William Harrison Nicholson (1869 - 1912)

Born 10 Sep 1869 in Macon County, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Oct 1912 at age 43 in Decatur, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Decatur Herald 10/14/1912

William H. Nicholson, one of Decatur's widely known business men and son of Sheriff J. P. Nicholson, died in his home, 703 W. William street at 11 o'clock Sunday morning after being confined to his home for five months. He was 43 years old.

For a number of years he was connected with the banking business but became identified with other lines and when the Decatur's Southern Traction Railway company was being organized he was one of the promoters. As a business man he was recognized as energetic and efficient.

He was born in Macon county, Sept. 10, 1869. He received his education in the Decatur public schools and the high school. During the early years of his life, he worked on his fathers farm. After leaving high school he took a course in a business college in 1889 he became identified with the Millikin bank and served as bookkeeper for six years. He was then made receiving teller of the bank and occupied that position for about nine years, becoming thoroughly acquainted with banking operations and gaining the high regard and a good reputation among business men of Macon county. Desiring to operate independently, he entered the loan and investment business to which he mainly devoted his time in the last eight years. In January, 1910, he assisted in the promotion of the Decatur Southern Traction railway. In his business career he showed ability that promised a bright future and he was successful in most of his undertakings.

His fight for life has been a hard one and it was not until Saturday morning that he seemed to give up all hopes of recovering.

He was married Oct. 6, 1891, to Miss Lota H Cresap of Champaign, county. To them were born four children, Ruth, Irma, Mildred and William, all now at home. He leaves besides the widow and children, a father and mother, Mr. and Mrs.J.P. Nicholson, four brothers, C.C.Nicholson, I.C.Nicholson, R.A.Nicholson, L.B Nicholson all of Decatur and two sisters, Julia Nicholson and Mina Nicholson, both at home.

In Politics Mr.Nicholson was a Republican. He was widely know throughout the county.

Funeral services will be conducted in the home, 703 W. William street at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Rev. W. H. Penhallegon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.

Obituary furnished by Janet Donner

Sources

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6H7-C42 : accessed 24 April 2016), William Nicholson in household of Jerry Nicholson, Illinois, United States; citing p. 14, family 98, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,748.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS48-PXB : accessed 23 April 2016), William H Nicholson, Decatur Township Decatur city Ward 2, Macon, Illinois, United States; citing sheet 16B, family 404, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,240,323.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK66-ZTT : accessed 11 April 2016), William H Nicholson, Decatur Ward 2, Macon, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 109, sheet 5A, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,320.

• Title: City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Volume 2. City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, William Edward Nelson. Publisher Pioneer, 1920. Page 428-429.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #22968879

• "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3WK-GCG : 10 March 2018), William H. Nicholson in entry for Lota Hamilton Nicholson, 17 Jun 1945; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,984,190.

• "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPVM-TYX : 26 November 2014), Nicholson in entry for Irma Irene Patterson, 07 Nov 1987; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.

• "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQS-89Z3 : 10 February 2023), William H Nicholson in entry for William H Nicholson, .

• http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cresap/descendants/d6.htm#i441