Pike Township Family Stories
BENJAMIN F. NICHOLS “Red Nick”
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 193-194
By Charlene Nichols HixonBenjamin Franklin Nichols was born 5 September 1825 in Ross county, Ohio, the first child of Samuel Nichols and Mary Rodgers Nichols. After the death of his mother in January 1839, he came to Pike township, Muscatine county, Iowa, with his father, brother and sisters.
In 1840, Samuel and Ben built the log cabin on their claim. By 1842, when Samuel remarried, the family was reunited.
In 1850, stirred with the excitement caused by the discovery of gold in California, Benjamin made a trip west by way of New Orleans and Panama. He spent nearly 19 years in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Canada and Montana mining and packing and in the mercantile business.
When he returned to Nichols in 1870, he became a merchant for a time. He and his brother, Townsend Nichols, built a hotel, the St. Nicholas. It stood where the city hall stands today [2010]. He was postmaster for a number of years, establishing the first post office, called Lacey, in his home. He became an extensive land owner and raised a great deal of livestock. In 1886 he began breeding shorthorn cattle.
Benjamin and Townsend Nichols laid out the town of Nichols in 1871. They named the town in honor of their father, Samuel Nichols, who subscribed to the stock of the B., C. R. & N. railroad and donated land to the railroad for right of way and a depot. Two years later (1873) the Muscatine & Western railroad was finished to this point. This was the east-west route. The north-south road was the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, which later became the Rock Island.
Benjamin always took a prominent part in public affairs and contributed much to building the community where he resided. He died 5 November 1893 and is buried in the Nichols cemetery. He “enjoyed the respect and esteem of his neighbors and many old friends,” stated his obituary.
His descendants call him “Red Nick” to differentiate between him and his grandson who had the same name. The nickname Red Nick came about, according to family legend, because he had reddish hair, and this was what the Indians called him.
Benjamin Nichols was married to Susan Maria Jenkins on 10 October 1872. One son, Townsend Burt Nichols, was born to them.
Susan Maria Jenkins was born 23 April 1847 in Scioto county, Ohio. She died 21 November 1918 in Nichols. She married, first, John Hubbard on 20 September 1865. Their son was William Stephens.
Susan’s parents were William Jenkins (born 1815 in Connecticut, died in 1895 in Nichols) and Kazia Squire Jenkins (born 1814 in New York State, died 1857 in Lime Creed township, Washington county, Iowa. William and Kazia were parents of 13 children: David Jenkins (born and died 1839); Martha Anna Jenkins (born and died 1839, twin of David); Franklin B. Jenkins (1840-1908); Irena Jenkins (1842-1871); Nathan B. Jenkins (1843-1844); Martha Anna Jenkins; (1844-1924) married William Mapel; Melvin S. Jenkins (1846-1849); Susan Maria Jenkins; John D. Jenkins (1848-1849); William S. Jenkins (1850-1850); George Henry Jenkins (1851-1886) married Lucinda Creps; Eunice C. Jenkins (1853-1861) and William D. Jenkins (1855-1855).
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Page created December 31, 2010 by Lynn McCleary