For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 721
I. A. NICHOLS. The financial interests of West Liberty are ably represented by I. A. Nichols, president of the Iowa State Bank and Trust Company, who is recognized as one of the trustworthy and substantial citizens of the county. He is a native of Morrow county, Ohio, born July 10, 1853, a son of Ira and Elizabeth (Luse) Nichols. The father, who was born in New York state, February 13, 1820, engaged as railroad contractor in Ohio and in 1853 came to Muscatine county, Iowa, locating on South Prairie, where he became identified with the agricultural interests. In 1878 he removed to West Liberty and ten years later he passed away. He was a man of good business judgment and as a farmer ranked with the best in the community. Politically he gave his support to the republican party and at the time of the Civil war was a strong supporter of President Lincoln and the course which he pursued in putting down the rebellion. He served on the board of supervisors for a number of years, being a member of that board at the time of his death. Socially he was connected with the various Masonic bodies, including the lodge, chapter, council and commandery, and he was also a valued member of the Methodist church. He was the pioneer of the family to settle west of the Mississippi river and was followed by seven of his brothers. The great-great-grandfather on the paternal side, Samuel Nichols, came to America from England in 1728 and lived for some time in northern New York, afterward locating in Vermont. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna Stephens, was a native of Scotland. Several of their sons took part in the Revolutionary war, fighting in behalf of the colonists. The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania and married Mr. Nichols in Ohio. She departed this life in 1910 and her remains were interred in Oakridge cemetery. There were six children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Nichols; Pliny Clay, who enlisted in Company D, Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteers, and died while at the front at Vicksburg, August 10, 1863; Charles M., now engaged in the dry-goods business in West Liberty; John D., who died at the age of two years; I. A., the subject of this review; J. I., a farmer living in Wapsinonoc township, this county; and Viola, who also died at two years of age.I. A. Nichols received his education in the common and high schools of West Liberty and, having decided upon a business career, conducted a dry-goods store in West Liberty in 1873, continuing in this line of trade until 1889, when he entered the hardware business, with which he was identified for two or three years. In February, 1897, he organized the Iowa State Bank and Trust Company at West Liberty, of which he served as cashier for nine years, since which time he has filled the office of president. The bank from the very beginning has been unusually successful and has earned a surplus equal to its capital stock. Its success has been in a large measure due to the energy and ability of Mr. Nichols. In addition to being a stockholder of the bank he is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in Wapsinonoc township.
In 1875 Mr. Nichols was united in marriage to Miss Laura Vincent, a resident of Illinois, who was born in the state of Vermont. Two children have blessed this union: Edna, who died at the age of five years; and Mildred, now the wife of A. W. Hogue, of Seattle, Washington. Ever since arriving at maturity Mr. Nichols has given his adherence to the republican party, believing that its principles are best adapted to promote the interests of the nation. He is a stanch friend of education, having observed its benefits in many ways during the course of a long business experience, and for sixteen years he served as member of the school board. Fraternally he is connected with the lodge and chapter of the Masonic order at West Liberty. He and his wife are earnest members of the Presbyterian church and are leaders in a community with which he has been intimately identified for thirty-eight years. He is known as a man of unusual intelligence, energy and forethought and has the confidence and esteem not only of business men and investors but of all with whom he has come into contact.
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