William Nichols (abt. 1811 - abt. 1852)

Born about 1811 in Pennsylvania, USA [uncertain]

Husband of Mary Jane (Montgomery) Nichols — married 1836 in Pennsylvania, USA

Descendants

Died about 1852 at about age 41 in Pennsylvania, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Yvonne Anderson [send private message]

If there is anything you can contribute to William's biography, you are more than welcome to message me or leave a comment.

Biography

Born about 1811 in Pennsylvania, USA.^[1]

There is nothing more I know about William's early life. I have no information on his parents or any siblings.

William marries Mary Jane Montgomery in Pennsylvania.^[2]. Their first child Nancy Nichols is born about 1837, so I assume they married shorty before her birth about 1836.

They have another daughter, Launda Nichols, who is born about 1839.

1840 This might be the right William, eventhough the last name is Nicholson here, the ages of the family members match. There was no other William Nichols listed in Pennsylvania, married with two little girls. They are listed in Young Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.^[3]

• born 1840-1835: 2 females (Nancy and Launda)
• born 1835-1830: 0
• born 1830-1825: 0
• born 1825-1820: 0
• born 1820-1810: 1 female (Mary Jane)
• born 1810-1800: 1 male (William)

Over the next years William and Mary Jane have two more daughters: Lauretta Nichols, born about 1842, and the youngest Adaline Nichols.

Adaline remembers her childhood years in the 80 year anniversary edition of the Keosauqua Republican (Page 107, published Thursday August 15, 1935):^[4] "I was born May 17, 1844, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. I was the youngest of four children, all girls. My mother died soon after I came into this world and my father was left without a housekeeper. When I was five years old I with my father and sisters, moved in a covered wagon from Pennsylvania to Avon, Ill. We were there only a short time when my father returned with we children to Pennsylvania...."

5 Oct 1850 William is listed with his four girls on a farm in Summerhill Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania.^[5]

• Nichols William (39 years, male, farmer, born in Pennsylvania)
• Nichols Nancy (13 years, female, born in Pennsylvania)
• Nichols Launda (11 years, female, born in Pennsylvania)
• Nichols Lauretta (8 years, female, born in Pennsylvania)
• Nichols Adaline (6 years, female, born in Pennsylvania)

Note: I believe William and the girls live next door to his wife's mother and siblings. She is widowed and maybe that is the reason why William returned from Illinois so soon after their move there, to help out Mary Jane's family after the death of her father. Lastname and age would fit, but I can't be sure.

Died about 1852 in Pennsylvania, USA.

More memories form the 80 year anniversary edition of the Keosauqua Republican (Page 107, published Thursday August 15, 1935):^[6] "...Very soon, or in 1852, father passed away leaving we children Orphans. I (Adaline) was sent to Chicago to live with an aunt..."

Sources

1. ↑ according to information given in the 1850 Census
2. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9XG-ZZ9X?cc=2224537&wc=9QXV-PYM%3A1067259501%2C1067260602 : 23 August 2016), Iowa > Van Buren > Birmingham-Henry > image 572 of 852; Iowa State Historical Department, Des Moines.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYD-L86?cc=1786457&wc=31SV-7M2%3A1588669737%2C1588666040%2C1588670162 : 24 August 2015), Pennsylvania > Jefferson > Young Township > image 13 of 19; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ read whole artikle on https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=66594275
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTPW-S8F?cc=1401638&wc=95R3-D5S%3A1031314301%2C1031552501%2C1033279801 : 9 April 2016), Pennsylvania > Crawford > Summerhill > image 25 of 30; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ read whole artikle on https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=66594275