NICHOLSON, Delos Fremont, 1915 biography

NICHOLSON, CADY, JAMISON, WINNING, BLAIR, BARROWS, BARR

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/14/2014 at 03:49:42

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Pp. 330-33. Chicago. 1915.

DELOS FREMONT NICHOLSON

Delos Fremont Nicholson, who passed away in Lamoni on the 21st of March, 1908, lived retired for a number of years before his demise but during his active life was a leader in financial circles of Decatur county. He established the first bank in Lamoni, which later became the State Savings Bank. Mr. Nicholson was a native of Hector, Schujder county, New York, born December 11, 1855, a son of Charles and Fanny (Cady) Nicholson, natives respectively of Sandusky, Ohio, and Florence, New York. His great-great-grandfather, Joshua Nicholson, settled at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1740, emigrating to this country from England. The grandfather, Joshua Nicholson, became one of the early pioneers of western New York and passed away there in I860 when eighty-seven years of age. The maternal grandfather was Philip Cady, who was born in Johnstown, New York, in 1787. The birth of Charles Nicholson, the father of our subject, occurred in 1819 and that of the mother in 1828. They were married in Florence, New York, on the 13th of August, 1850, and not long afterward located in Hector, that state, wliere the father engaged in farming, in 1870 he removed to Sandwich, Illinois, with his family. He was a great lover of books and dealt quite extensively in old and rare volumes. He passed away at Sandusky, Ohio, in 1883, while visiting there, but his body was taken to Sandwich for burial. The demise of his wife occurred in Sandwich. To them were born eight children, five daughters and three sons, of whom two sons and two daughters survive. One daughter, Mrs. L. W. Jamison, resides near Lamoni.

Delos Fremont Nicholson went with the family to Illinois, in the fall of 1870, and completed his education in the schools of that state. He attended the classical seminary at Paw Paw, Illinois, and after leaving that institution taught in the district schools and in the schools of Paw Paw, later becoming principal of the Sandwich high school. He was successful in that profession but believed that there were greater opportunities in the business world and accordingly resigned his position as principal and entered the employ of the D. M. Osborne Harvesting Machine Company. He was placed in charge of their branch implement house at Salt Lake City and remained with them for five years, successfully managing their interests throughout Utah, Idaho and Montana. In 1882 he was appointed territorial treasurer of Utah by Governor Murray, but, as he was opposed to polygamy and was neither a member of the Mormon church nor in sympathy with that sect, the legislature, which was dominated by Mormons, refused to sanction his appointment. While living in Salt Lake City Mr. Nicholson acted as correspondent for a number of eastern newspapers and his descriptions of conditions in that part of the west were very interesting, accurate and instructive.

In 1885 he took up his residence in Lamoni, Iowa, and for three years was engaged in the hardware business but in 1888 he sold out at a good profit and in connection with Robert Winning, a capitalist of St. Joseph, Missouri, he organized the first bank in Lamoni, which was soon incorporated as the Lamoni State Bank. Mr. Nicholson was made cashier of the institution and was responsible for its early financial policy, which was one of progressiveness tempered with conservatism and which won the bank the confidence of the community. He was accurately informed concerning local financial conditions and this knowledge enabled him to make the institution of real service to the community and at the same time to safeguard the interests of its depositors and stockholders. Much of its present prosperity is due to Mr. Nicholson's wise management of its affairs during the early days of its history and the policy which he instituted has been followed ever since. He was also interested in real estate and bought and sold a great many farms in addition to laying oif a large tract of land in half acre lots. He promoted several additions to Lamoni and at one time held title to a great deal of land in Decatur county. The last years of his life were spent in honorable retirement but he never ceased to take a great interest in the business and commercial development of his city, and his demise, which occurred in March, 1908, was sincerely mourned.

Mr. Nicholson was married on the 6th of March, 1878, to Miss Minnie Blair, a daughter of the late Elder William W. Blair, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. To this union were born the following children: Harry Carl, whose birth occurred in 1879, was graduated from Graceland College and also attended the State University of Iowa for three years. He is now the cashier of the Packers National Bank of South Omaha and is well known in financial circles of that section. He married Hilda Barrows, a daughter of Benjamin H. Barrows, of Omaha, and they have an adopted daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Todd Blair, born in 1883, received his education in the public and high schools of Lamoni and is now assistant cashier of the Farmers State Bank of this city. He married Velra Barr, a daughter of L. J. Barr, who has resided in Lamoni for many years, and to this union have been born three sons, Carl, Kenneth and Blair. Ray Kessler was born in 1886 and is now traveling for the Carpenter Paper Company which has its headquarters at Des Moines. Gracia, the only daughter, is an alumna of the Lamoni high school and is now taking post-graduate work there.

Mr. Nicholson was a republican and supported the candidates of that party from the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise until his demise. He was elected to a number of local offices and discharged the duties devolving upon him with conscientiousness and ability. He was one of the first members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Lamoni and also belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America. He was reared in the Methodist church but in later life became a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. He was always ready to do anything in his power to advance the cause of education and served as secretary of the board of trustees of Graceland College of Lamoni. He was a successful financier and business man but never made the mistake of allowing commercialism to dominate his life, as he always found time to cooperate with the movements that sought the civic, intellectual and moral development of his community.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014