Joseph Millikin

As printed in 1894

PROF. JOSEPH MILLIKIN, the second son of May. John M. Millikin, was graduated from Miami University, and later was a student in the Princeton Theological Seminary. He was licensed to preach, and ordained a minister, but withdrew from that work. Subsequently he became Professor of Greek in his Alma Mater, and in connection with the duties pertaining to his chair he gave instruction in the Hebrew language. In 1873, upon the organization of the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, located at Columbus, he was elected Professor of the German, French and English languages and their literature. Here he labored for eight years, extending the work in his department to include the study of Anglo- Saxon, old English and the Romance tongues.

In his youth Professor Millikin found himself the subject of pulmonary disease. In the latter half of his too brief life he was continually hampered by illness and the constant necessity of doing, not what he would, but what lie could. Four times he went to Europe, chiefly for his health, and he suffered many other interruptions. In June, 1881, he was compelled to resign his chair, and, after another brief season of travel, he returned to the old homestead to die. In the fall of 1882 he passed away at the age of forty-two years. He was known and admired as a charming speaker, a beautiful writer, the possessor of wide learning, running to philology and linguistics, but was distinguished most of all for his power of inoculating young people with his own love for learning.

rig Ej=“

JOSEPH WELLS NICHOL is a worthy representative of one of the oldest pioneer families of Hanover Township. His birth occurred on the farm where he now lives, February 26, 1823, he being the eldest son and third child born to John and Elenor (Marshall) Nichol, and the only surviving member in the family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, all but three of whom grew to maturity.

Our subject’s grandfather, Thomas Nichol, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and there married Mary Wells, of the same locality. He came to America in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and soon after his arrival settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, but in 1806 removed to this township, and to the present farm, where he spent the remainder of his days. His death occurred when he was about sixty-four years of age, but his wife attained the advanced age of ninety-one years. The material ancestors of J. W. Nicliol came from Pennsylvania, and were very early settlers of Butler County. His maternal grandparents both lived to a good old age, so on both sides of the family Mr. Nicliol comes of long-lived and robust ancestors. His father, John Nicliol, was born in 1793, and his mother’s birth occurred three years later. John Nicliol was a farmer by occupation, on the present farm, and died when about fifty years old, while his wife lived to be seventy-one years of age.

Joseph W. Nicliol grew to manhood where he now lives, and was educated in the common schools of that period. His life work has been that of farming and stock raising, in which he has prospered. In the home farm there are some two hundred and sixty-three acres, on which stand a pleasant house and substantial farm buildings. Altogether, the owner possesses about eight hundred acres of land in this county, most of which has been acquired by honest industry and frugality. In every relation of life he has made it his constant endeavor to do his duty, with the result that he is highly respected in the community where his entire life has been passed. Though still hale and hearty, he is now practically retired from the active management of his farming interests, his dutiful son having relieved him to a large extent from those cares

March 16, 1854, Mr. Nicliol married Henrietta Kyger, who was born in Milford Township, August 24, 1827. Her parents were Daniel and Anna (Teagarden) Kyger, early settlers of this county. The former was a native of Maryland, and a farmer by occupation. His wife was born in Pennsylvania, and both passed away at the age of eighty-one years, in Milford Township. Mr. and Mrs. Nicliol have six children, namely: John Wells, a farmer of Milford Township; Elenor Anna, wife of George Hansel, who operates a farm in the same township; Sarah B., wife of L. D. Herron, also a farmer of Milford Township; Louisa, who lives at home; Elizabeth Martha, Mrs. George Coulter, her home being in Paulding, Ohio; and George H., who manager the old homestead.

Mrs. Nicliol is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While our subject is not connected with any religious denomination, he is moral and temperate in his habits, and is always in favor of benevolent and worthy enterprises. He is an agreeable conversationalist, numbers many warm friends, and is highly respected by one and all. In politics he is a Republican, though in early life, and until the breaking out of the Civil War, he supported the Democratic party. However, he is not in sympathy with his party on the question of protection, believing that free trade relations with the world would conduct to general prosperity. He has never sought public preferment, but has served his township as a Trustee.

As printed in Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.