John Luther Nicodemus, 1828-1915

NICODEMUS, SMITH, DAVIS, WILSON, CONNER, NEWCOMER

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/25/2011 at 21:04:46

J. L. NICODEMUS DEAD
Passed Away Friday Evening, July 30, 1915, at the Age of 87 Years
LARGE PROPERTY OWNER HERE
in the Year 1870...[unreadable headline]

The news of the death of J.L. Nicodemus at his home at Hagerstown, Maryland came over the wire Saturday as a shock barbed with pain and sorrow to his many friends in this city.

He passed away Friday evening, July 30, 1915 at the advanced age of 87 years. While Mr. Nicodemus never lived in Spencer he has been a large property holder since an early day. In 1876 in company with A.W. Miller he organized the Clay County bank, the first bank in the city. Mr. Nicodemus was president and A.W. Miller, cashier. He was not only largely interested in the banking business but owned a large number of business buildings in Spencer besides many acres of farm lands in the county. Until the past few years he made annual visits to Spencer an did much towards the upbuilding of our city. The following obituary is from the Hagerstown Morning Herald.

John Luther Nicodemus, a prominent citizen, financier and president of the People's National Bank of this city, died last night at about 10:45 at his home, 170 West Washington St., of heart trouble, aged 87 years.

Mr. Nicodemus was born in the Boonsboro district, December 8th, 1828. He was the son of John and Anna Maria (Motter) Nicodemus.

Mr. Nicodemus passed his early days on the home farm near Boonsboro, attending the old-fashioned public and pay schools of that vicinity and also Mercersburg College. At the age of sixteen, he went to work in his father's mills, and continued in that occupation until 1865. It was about 1854 that he began the milling business on his own account; he conducted it successfully until 1896, when he relinquished that branch of business. Ever since his father's death he had managed the estate left to his care by that event, with excellent judgment and sagacity. In 1891, Mr. Nicodemus moved to this city, and in 1902 built a handsome residence on West Washington street. In 1893 he was elected president, of the People's National Bank, now one of the leading banking houses of Western Maryland, upon its organization and was also one of the organizers of the Second National National Bank of this city. He was one of the organizers, and was a director of the Citizens Land and Development Company. He was the founder of the Clay County Bank of Spencer Clay County, Iowa, which was founded in 1876, and in l90[?] was merged into a national bank, now known as the First National Bank of Spencer, Ia.

Mr. Nicodemus was interested in many other development and industrial enterprises of this county. He also owned valuable real in this city as well as several productive farms in the county.

In politics, Mr. Nicodemus was an old line Whig until the close of the war and since that time had been a Democrat. As to local elections he was independent, preferring to vote for the best man rather than to be guided by partisanship. He was no aspirant for office, his time and attention being wholly devoted to his business affairs.

Until recently, Mr. Nicodemus, although advanced in years, enjoyed excellent health and was skillful and of sound judgment in the management of his business. He was a consistent and liberal member of the Reformed Church of Boonsboro, having never removed his membership, although he was a constant attendant of the Presbyterian church of this city.

Mr. Nicodemus was twice married, his first wife being Miss Evelyn C., daughter of George Smith, of Frederick, Md. To this union there were born the following children, all of whom survive: Eva May, who married Dr. S.S. Davis, of Boonsboro; Cora V., who married Dr. S.K. Wilson, of Talbot county, Md.; Addie, who married A. P. Connor, of this city; and one son.

Mrs. Evelyn Nicodemus, his first, wife, died in the spring of 1891. On November 9th, 1892 he was again married; this time to Miss Virginia S., daughter of Victor H. and Anna Newcomer, of this county.

Simple and unostentatious in his manner, Mr. Nicodemus was a man of most sincere character. He was remarkable for the scrupulous care and method with which he transacted business, or discharged any trust that was committed to him. He was very
generous--never weary of doing good.

Source: The Spencer Herald, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; August 6, 1915.