In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1833, Missouri township
From History of Boone County, Missouri (1882)
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 History of Boone County, Missouri (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1882. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.