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
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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
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
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
