Merlin Elda Nichols was born on 23 June 1917 on a farm near Concordia, Cloud, Kansas, United States to Lewis Elda Nichols (b. 1894) and Edith Evelyn Josephine Anderson (1890-1973) as the first of four children.
He spent his young years in and near Concordia. He attended grade school in Menlo, Kansas and high school in Brownsville, Kansas.
Siblings
Vernon Duane Nichols, twin, was born on 24 June 1924 in Menlo, Thomas, Kansas, United States. He died on 17 August 1925 in Republic County, Kansas, United States while his parents were visiting his maternal uncle.
Verna Lorraine Nichols, twin, was born on 24 June 1924 in Menlo, Thomas, Kansas, United States. She married Harry Eugene Krueger on 28 February 1946 at Newton, Harvey, Kansas. Verna died on 30 December 2003 at Newton Medical Center in Newton, Harvey, Kansas, United States.
Virgil Gail Nichols was born on 10 December 1928 in Menlo, Thomas, Kansas, United States. He married Frankie Lee Lakey on 6 August 1949 in Colby, Thomas, Kansas. Virgil died on 7 September 1973 in Beloit, Mitchell, Kansas, United States.
Marriage and Family
He married Katie Neola Smith (1916-2008) on 3 October 1941 at Colby, Thomas, Kansas. They started married life on a farm south of Levant, Kansas and this is where he is said to have had installed the first electric lights in western Kansas.
Children of the Nichols-Smith Marriage
Carolyn Nichols married Dana Parker.
Dennis Nichols married Cathy.
Jay Nichols married Shirley.
Jerry Nichols married Rhonda.
Paul Nichols married Mary.
Later Life
He and Katie purchased a farm between Culbertson and Trenton, Nebraska in 1946.
Hobbies
He played the violin and called square dances in the Culbertson area.
Death and Burial
Merlin died on 26 December 2010 at McCook, Red Willow, Nebraska, United States at the age of 93 while in the McCook Community Hospital. He was buried in the Culbertson Cemetery, Culbertson, Hitchcock, Nebraska.Find A Grave: Memorial #63413384
Headstone Photo by Charlie Powers on 24 November 2013 for Find A Grave. Combined for Katie and Merlin.
Sources
1925 Kansas State Census Collection, n.d. at Menlo, Thomas, Kansas. [1]
1930 United States Federal Census on 9 April 1930 at Menlo, Thomas, Kansas. [2]
1940 United States Federal Census n.d. in Kineary, Thomas, Kansas.[3]
U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1. 1987 Culbertson, Nebraska.
U.S. Social Security Death Index.
Find A Grave Index.
Web: Obituary Daily Times Index, McCook Daily Gazette on 28 December 2010.
↑ 1930: Nichols, Elda L. 37, married 21 years, head; Edith J. 39, wife; Merlin E. 12, son; Verna L. 5, daughter; Virgil G. 1 year 10 months, son.
↑ 1940: Nichols, L.E. 45, 9th grade education, farmer, head; Edith 47, 8th grade, wife; Merlin 22, farm, 4 years high school, son; Verna 15, 1 year high school, daughter; Virgil 11, 4th grade, son.
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PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE the placement of the reference and footnote notations. 1/2 of the census data and other is lost if you do. No rule that I know of that says you have to have no space between "Sources" and References or can't have footnotes. And yes, I have read the "Help" page. Thank you.