For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 187
TOWNSEND B. NICHOLS. The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the annals of Muscatine county without learning how close and honorable has been the connection of the Nichols family with the development and progress of this region. He whose name introduces this review was born in the village of Nichols on the 20th of January, 1874. His parents were Benjamin F. and Susan M. (Jenkins) Nichols, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was a son of Samuel and Mary (Rogers) Nichols, both natives of Chillicothe, Ohio, and in that state the latter died. In 1842, Samuel Nichols was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Nancy Searles, the widow of Dr. Searles, of Wapello, Iowa. He had come to this state soon after the death of his first wife, arriving in the year 1838, at which time he located in what is now known as Pike township, Muscatine county. Iowa was still a part of the territory of Wisconsin and the Indians far outnumbered the white settlers in most portions of the state, although the work of civilization was being vigorously carried forward along the Mississippi, while some more venturesome spirits, willing to brave the greater dangers and hardships of pioneer life, had penetrated into the interior. Samuel Nichols entered a section of land, upon which he built a log cabin. It was one of the typical pioneer homes, covered with a clapboard roof. The floor was made of puncheons and the door had a wooden latch, which was lifted by the latchstring that was drawn in at night, so that the door could not be opened from the outside. As soon as he had completed this primitive home Samuel Nichols returned to Ohio and in 1840 he came with his family, consisting of five children, to Iowa, settling upon the claim which he had previously secured. These children were: Benjamin F., the father of Townsend B. Nichols; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Hosea Johns but both are now deceased; Margaret, who married John Swickard and they are also deceased; Mary, who became the wife of A. J. Brockway but both have now passed away; and Townsend, living in Los Angeles, California, who is, however, one of the most extensive landowners of Muscatine county, Iowa, his holdings embracing over twenty-two hundred acres of finely improved land, all under a high state of cultivation, together with various properties in the village of Nichols. He lived with his parents until they passed away, after which he removed to Chicago, Illinois, where he resided until 1902, in which year he went to California, where he has since made his home. Martha, the youngest of the family, has also passed away.Samuel Nichols secured his land in Iowa with a land warrant granted him in recognition of his services in the war of 1812. During the second military contest with England he had served as a private under Captain Wallace of the Ohio militia. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged and was given the land warrant, which he did not locate, however, until he first came to Muscatine county in 1838, at which time he secured his section of land in Pike township and began the development of the farm that is still owned by members of his family. He remained in active connection with general agricultural pursuits here throughout his remaining days. He and his family occupied the original log cabin which he built in 1838 for about twenty-one years or until 1859. During that time no deaths occurred in that cabin. Two of the daughters, however, were married there, Elizabeth becoming the wife of Hosea Johns, while Margaret E. married John Swickard. There were also two births in that cabin, Mrs. Robert Black, a cousin of Townsend B. Nichols, having been born there, as was also Florence Swickard, a daughter of John Swickard, likewise a cousin of Townsend B. Nichols. As the years passed on Samuel Nichols prospered in his undertakings. He not only brought his original claim under a high state of development but also added to his holdings from time to time until he was the owner of three thousand acres of land in Muscatine county, lying mostly in Pike township. He manifested keen business judgment and sagacity and, realizing that this land must eventually advance in price, he very wisely made extensive investments.
Benjamin F. Nichols, his son and the father of Townsend B. Nichols, remained with his father in Muscatine county until 1849, when attracted by the discoveries of gold on the Pacific coast, he made his way to California, traveling by way of New Orleans, where he embarked on a vessel for Galveston, Texas, thence he made his way across Mexico and on its western shore embarked for San Francisco. He remained in California and other parts of the west for nineteen years, after which he returned to the old homestead in Muscatine county, Iowa. He then took charge of the farm, handled stock of all kinds and managed the estate until after his parents' deaths in 1871. The work which had been instituted by his father was continued by him and thus in a later generation he proved as valuable and active a factor in public progress as his father had before him. He laid out the town site of Nichols, the plat being filed for record on the 22nd of June, 1871. This is now a village of about four hundred and fifty inhabitants. Benjamin F. Nichols there conducted a store and he and his brother also built a hotel, which they carried on for two years. At the end of that time Benjamin F. Nichols returned to the farm which his son Townsend now owns and occupied it continously until his death, which occurred on the 5th of November, 1893. He is still survived by his widow, who is now living in Nichols at the age of sixty-five years.
Townsend B. Nichols is the only son born unto his parents. He still lives upon a part of the old homestead, being now the owner of six hundred acres of that property. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock of all kinds and keeps high grade cattle, horses and hogs. His business ability and executive force are manifested in his careful and successful management of his private interests. In addition he also has charge of his uncle's estate of twenty-two hundred acres and other properties. A course in business college well trained him for work which he is now doing and practical experience has given him broad knowledge. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion and his enterprise stands as an unquestioned fact in his career. In addition to the management and control of extensive farming interests he is one of the directors of the Nichols Savings Bank.
On the 25th of November, 1897, was celebrated the marriage of Townsend B. Nichols and Miss Letitia Medora Sutton, a native of Story county, Iowa, and a daughter of George and Letitia (Ames) Sutton, both of whom were natives of New York. Going to Illinois, they remained for a short time and then removed to Story county, Iowa, where they lived until 1890, when they came to Muscatine county, where the mother died in 1907. The father is still living with his daughter, Mrs. Nichols, at the age of seventy-three years. Unto him and his wife were born six children, of whom four are yet living. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Nichols has been blessed with two children: Benjamin F., born November 26, 1898; and Anna Letitia, born November 28, 1900.
In his political views Mr. Nichols is a democrat and has been township clerk for two years. He is likewise president of the school board of Nichols and his aid and cooperation can always be counted upon to further any public project for the good of town, county, state or nation. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Nichols, in which he has filled most of the chairs, and to the Odd Fellows lodge and the Modern Woodmen camp, also of Nichols. He is a typical young business man of the present day, alert and enterprising and watchful of opportunities pointing to success. His careful direction of his business affairs has made his properties valuable and productive and his efforts have largely been of a character that have contributed to public progress as well as individual prosperity.
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