NICHOLS, Capt. Ross A. 1857-1937

NICHOLS, SCOUGHTON

Posted By: S. Ferrall IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 2/15/2013 at 20:09:56

Waukon, Ia. - Captain Ross A. Nichols, 79, resident of Waukon from childhood, and who had a long and meritorious military career, succumbed to heart failure early Wednesday morning in an arm chair at his home in Waukon. He had been about the city as usual the day before. Never having married, he lived alone, and had arisen and started the house fires to await the arrival of his housekeeper, Mrs. Ruth Scoughton. She found him lifeless in his arm chair.

Captain Nichols was born May 17, 1857, at Martin's Ferry. He came from there to this vicinity with his parents when seven years old, and had resided here ever since. He engaged in teaming and contract road work for several years. In his latter years he served as justice of the peace, and was filling that position at the time of his death. For ten or more years he was chairman of the Republican County Central committee.

All of his immediate family has passed away, a brother, Frank of La Crosse, having preceded him in death a year and a half ago.

Captain Nichols became a member of the local military organization in 1878, and rose to the rank of lieutenant and captain. After serving with his company in the 49th Iowa regiment in the Cuban campaign of the Spanish-American war, he was commissioned a captain in the 36th Infantry of the regular army, becoming captain of Company "B". His regiment served with valor in the Philippines in suppressing the insurrection started by [Ageigaldo is 'best guess].

Upon being mustered out in 1901, he returned to Waukon and engaged in filling road contracts throughout Allamakee county, previous to the period of construction of gravel and paved highways.

Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from a local funeral chapel, under auspices of the Spanish-American War Veterans and the American Legion. Burial will be in Oakland cemetery with military honors.

~La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Thursday, October 21, 1937