Minerva (White) Nicholson

NICHOLSON, WHITE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/11/2004 at 09:12:47

Minerva Nicholson, Jefferson twp., widow of S. W. Nicholson, farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. DeSoto; born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1831; daughter of Michael E. White, now of this county; married June 18, 1850, in her native county; Mr. Nicholson was born in Jefferson county, and raised in Muskingum county; he lived in Ohio until 1854, when he emigrated to Madison county, where his survivor now lives; they entered their land from the government in the spring of 1854; during the same spring Wm. Payton and James Brown located near; these three families being the first settlers in what is now Jefferson township; Mrs. Nicholson has in her possession the first poll-book of the township; her husband was township clerk for the first ten years after the organization thereof; Mrs. Nicholson taught the first school taught on the divide between Council Bluffs and Des Moines; the building still stands near her fine residence, a happy reminder of the past; owns 160 (acres) of land, well cultivated and all modern improvements, and a grand apple orchard, being on of the three oldest in the township, it has been bearing for fifteen years and has never failed to supply the family and some to spare; Mrs. Nicholson was left a widow October 27, 1874; since then she has managed her farm with the energy and success that only a woman can, that has, like her, been early taught by experience to face trial and privations; Mrs. Nicholson was a member of the first religious organization in the township, viz. The M. E. church, organized July, 1855, at William Payton’s house, now on Sec. 6, Jefferson township; this organization boasted of thirteen members, viz. William Payton and wife, D. H. Rose and wife, John Mitchell and wife, Geo. Mullin and wife, S; W. Nicholson and wife and Geo. Gutshall and two others.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1879" page 654