For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 173
JOHN NICOLA. John Nicola, a retired farmer of Muscatine county, who has now passed the psalmist's alloted span of three score and ten years and is enjoying a well earned rest, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1840. At six years of age he was left an orphan and two years later he became a member of the family of Samuel Nichols, of Pike township, Muscatine county, Iowa. He received his education in the district schools and continued upon the farm of Mr. Nichols until September, 1862, when he responded to the call of President Lincoln and enlisted in Company B, Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served with his regiment until the close of the war, being present at all the principal battles in which it participated, except the battle of Selma, at which time he was confined in a hospital. He received his honorable discgarge in May, 1865.Returning to Muscatine county, Mr. Nicola resumed his former activities as a farmer boy, being still connected with the family under whose sheltering protection he had formerly lived. After his marriage he moved upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 2, Pike township, which he had acquired through his own exertions, and for twenty-two years remained upon that place, becoming one of the most prosperous farmers in the region. On account of educating his children, he then removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for two years and then took up his residence in the village of Nichols, where he has since lived. By diligence and good management he has acquired two hundred and sixty acres in Muscatine county, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and which yields generous returns for the time and labor expended. In addition to his farming interests, he is connected with a number of business concerns. He was one of the organizers of the Nichols Savings Bank, of which he has since served as vice president. He is also president of the Nichols Hall Association and the Nichols Telephone Company, and in all his business career has exhihited a sound judgment that reflects upon him the highest credit.
In 1869 Mr. Nicola was united in marriage to Miss Isabel Nichols, a native of Des Moines county, Iowa and a daughter of Reuben Nichols. Her parents were both born in Ohio and came to Iowa early in the 40's, settling in Des Moines county, where the mother passed away. The father died in Muscatine county. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Nichols only one is living, Elizabeth, the widow of A. J. Brockman of Pike township, Muscatine county. Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nicola: Ruby, who pursued a course of sic months in a preparatory school of teaching music under Professor Levrich, of Muscatine, and is now the wife of W. L. Black of this county; Jeannnette, the first child born in the village of Nichols, who attended college for two years taking a course in music at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and is now the wife of Dr. E. B. Fulliam of Muscatine; Margaret, now at home, who also attended college two years and was graduated in music under Professor Rommell at Mount Pleasant; and George, who has pursued a business college course and is now living at home. Mr. Nicola was called upon to mourn the death of his beloved wife, who was summoned from earthly scenes May 30, 1905. She was a woman of many excellent traits of character and was highly esteemed by all who knew her.
Mr. Nicola is a man of wide experience and, having very early been thrown into contact with the world, even as a boy he learned the great lesson of self-reliance, thus gaining a power which was of incalculable benefit to him throughout his active career. Through a worthy ambition he attained a success that awaits those who are willing to labor patiently and perform each duty as it arises day by day. He is today one of the most respected citizens of the community where for many years he has made his home.
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