Pike Township Family Stories
JOHN AND ISABEL NICOLA
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 304-305
By Alberta Metcalf KellyJohn Nicola and Isabel Nicola lived in the big house now owned by Ora Nichols. It had been built for them by Townsend Nichols, for John was raised as a foster son, and Townsend reserved a room and a bath in the home for the times when he visited in Nichols.
The Nicolas were the parents of four children: Ruby Nicola (Mrs. William Black); Jeanette Nicola (later the second wife of Dr. Fulliam of Muscatine); Margaret Nicola, who never married, and George Nicola, who married late in life. Ruby Nicola Black had three children, Elsie Black, Howard Black and Isabel Black.
Young Isabel Black invited neighborhood children to play in the attic, where they would climb to look out the tower windows at the rolling western hills. They were sure that if they could just climb those hills, they could reach over and touch the sky. They were also certain that the steam from the steam engines on the trains helped to make the clouds.
Isabel Nicola died in the home around 1910. Margaret and her father moved to Muscatine around 1930, where George already lived. John Nicola died there at an advanced age. Many remember him driving his horse and buggy down in the lower floor of the barn, now razed. He was a dedicated veteran of the Civil War.
See also the 1911 History of Muscatine County for the biography of John Nicola.
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Page created December 18, 2010 by Lynn McCleary