Elvin Jefferson Nichols

As printed in 1882

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 December, 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. The portion allowed to each individ-

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY. 1051 ual finally dwindled to one pint of water and two crackers once in twenty-four hours. The tropical heat was severe and many sickened and died of fever ere they reached port. Arriving at Panama, he and several others attempted to walk to Chagres, but gave out on the way. They were compelled to purchase a mule ere they reached their destination. From Chagres he sailed for New Orleans in a steamer, arriving home in April, 1851. From 1860 to 1872, Mr. Nichols bought and shipped stock to eastern markets, his shipping points being Concordia, Columbia and Sturgeon. In 1873 he bought and fed a herd of cattle in Saline county, and in 1878 he handled over 200,000 pounds of pork which he sold in eastern markets. In 1864 he was drafted as a soldier in the Union army, but hired a substitute. During the same year he was arrested on a charge of giving aid and comfort to Bill Anderson's guerrillas, and was taken to Macon City and put in prison. He soon gave bail and was set at liberty. He has eight children. The oldest son, William Hite, is a Baptist minister, a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky; John J.; Nancy A., wife of Henry Naylor; George Martin, a medical student of the State University; Rhoanna, wife of Samuel Morris; Eddie E., Robert E. L. and Overton. Mr. Nichols and his wife and their children are members of the Baptist Church.

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.