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 1837
From History of Boone County, Missouri (1882)
ORSON NICHOLS.
Mr. Orson Nichols was born in Otsego, New York, July 24, 1837,
1 continued to reside there till he was 17 years old. His father's ae was Warren C. Nichols, and he reared young Orson on a farm to the age mentioned.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
JAMES o'meara.
James O'Meara was born in Ireland, May 17, 1837. His parents, Patrick and Catherine (Howe) O'Meara, emigrated to Canada in 1845, bringing the subject of this sketch with them. They died soon after settling in their new home, and in 1856 James O'Meara came to Missouri, where he engaged in boot and shoemaking, having learned this trade in Canada. In 1877 he came to Centralia and established a shop, where he has remained ever since. He is a well-read, intelligent, thoughtful man; independent in his views and candid in expressing them. He was married to Miss Lizzie Carry, who died May loth, 1882.
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.