George Allen Nichols 1859-1940

NICHOLS, CARSON, DEMING, TAFT

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/28/2010 at 00:57:25

Editor Geo. A. Nichols Dies in Florida Hospital
Death Sunday Eve Caused By Stroke

VINDICATOR AND REPUBLICAN
STROKE EARLY SATURDAY NEVER REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS. DIED AT HOSPITAL. SERVICES PROBABLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON EPISCOPAL CHURCH LAKE WALES. FURTHER PLANS DEPEND ON MOTHERS RECOVERY BAD CASE FLU. – ADELAIDE NICHOLS

Word was receive at the Vindicator and Republican office Monday, February 5th, bringing the sad news of the death of the Editor of this paper, George A. Nichols, 80, who died at Lake Wales, Fla., Sunday at 9 p.m. Early Saturday morning Mr. Nichols had a stroke and never regained consciousness.

Mr. Nichols has been in the newspaper business in Estherville for almost half a century. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols accompanied by their granddaughter, Miss Georgia Deming, left here Nov. 14 to spend the winter in their Florida home at Babson Park. He was enjoying good health until a few days ago when he took sick with the flue. Saturday his son, Herbert, and daughter, Adelaide, received a message from Mrs. Nichols stating that their father was sick and to come at once. Miss Adelaide left on the evening train and was joined at Iowa Falls by her brother. However, they had not reached their father’s bedside when he passed away. With him at the time of his death were his wife, Mrs. Geo. A. Nichols, his granddaughter, Miss Georgia Deming, and some of his close friends.

Almost half a century has passed since Mr. Nichols arrived in Estherville to go into the newspaper business, and he is justly numbered among her leading citizens, his labors having contributed largely to the upbuilding and prosperity of Estherville, where he is the oldest business man in years and continuous service. His record was that of an honorable conscientious man, who by his upright life, has won the confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He had reached the age of four score years, but with a long and busy life he had the vigor and interest of a much younger man, and in spirit seemed yet in his prime. Up until this week Mr. Nichols has contributed his editorial to this paper which has always been widely read, and also worked in his large citrus grove, pruning trees, and when extra help was needed he was always on had superintending the work. Politically he was a Republican, but in his editorial columns he never hesitated to criticize or complement either party in power. He was fearless in his editorials regardless of the public sentiment and always loyal to his friends.

Mr. Nichols was a great reader and kept well informed upon the questions of the day, possessed an excellent education and abundant talent and general ability.

George Allen Nichols, editor and business manager of the Vindicator and Republican, was born Nov. 27, 1859, in Oneida county, New York, his parents being Charles B. and Henrietta E. (Taft) Nichols, who were natives of the Empire state and who in 1865 removed westward to Wisconsin settling in Richland county among its early settlers.

It was there that Geo. A. Nichols obtained his education by attending the district and high schools and in 1881 he was graduated from the Sextonville high school, after which he took up the study of law in the Wisconsin State University and also read under the direction of his uncle, N. F. Nichols, a well known attorney of Aurora, Illinois. Having been admitted to the bar, he practiced his profession in the territory of Dakota in 1885 and 1886 and then turned his attention to the newspaper business, which he followed in Dakota territory and in South Dakota after the admission of the state into the Union. The first venture was the purchase of the Dakota Blizzard, a final proof sheet in Copp, Potter County. This was discontinued and the plant moved to Lebanon when the railroad was built in that section, which was the founding of the Lebanon Observer. There he remained until 1891, when he moved with his family to Estherville, Iowa, and purchased a half interest in the Emmet County Republican, with J. E. Jenkins, of which he afterward became the sole proprietor.

The Republican was later merged with the Northern Vindicator. He has devoted his entire time to newspaper work since taking his initial step in that field save for the three winters of 1896, 1897, and 1898, which he spent in Des Moines as journal clerk of the senate in the state legislature. He served two terms as a member of the city council of Estherville. His influence has always been on the side of progress and improvement, of right and reform, and has done much to further advancement along those lines.

On the 16th of February, 1885, at Boscobel, in Richland county, Wisconsin, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage to Miss Adelaide M. Carson. They would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this month.

Mr. Nichols holds membership in the Episcopal church and fraternally he was a prominent Mason for 54 years, belonging to North Star Lodge No. 447 A.F. & A.M.; Jeptha Chapter, No. 128, R.A.M.; Esdraelon Commandery No. 52 K.T. and North Star Chapter O.E.S. From 1894 until 1896 inclusive he was secretary of North Star Lodge and in 1892 was commander of Esdraelon Commandery.

He is survived by his widow, son Herbert T. Nichols and daughter, Miss Adelaide Nichols. Another daughter, Mrs. W. E. Deming, died May 26th, 1937. There are three grandchildren: William N., Kathleen Mae, and Georgia Adelaide Deming.

The remains will be brought to Estherville for interment in Oak Hill cemetery, however funeral arrangements have not been made. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, February 6, 1940)