Eugene Nicola

As printed in 1887

EUGENE NICOLA, hardware niercliaut at Riverside, was born in Preston County, W.; 'a., Feb. 15, 1840, and is the son of.Jacob and Sarah (Cress) Nicola. They removed to Fayette County, Pa., in January, 1850, and there purchased a farm. Two years later this farm was sold and one purchased in Wayne County, Ohio, near Wooster. Enterprising and possessed of a desire to own a large tract of land, Jacob Nicola sold his fine farm, and in 1864 the family came to Iowa, and in the spring of 1855 he bought 280 acres in Cedar Township, Washington County, of which 120 were timber. All of the children were born in Virginia except the youngest son, who was born in Pennsylvania— John, Catherine, Henry, Zalmon, INIarcellus, Eugene, Collin, Amaziah and Benjamin. All came with their parents to this county, and six are yet residents here.

Jacob Nicola erected a temporary board house early in 1855, which was replaced the same year by a good two-story frame dwelling. His elder children aided in the improvement of the new farm. He was by trade a blacksmith, and the first outbuilding erected by him was used as a smith. He did world for the neighbors as long as he was a resident of Cedar Township. On that farm the wife and mother died April 2, 1871, and Mr. Nicola afterward married Mrs. Susan Ewing, of Washington, this State, and the couple engaged in the hotel business for a short time in that city. In 1873 he erected a residence in the new town of Riverside, and in its history may be remembered as one of the first residents. His death occurred in February, 1875, aged sixty-five years. His widow is now a resident of San Marcial, N. M. To Jacob Nicola and his second wife, one daughter, Louisa, was born, who resides with her mother, whose sons by her first husband are connected with the A., T. & S. F. R. R. Co.

The subject of this sketch remained with his father on the farm until his twenty-first year. He purchased four yoke of oxen, and the first work he did for himself was a job of breaking prairie for a neighbor at 12.50 per acre. In August, 1 86 1. he wedded Susan, daughter of Cliristian and Charlotte (Cress) Smith, who came from Preston County, W. Va., about 1857. The Smiths are now residents of Keokuk County'. Susan was born in Wirginia, and w.as twenty years of age when married. Their domestic life was begun in Cedar Township, our subject possessing plenty of energy, but little else. His team represented his earnings and savings, but his industrious habits were rewarded by a gradual accumulation of capital, he having rented land and engaged in farming. Mr. Nicola bought his first farm in 1870, it being eighty acres of his father's homestead. In 1874 this was disposed of, and Mr. Nicola came to Riverside, purchased lots, erected a residence, and with his brother Collins, erected a business house in which they opened a general store. Mr. Nicola purchased his brother's interest in the autumn of 1879. and a few months later Mr. William P. Tansey purchased an interest in the store, continuing three years. He, in turn, sold to our subject, who is yet connected with the business, the firm being Nicola Bros. & Co.

Mr. Nicola was a partner with Billingsley. Hise & Co. in the only creamery built in Riverside, and in fact it may be said that lie w.as the moving spirit in said enterprise, assuming its management. In 1882 Collin Nicola and our subject purchased the interests of the other two men, and from that time to date have controlled the creamery under the name of Nicola Bros. Mr. Nicola is also a partner in the North Engli-sh Creamery, and in the establishment of that enterprise he owned half the stock and was a moving spirit in its erection.

From a beginning as the driver of four yoke of oxen, in 1861, Mr. Nicola has steadily increased his profits by careful attention to business details, until he is a partner in several large business firms, and has a farm consisting of 240 acres in this county, a part of which adjoins the plat of Riverside. The children of Eugene and Susan Nicola were all born in this county: John H. is deceased;.Jacob C. is now a partner in the general merchandise store of Nicola Bros., at Riverside; Clarissa A. and Wal-

'i 326 ter K. complete the family, all residing in the pleasant village of Riverside. In addition to his business cares our subject is one of the present village officers. He is a charter member of Lodge No. 105, A. O. U. W., and has passed the several chairs in that order, and is the present Treasurer. For a number of years Mr. Nicola has been a member of the School Board, and for three years has served as President.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Washington County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.