Roscoe E. Nichol (1886-1936)

NICHOL, DE KLOTZ, DEINLEIN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 3/15/2009 at 19:34:14

AMES DAILY TRIBUNE AND TIMES, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Monday, April 13, 1936.

ROSCOE E. NICHOL, CITY ATTORNEY 8 YEARS, SUCCUMBS

Was Engaged In Law Practice Here 25 Years

Roscoe E. Nichol, 49, Ames city attorney since 1928 and lawyer here for nearly 25 years, died at 3 a. m. Monday at his home at 1017 Burnett avenue. He had suffered from a severe heart attack several mouths ago but had returned to active practice until two weeks ago, when he was again confined to his home.

No definite arrangements for funeral services had been made at 3 p. m., but it was believed that the funeral would be held some time Wednesday. The city hall will be closed during the services.

Mr. Nichol was born in Lucas county May 17, 1886 and later his family went to live in Shelby and Audubon counties.

Iowa Law School

After attending public schools at home, he entered Northwestern academy at Evanston, Ill., now known as Evanston academy. He later attended Northwestern university for two years. Transferring to the University of Iowa law school, he was graduated in 1910. He was married the same year to Miss Frances De Klotz of Shelby county.

He worked for one year for a farm loan company in Minneapolis, and in August of 1911 came to Ames and established his law practice. He and his brother, Harold C. Nichol, have conducted their law practice from offices at 316 1/2 Main street for the past 14 years.

Revises Ordinances

In 1928 he was appointed city attorney to succeed Judge J. T. Luke. His term as city attorney expired April 1, but as the city council had not made the city attorney, appointment because of Nichol's illness, he continued in that office until the time of his death.

In 1930 Nichol completed a revision of the city ordinances, the first undertaken since 1909. The exhaustive revision, which necessitated a study of all of the city's ordinances, was published to June of 1931 in a 267-page volume.

Active Member

An active member of both the state and county bar associations, Nichol also was a member of the Masonic lodge, the Ames Golf and Country club and the Mono clan.

Surviving him are his wife, two daughters, Mrs. V. E. Deinlein of Chicago, and Helen, at home, and one son, James, at home; also his mother, Mrs. Helen E. Nichol of Ames, and his brother, Harold C. of Ames.

AMES DAILY TRIBUNE AND TIMES, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, April 14, 1936.

Nichol Rites Will Be Held At 10:30 Wed.

Funeral services for Roscoe E. Nichol, city attorney who died Monday morning, will be held at 10:30 a. m. Wednesday from the First Methodist church, with the Rev. Walter A. Morgan, pastor of the church, in charge, it was announced late Monday. Burial will be in the Ames cemetery.

The city hall will be closed all morning, and city officials will attend the funeral services in a body. City hall offices will be reopened at 1 p. m.

It was reported that numerous Ames business men and out-of-town friends and relatives will be here Wednesday for the Nichol rites in the morning and for the E. C. Sawyer rites at 2 p. m.

Final Services for Mr. Sawyer, prominent real estate man who died Sunday, will be held from the Adams chapel, with the Rev. Arthur R. McLaughlin of the Congregational church and the Rev. Walter Barlow of the Collegiate Presbeterian church in charge. Burial will be in the Ames cemetery.