In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of La Salle County, Illinois : (1906), Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois (1900)
JOHN NICHOLSON.
It is always a pleasure to see true merit suitably rewarded, to behold" the prosperity of those who eminently deserve it, as does the subject of this review. At an early age he learned one of the great lessons of life, that there is no "royal road" to wealth, and as he was not above work he toiled!
Google industriously until he won not only a snug little fortune, but also the esteem and confidence of the people with whom he has been associated for many years. Work, the true friend of mankind, has developed his latent resources and brought out the strong, self-reliant force of his character.
John Nicholson of this sketch bears the same Christian name as did his two grandfathers. His father's father, a carpenter, was born near the-village of Lowder, Westmoreland, England, and passed his entire life there, -dying at an advanced age, as did also his wife. They were the parents of four children. John Moffatt, the maternal grandfather, was born, lived and-died in England, and for nearly seventy years was actively engaged in the milling business. He had several children, only one of whom was a son. He was signally a patriarch at the time of his death, as he had seen about ninety winters ere he was summoned to his reward.
The parents of our subject were John and Elizabeth (Moffatt) Nicholson, natives of England. The father pursued his calling, that of shoemaking, in the English isle until 1860, when he crossed the Atlantic, accompanied by his wife and a daughter. He came to Lowell, LaSalle county, where he lived retired until his death about five years later, when he was in his sixty-seventh year. He was survived about eight years by his widow, and four of their seven children have also passed to the better land. John, William, and Elizabeth, Mrs. Joseph Warner, are all living in Lowell. The parents were devout members of the Episcopal church.
John Nicholson was born in Westmoreland, England, April 10, 1831, and when he was fourteen years old he was apprenticed for a term of seven years to the miller's trade. Having thoroughly mastered this calling, he proceeded to devote his energies solely to this line of business until he retired some ten years ago. In 1855 he came to the United States, and at once located in Lowell, where he has dwelt for the long period of forty-four years. During the first two years, he worked in the mill here at a small salary, after hich he grew more ambitious and rented the mill himself, running it with very fair success from the beginning. Later he purchased the mill property and in time bought some excellent farm land. The story of his business career may be briefly summer up as follows: He was honest and just in all of his transactions, courteous and accommodating to his patrons, and strictly reliable and punctual always. He still owns three hundred and seventeen acres of land and several substantial residences in Lowell. For nearly twenty years he served as a school director, and for five years he was the supervisor of this township. Politically he is rather independent, but in national elections usually favors the Democratic party.
In September, 1863, Mr. Nicholson married Miss Martha, daughter of Benjamin Huss. They have three children — a son and two daughters.
Alvin W. married Cynthia Haldeman, and has six children, namely: Ralph A., Alice V., Vincent R., J. Allen, Edna L. and Elmer Dewey. Margaret Nicholson is unmarried and resides with her parents, and Harriet is the wife of Joseph Dodd, of Farwell, South Dakota. In their religious faith, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson adhere to the creed in which they were reared, the Episcopalian.
As printed in Biographical and genealogical record of LaSalle County, Illinois (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN NICHOLSON.
John Nicholson, who died July 8, 1906, was for many years a respected and worthy citizen of LaSalle county. For some time prior to his death he lived retired at Lowell, but was a miller by trade and for a long period owned and operated a gristmill at Lowell. That his life was characterized by activity and enterprise and by good business ability is indicated by the fact that in addition to his milling property he owned three hundred and sixty acres of land near the village of Lowell and a large amount of real estate in the village, including three houses.
Mr. Nicholson was born in Westmoreland county, England, April 10, 1831, a son of John and Elizabeth (Moffett) Nicholson, who came to America in 1860 and resided in Lowell, LaSalle county, Illinois, until called to their final rest a number of years ago. In their family were seven children, of whom only two are now living — William Nicholson and Mrs. Elizabeth Warner of Lowell.
John Nicholson, whose name introduces this record, was reared and educated in England and came to America in 1855, when a young man of twenty-four years. In December of the same year he located at Lowell. He was a miller by trade, having learned the business in his native country, and after coming to Illinois he entered the employ of Mr. Benham and operated the flourmill for him under the firm style of Benham & Brown. Later Mr. Nicholson rented the mill and thus continued its operation for a term of years. At length he purchased the property, put in the last dam and otherwise improved the place in company with Bulloch and Ryder, and when some time had elapsed purchased his partners’ interests and operated the mill successfully until the dam went out some twenty years ago. In the meantime he had made judicious investments in land, becoming owner of various tracts and at one time he and his brother William owned six hundred acres of valuable land in LaSalle county, while at his death John Nicholson had three hundred and sixty acres. He and his son had operated the farm, where they are largely engaged in the raising of fine stock, and the business had proved profitable, returning to them a grat iting annual income.
Mr. Nicholson was twice married. He first wedded Miss Martha Huss, who died in August, 1901. They had three children: Thomas Alvin, who resides on the old homestead at Lowell and who is married and has several children; Margaret Helen, the wife of Charles Houston, who is living in Deer Park township; and Harriet Luella, the wife of Joseph Dodd, of South Dakota.
On the 27th of October, 1903, Mr. Nicholson was joined in wedlock to Miss Frances Stoffer, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, and reared in Brown county, this state. Her parents were Benjamin T. and Amelia (Randall) Stoffer. The latter died January 31, 1898, at the age of fifty-eight years and Mr. Stoffer is now living in Lowell. He has resided in this county for the past twenty-one years, while his residence in Illinois dates from 1846, at which time he settled with his parents in Peoria. He was born in Ohio in 1834 and is a potter by trade. Mrs. Nicholson came with her parents to LaSalle county in 1885 and has since resided in Lowell or vicinity. She had one brother, A. R. Stoffer, who died at Lowell, October 20, 1890. He it was who in connection with Hiram E. Leach, now of Kansas, established and for years operated the pot tery in Lowell.
In his political views Mr. Nicholson was a democrat who kept well informed on questions and issues of the day. He served for seven years as supervisor of Vermillion township and also in various other offices of trust in his locality. He was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church.
IIOO which he always favored, and in his life he stood for high and honorable principles, was just in his relations with his fellowmen and they entertained for him warm personal regard. Mrs. Nicholson, still surviving her husband, makes her home in Lowell. She is a member of the Methodist church and is acting as superintendent of its Sunday-school. She has a wide and favorable acquaintance in this county, where she is warmly esteemed, her influence ever being given for those interests which tend to promote social, intellectual and moral progress.
As printed in History of LaSalle County, Illinois : (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Deer Park William Nicholson
Their biographies name John Nicholson: Noah Albert (b. 1872)
The printed record stops around 1906. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.