The 1882 History of Boone County sketches several Nichols households and seldom says how one is related to another, so each is kept apart here. Maj. James B. Nichols, born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, in 1796, settled on the Two-mile prairie in the fall of 1824 and later farmed five miles north of Columbia, raising ten children with his wife Cynthia Riley. Elvin Jefferson Nichols came from Barren County, Kentucky, with his parents in December 1829 to the Rocky Fork of the Perche, went to the California mines in 1850, and on the voyage home was blown 1,500 miles out to sea; he later shipped livestock east and was jailed briefly in 1864 on a charge of aiding Bill Anderson's guerrillas. Orson Nichols, a New Yorker, came to Centralia by way of Illinois and was appointed its postmaster by President Arthur in 1882. Every fact below is cited to the 1882 county history.
Earliest in the record
Maj. James B. Nichols and Cynthia (Riley) Nicholsborn 1796Most recent in our records
Orson Nicholsborn 1837Each number matches a section below. Tap a name to jump to that person.
Pioneer of 1824; known from his son-in-law Philip Prather's sketch
Farmer, carpenter and stock trader
ELVIN JEFFERSON NICHOLS.
E. J. Nichols, farmer and stock-trade, was born in Barren county, Kentucky, April 29, 1825. He came to Boone county, Missouri, with his parents, arriving at their destination in the month of Decemt)Qr, 1829. They settled five miles northwest of Columbia on a small tributary of the Perche, called the Rocky Fork, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. The little education he received was obtained at subscription schools which were attended at long intervals. The elder Nichols being a carpenter, Elvin was brought up to that trade, and assisted his father in the shop when not working on the farm. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority, when he began to work for himself. March 25, 1845, he was married to Miss Polly Ann, daughter of James and Nancy Hawkins, pioneer settlers of Boone county. After his marriage, Mr. Nichols settled on the farm he now occupies, in the northern part of Missouri township, containing 450 acres. In 1850 he made an overland trip to California, where he remained one year working in the mines. He then took passage on a sail vessel for home. While off the coast of Lower California, the vessel was caught in a fierce western gale and was blown 1,500 miles to sea, prolonging the voyage sixty-seven days. There were 370 passengers, necessitating a short allowance of food and water for many days.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer on the old Winston Via place
ALEXANDER ROBINSON NICHOLS.
Alexander Robinson Nichols was born in Missouri township, on the Rocky Fork, a tributary of the Perche, May 25, 1833. When quite young he removed with his parents to a farm in the vicinity of Columbia, where his father died. When ten years old, his mother removed with her family to Buchanan county, Missouri, where they lived and cultivated a farm until 1856. He began to do for himself when fifteen years old, but contributed liberally of his earnings toward the support of his widowed mother and such members of the family as were too young to provide for their own wants. His mother was ever an object of earnest and tender solicitude up to the day of her death in 1874. From 1856 to 1860 he worked at farming in various places. He finally settled upon the farm he now occupies. Mr. Nichols was married April 12, 1860, to Miss Angellne, daughter of Winston Via, who came to Boone county in 1832, and bought and improved the farm upon which the subject of this sketch now resides, known as the old Winston Via place. They have but one child, Annie, who is still at home with her parents. Mr. Nichols is one of the most substantial farmers in his section of the country. All the affairs of life seem tending towards his prosperity and happiness, and justly, for his has been a busy, enterprising and exemplary life.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Merchant and postmaster of Centralia
Mr. Orson Nichols was born in Otsego, New York, July 24, 1837,
1 continued to reside there till he was 17 years old. His father's ae was Warren C. Nichols, and he reared young Orson on a farm to the age mentioned.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
James O'Meara was born in Ireland, May 17, 1837. His parents, Patrick and Catherine (Howe) O'Meara, emigrated to Canada in 1845, bringing the subject of this sketch with them. They died soon after settling in their new home, and in 1856 James O'Meara came to Missouri, where he engaged in boot and shoemaking, having learned this trade in Canada. In 1877 he came to Centralia and established a shop, where he has remained ever since. He is a well-read, intelligent, thoughtful man; independent in his views and candid in expressing them. He was married to Miss Lizzie Carry, who died May loth, 1882.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops in the early 1900s. We pick up from there and trace your line down to you and back as far as the records go, into a written book with every source cited.
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