Gordon Murray Nicholson (1903 - 1996)

Born 28 Feb 1903 in Upland, San Bernardino County, California

Ancestors

Husband of Jeanne Richardson (Healey) Nicholson — married 29 Nov 1929 in Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada, United States

Descendants

Died 3 May 1996 at age 93 in Tumacacori, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Stephen Trueblood [send private message]

Biography

Gordon was born 28 February 1903^[1] in Upland, California. He was the son of Stewart and Matilda Nicholson. His father owned newly planted orange and lemon groves in the citrus growing town. He was the third of their three sons. His father passed away just after Gordon's first birthday from tuberculosis.

In 1910^[2], Gordon was living with his mother and his two older brothers at the ranch house on W. Seventh Street, approximately where Citrus Elementary School stands today.

In 1920^[3], Gordon was still in school and living at home with his mother and eldest brother, Clarence.

On November 29 1929, Gordon married Jeanne Healey in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jeanne (always known as Gigi) however had to continue staying with her parents as she Gordon (henceforth always known as Nick) could not yet set up home together. They got married while Gigi was still in college and she would have been expelled if they had been found out.

In 1930^[4], Nick was still listed at the ranch house with his mother and his other brother, Norman, who was a dentist. His mother, Tillie, was by then 64 and Gordon was running the groves.

Their first child Nancy was born 9 July 1932^[5] in Long Beach, California, at Gigi's parents house.

Their younger child, Gordon, was born two years later. By this time the family were finally living together at 755 N Euclid Ave, Upland in San Bernardino County^[6].

At the end of the war, in 1946, Nick decided to move to Arizona to grow citrus and cotton in Mesa, outside Phoenix, as southern California's urban sprawl began to eat into orange growing space around Upland. His family remained behind. He lived at 1960 N. Recker Road on the Tyler & Nicholson Ranch.

In 1980, urban sprawl again ate into his ranch; he sold up and moved to Stanfield, near Casa Grande, Arizona. Finally he moved to Tumacacori, Arizona, down near the Mexican border, far from any major city. Here he lived until his death on 3 May 1996 at the age of 93. Having twice sold his farmland for housing development he died a wealthy man. He was survived by his son, Gordon, and by six grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was buried back in Bellevue Memorial Park, Ontario, California; near his parents.

Sources

1. ↑ California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLW-QFWS
2. ↑ US Federal Census 1910 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVL5-5DM
3. ↑ US Federal Census 1920 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHW4-LYY
4. ↑ US Federal Census 1930 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC6C-7C7
5. ↑ California Birth Index, 1905-1995 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLNV-MHH
6. ↑ US Federal Census 1940 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K98Z-9PP

• Family History & recollections