Mrs. Florence Nichols Is 100 Years Old

NICHOLS, BROWN, EVANS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/22/2013 at 16:24:19

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
May 5, 1955

MRS. FLORENCE NICHOLS, HERE MOST OF LIFE, IS 100 YEARS OLD

Only a few small frame buildings stood at Grinnell, and farm houses were many miles apart back on May 6, 1855.

But that is the day Mrs. Florence Nichols, native of the Rock Creek and Newburg areas and a resident of Grinnell most of her life, was born.

Mrs. Nichols, in a rest home at Montezuma, will observe her 100th birthday anniversary on Friday, May 6.

Confined to a rest home for the past five years, Mrs. Nichols is in generally good physical health. Rest home authorities tell relatives that she generally eats very well and is a good patient.

Mrs. Nichols has been confined to her bed and a wheel chair since about three years ago when she suffered a fractured hip in a fall.

Born Florence Brown on a homestead at Rock Creek, she was married at the age of 20 to Horace "Hod" Nichols. They farmed in the Rock Creek and Newburg communities during their early married years and in 1900 moved to a farm near Des Moines. Ten years later they returned to Grinnell and continued to reside here. They spent one year in Nebraska, but returned to Iowa because of the grasshopper plague which struck that year.

Returning to Grinnell in 1910, they constructed a house at 220 West street and resided there throughout the remainder of their years here.

FOURTEEN CHILDREN

Mrs. Nichols was the mother of 14 children, nine of whom died in infancy or early childhood. A 10th child died a few years ago. Surviving children are Floyd Nichols of Grinnell, Mrs. R.W. (Rosie) Evans of Newton, Charlie of Waterford, Pa., and Raymond of Indianola. Eldest of the children is Rosie, now about 75.

She also has 26 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

NINE IN FAMILY

One of 9 children, she has one sister, Nettie in California, still living. Four sisters, Ann, Liz, Lil and Florie, and three brothers, Bill, Emery and Hi are deceased.

WATCHED FIRST TRAIN

Among the stories which her son Floyd recalls, is that Mrs. Nichols and her brothers and sisters sat on a rail fence and witnessed the arrival of the Rock Island railroad and its first train into the Grinnell community. Her tales of the infamous cyclone which struck the area are also legend among her children.

Floyd Nichols is hopeful of being able to spend a part of the day Friday with his mother on her 100th birthday, and other children from this area have indicated that they too want to be with her that day.

Her late husband was employed by the Grinnell city departments for more than 20 years and he also worked for at time here at the Spaulding company. He died 18 years ago.