TRUMAN K NICKERSON, b 26 Oct 1825

NICKERSON, WOOD, KIMPTON, HOLLISTER, FINTON, VINE, HUBBARD

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 7/14/2004 at 09:13:59

The subject of this notice, who is numbered among the earliest and most enterprising pioneers of this county, is regarded as one of its most solid and substantial citizens. He still owns the farm of 320 acres, which his father entered from the Government, and upon which he has resided from his boyhood until November, 1887. He then removed to Maquoketa, purchasing the home which he now occupies, and which is finely located. He represents a fine property - largely the result of his own industry and good management. His name is widely and favorably known throughout the county and is the synonym of all that is worthy and respectable.

A native of Vermont, Mr. Nickerson was born in Castleton, Rutland County, Oct. 26, 1825. He was the youngest child of his parents, and their only son, and was a youth of sixteen years when he came with them to this county. The removal was made via Lake Champlain and the Champlain and Erie Canal to Buffalo; thence by the Lakes to Chicago, which was then a small village. There they purchased a team of horses and a wagon and proceeded overland to this county. Wild animals were plentiful, and deer especially, often being seen in droves of fifty to 100. The land of Iowa was mostly the property of the Government. The nearest markets for some years were the river towns.

Young Nickerson resided with his parents until the spring of 1850, then started overland to California with a team, crossing the Missouri river three miles below Kanesville, as Council Bluffs was then called, whence they entered the Northwest Territory. Nebraska was then not even organized as a territory, and there were no white settlers west of its borders until reaching the Pacific slope. Large herds of antelope, deer, and buffalo roamed at will over the plains, from which the travelers procured a bountiful supply of meat. They arrived at Placerville in August, and Mr. Nickerson commenced mining, which he followed nearly two years, then obtained an interest in a trading post. He occupied himself overlooking this until 1853, and then returning home, engaged in farming one year.

At the expiration of this time Mr. Nickerson purchased land, with water power and a saw-mill, in South Fork Township, one and one-half miles west of Maquoketa. In 1855, he built a flouring mill, and operated both mills until 1867; after that he further utilized the water-power in a woolen mill, which he built and operated until 1883, when it was destroyed by fire. In the meantime he had commenced to develop the immense limestone quarries on his land adjacent to the mills and since their destruction has been largely engaged in burning lime, turning out large quantities of a first-class commodity, which he has rapidly disposed of, not only throughout the State but in Nebraska and Dakota.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Sarah L. Wood took place at the bride's home in Maquoketa, the 16th of February, 1856. Mrs. Nickerson was born in Ticonderoga, Essex Co., N.Y., and is a daughter of Lewis M. and Sophia C. Wood, who were natives of Ticonderoga, N.Y., and are now of Maquoketa. This union resulted in the birth of six children; namely: Annis K., Garry G., Myrta A. Cora A., Gertie S., and Roy. Mr. Nickerson identified himself with the Republican party at the time of its organization in 1856, but twenty years later, in 1876, joined the Greenbackers.

The father of our subject was Tartullus Nickerson, also a native of the Green Mountain State, and whose father was born in Ireland. The latter emigrated to America during the colonial days, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Vermont, where he cleared a farm and resided until his death. He was called hence, however, in his prime, as was also his wife while middle aged, and Tartullus, was thus left an orphan at the age of seven years. He was bound out to a man named Borland in Manchester. Mr. Borland was the proprietor of a grist-mill, and young Nickerson thus learned the miller's trade, which he followed until after his marriage.

After the above important event the father of our subject emigrated to New York State, where he spent two or three years, then returned to Vermont and resided until 1827. That year he went back to New York, and purchased a small farm near Ticonderoga, Essex County, and resided there and in Warren County until 1842. That year he made his way to Iowa Territory and purchased a claim in South Fork Township, this county. When the land came into market he went to Dubuque and entered it at the land office, paying $1.25 per acre. Thirty acres had been broken and there stood upon it a small log-house. Mr. Nickerson in due time became the owner of 320 acres of land, which he enclosed with fencing, put a good set of frame buildings, and brought the greater part of the land to a state of cultivation. This made a comfortable homestead where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1881, at the ripe old age of eighty-six years.

The mother of our subject, who in her girlhood was Miss Hannah Kimpton, likewise a native of Rutland County, Vt., and a daughter of Simeon Kimpton, a native of Connecticut, and one of the pioneers of the Green Mountain State. He was a blacksmith by trade, but in Vermont became the owner of a tract of land in Manchester. He worked at his trade a part of the time and devoted the remainder to the improvement of his land; resided there until about 1814. He then left New England and removed to Essex County, N.Y., purchasing a tract of land near Ticonderoga and established the first carding machine ever operated by water power in New York State. He possessed a great amount of enterprise and energy, and besides his farming, milling, and blacksmithing, engaged in various other enterprises. Soon after the close of the War of 1812, he went over into Canada and engaged in the lumber business, penetrating the wilderness fifteen miles above the head of navigation on the river DeLean. He was successful, prosecuting an extensive business, which later he sold to his sons. Then repairing to his farm at Ticonderoga, he there spent the remainder of his life. Grandmother Kimpton was in her girlhood Annis Hollister. She was born in Connecticut and spent her last years at the farm in New York State.

The mother of our subject came to the West with her family and died at the old homestead in South Fork Township, this county, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Four of the children of the parental household, three daughters and a son, survived her. Elvira became the wife of Daniel Finton, and resided in Hardin County, this State; died in 1885. Mahala (Mrs. George Vine) is a resident of Monmouth, this County; Macia A. married Leonard T. Hubbard, and is also a resident of Monmouth; Truman K., our subject, is the only son living.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)