He married Catherine Fosher October 20, 1836 in Putnam County, Indiana11. She was born 1820 in Ohio, and died December 19, 1883 in Hendricks County, Indiana.
Andrew and Catherine  lived on the Nichols family land west of Danville.
Andrew and Catherine Nichols are buried at Mill Creek Cemetery in Hendricks County Indiana


James Nichols was born December 1, 1818 in Nelson Co. Kentucky, and died December 11, 1904 in Hendricks County, Indiana. He married (1) Sarah Christie December 1, 1838 in Hendricks County, Indiana. She was born January 3, 1820 in Shelby County, Kentucky, and died August 6, 1839 in Hendricks County, Indiana. He married (2) Rachel McPhetridge June 5, 1845 in Hendricks County, Indiana. She was born in 1825, and died in 1905 in Hendricks County, Indiana.

James and Rachel Nichols are buried at Danville South Cemetery, Danville Indiana

Notes for Sarah Christie Nichols
Died in Hendricks County, IN. Aged 19y 2m. Buried in the Nichols Cemetery, Hendricks County. First wife of James Nichols, who was the son of pioneers James and Rachel (Jackson) Nichols who are also buried in this cemetery. Sarah most likely died due to complications of childbirth. Her son James died four weeks later and is buried next to her. James Nichols married his second wife, Rachel McPhetridge and named their only daughter Sarah.

 Please Do Not Post This Article on Other Websites.  Thank you                                                                                      Margaret Rothrock                                         

The Ancestors of Frusanna Barton Reitzel

Doing research on Frusanna Barton, wife of Daniel Reitzel has been filled with mysteries. My parents always told stories of their family that they had heard from their parents. Such is oral history passed down from generations to generations. I have learned that these stories don't always prove to be true. Such is the one I grew up with about Frusanna.

We (my sisters and I) from an early age heard of the story of Frusanna dying when her daughter Rachel was a tiny baby. Part of the story was of Daniel Reitzel taking the baby to his parents until he could take care of her. Knowing that Daniel and Frusanna both came from North Carolina, did he take the baby all the way back there? Later, when Betty was working on a family tree project for school, my Grandpa(Pa)Edmondson wrote that Frusanna's parents Aaron and Betsy came on horseback and took her home with them.

As I started my research on Daniel and Frusanna the first object was to try to find their marriage record. This proved to be almost impossible, searching both North Carolina and Indiana records on Ancestry showed nothing with these two last names on the same marriage record. Then I decided to try searching the name Frusanna...not a common name at all. This was a success, I found their marriage record in Greene County, Indiana listing Frusanna Barton marrying Daniel "Wrightsell". This was the start of finding more information about Frusanna's family. The first thing I did was search the 1840 census for any Bartons in Greene County Indiana. So what is the mystery? There was no Aaron Barton in Greene County. The only Aaron I have found was a brother of Frusanna. Frusanna's parents seem to have been Willis and Christena Barton not Aaron and Betsy, so who were Aaron and Betsy? Could brother Aaron been the one to come and get her and who was Betsy?
Since this discovery my husband and I have visited Greene County several times. I have pictures of the graves of Christena and Willis Barton. I found a Will for one of their sons,John Barton, who died in the early 1850's. He left $1.00 to Rachel S. "Rightsell." Another discovery came with research of the 1860 census and 1870 census of Greene County along with an atlas of Greene County. In 1860 Willis and Christena Barton's youngest son Nathan resided in Greene County, his neighbors were the Pugh family. Nathan was killed in the Civil War in 1861 and his widow died sometime before 1870. In the 1870 census Rachel(Reitzel)and John Appleby were living in Greene County next to the Pugh family. In the atlas I looked at, the property next to the Pughs was listed as the estate of Nathan Barton, so Rachel and John were probably living on her uncle's property.
AS you can see there are still mysteries to solve but it may just stay that way!

Below is the Ancestry of Frusanna Barton to the best of my knowledge.

Generation No. 1
JOHN BARTON was born 1737 in Randolph County, North Carolina, and died 1782 in Liberty, Randolph,
North Carolina. He married ELIZABETH 1762 in Randolph County, North Carolina. She was born 1741 in
Randolph County, North Carolina, and died 10 Dec 1817 in Posey County Indiana.
children of JOHN BARTON and ELIZABETH are:
WILLIAM BARTON, b. 1763.
MOLLY BARTON, b. Abt. 1768.
SARAH BARTON, b. 1770.
ELIZABETH BARTON, b. 1771.
CATHERINE BARTON, b. 1773.
JOHN BARTON, b. Abt. 1774, Randolph County North Carolina; d. Abt. 1851, Randolph County North Carolina.
ANNA BARTON, b. 1778.

