Nicholson, James Birrell 1861-1934

NICHOLSON, LAING, KOENIG, SHUENK, BERNER, BURG, LITTLE

Posted By: Janet M Schuldt (email)
Date: 4/24/2017 at 16:08:50

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, LeMars, Plymouth, Iowa Tuesday, December 18, 1934

Widely Known Citizen Drops Dead At Home

J.B. Nicholson Was Resident of Plymouth County for Over Fifty Years

Came Here in Eighties

Was Successful Farm and Stock Raiser Many Years

J.B. Nicholson, widely known farmer and stock raiser in Plymouth county for many years, dropped dead at his home, 109 Seventh Street SE Friday afternoon. He was apparently in his usual good health and was downtown in the forenoon, attending to business affairs and pursing his usual daily avocations,

His sudden death came as a great shock to his relatives and friends. Mr. Nicholson enjoyed a high standing in the community and a wide range of acquaintanceship and was esteemed by all who know him for his integrity, honesty and straight forward manner and view of life.

James Birrell Nicholson was born in Annan. Scotland, August 12, 1861, and received his education in Edinburgh. His father Benjamin Nicholson was a man of distinction in the British Isles, engaged in ship building at Annan and was director of two large railroad systems.

Mr. Nicholson and his father, making a trip to America in 1880, were attached to northwestern, Iowa, where a land boom was in progress and coming to LeMars, purchased three thousand acres of land in Washington, Grant and Elgin townships. Later they sold some of the land retaining five farms on which J. B. Nicholson and his brothers located.

Returning to LeMars two or three years later, James Nicholson settled on land three and a half miles southwest of LeMars and developed a fine farm. He engaged in raising cattle and sheep and in stock feeding and built a fine home and buildings and made an ideal home. Subsequently he bought the Floyd Farm adjoining town, where he lived until retiring to LeMars to make his home.

Celebrates Golden Wedding

Mr. Nicholson was united in marriage with Miss Georgina Laing in LeMars, May 10, 1883, the ceremony taking place in St. George’s church. They lived a long and happy married life, celebrating their golden wedding last year.

With the bereaved wife he leaves to mourn his death two sons and five daughters, Ben Nicholson, Mrs. J. G. Koenig of LeMars; Mrs. A W. Dula of Minneapolis; James Nicholson of Burbank, Calif.: Mrs. Georgina Shuenk of LeMars; Mrs. Felix Berner of Minneapolis, and Mrs Alfred Burg of St Paul, Minn. There are nine grandchildren. He also leaves four brothers and two sisters, John Nicholson of Annan, Scotland; Ben Nicholson of LeMars; William Nicholson of Struble and Richard Nicholson of Scarboro Bluffs, Canada; Mrs. Murray Little of Annan, Scotland and Miss Sarah Nicholson of Bath, England.

Mr. Nicholson was a broadminded citizen of the world, interested in national and community affairs. He contributed liberally to public enterprises and to the church. He was interested in legitimate sports, having been a famous football and cricket player in his youth.

Funeral Held at Home

Last services were held from the home Monday afternoon with Rev. F. Pfaltzgraff, pastor of the First Presbyterian church officiating. Three nephews, William, Richard and Donald Nicholson and three grandsons, Glen Nicholson, Jams Koenig and Richard Shuenk , carried the remains to their last resting place in the city cemetery