Generation No. 2
WILLIS BARTON was born 16 Oct 1780 in Randolph County, North Carolina, and died 23 Aug 1845 in Greene County, Indiana. He married CHRISTENA UNDERWOOD in Randolph County, North Carolina. She was born 17 Oct 1787 in Randolph County, North Carolina, and died 21 Jan 1880 in Greene County, Indiana.
Notes from WHaseman ,"Willis & Christiana were born in Randolph Co., NC and moved
to Greene Co., IN 1836. They appear in 1830 Census Randolph Co & 1840 Census Greene Co. Christiana's
surname is inferred from a paper loose in family bible which lists "Saml Underwood 1852" and locating Samuel
Underwood in 1790 census Randolph co."
More About WILLIS BARTON:
Burial: Stanley Cemetery Green County Indiana
Notes for CHRISTENA UNDERWOOD:
1860 Census
More About CHRISTENA UNDERWOOD:
Burial: Stanley Cemetery Green County Indiana

Generation No. 3
ALFRED BARTON, b. 1807, North Carolina; d. 1853
WILLIAM BARTON, b. 1809, North Carolina; d. 1876; m. SUSANNAH SKINNER, 23 Dec 1857, Greene
County Indiana.
AARON BARTON, b. 1810, North Carolina; d. Dec 1850, Greene Co. Indiana1.
Notes for AARON BARTON:
U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index
Surname: Aaron Barton
Year: 1850
County: Greene CO.
State: IN
Age: 40
Gender: M (Male)
Month of Death: Dec
State of Birth: NC
ID#: MRT197_17104
Occupation: FARMER
Cause of Death: TYPHUS FVR
ELIZABETH BARTON was born 14 Mar 1813 in North Carolina, and died 1903 in Greene County, Indiana. She married (1) ISSAC HUBBELL 31 Oct 1844 in Greene County, Indiana. He was born 11 Sept 1786 in New Jersey, and died in Greene County, Indiana. She married (2) JOSEPH OSBORN.
QUINCY BARTON, b. 06 Sep 1814, North Carolina; d. 25 Dec 1852, Greene County, Indiana; m. LUCINDA STEWART, 10 Sep 1851, Greene County, Indiana.
ABSALOM BARTON was born 1817 in North Carolina, and died 1876 in Greene County
Indiana. He married ELIZABETH FULLER 06 Nov 1845 in Greene County, Indiana3.
JOHN BARTON, b. 1818, North Carolina; d. 1854, Greene County, Indiana
LEONARD BARTON was born 15 Oct 1819 in North Carolina, and died 24 Sep 1908 in
Greene County, Indiana. He married HANNAH DAYHOFF 15 May 1849 in Greene County, Indiana. She was born 1830, and died 04 Jan 1900 in Greene County, Indiana.
FRUSANNA BARTON was born 05 Jun 1822 in North Carolina, and died 04 Apr 1841. She
married DANIEL REITZEL 18 Aug 1839 in Greene County, Indiana, son of HENRY REITZEL and CATHERINE MOUSER. He was born 05 Mar 1810 in Guilford County, North Carolina, and died 1873 in Waterville, Indiana. Child of FRUSANNAH BARTON and DANIEL REITZEL was
RACHEL S. REITZEL, b. 05 Oct 1840, Hendricks County, Indiana; d. 04 Apr 1933, Hendricks County,
Indiana.
CATHARINE BARTON was born 1824 in North Carolina, and died 1878. She married (1)
STEPHEN PADGETT, 26 Jan 1843 in Greene County, Indiana. He died Abt. 1860. She married (2) WILLIAM
JOHNSON, 13 Apr 1865 in Greene County, Indiana.
SARAH (SALLY) BARTON was born 1827 in North Carolina. She married ALEXANDER
BOLES, 25 Aug 1852 in Greene County, Indiana.
ANNA BARTON was born 1828 in North Carolina. She married WILLIAM WINTERS, 12 Dec
1847 in Greene County, Indiana. He was born 08 Oct 1816 in Indiana, and died 29 Jun 1870 in Greene Co.
Indiana.
MARY( POLLY) ANN BARTON was born 16 Sep 1830 in North Carolina, and died 15 Dec
1854 in Greene Co. Indiana. She married PETER HENRY SCHULTZE 20 Oct 1850 in Greene County, Indiana. He was born 23 Jul 1826 in Moers, Germany, and died 06 Sep 1896 in Linton Indiana.
NATHAN BARTON was born 1832 in North Carolina, and died 01 Mar 1862 in Fort Henry,
Tennessee. He married ELEANOR MCCONNELL 18 Mar 1855 in Owen County, Indiana
He was buried at Shiloh National Cemetery.


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