1838-1938
| West Liberty History 1838-1938 | |
Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
WAPSIE'S LARGEST FAMILY (NICHOLS) The family of Jonas and Durinda Purvis Nichols have had much to do in developing the early history of this community. Jonas was born in 1787in Windom County, Vermont, died at the home of his son, Geo. P. Nichols on South Prairie in 1856 and is buried in the old cemetery just north of town. He married Asenith and to them were born James in 1808, Anna in 1812, and Asenith in 1814.
Jonas later married Durinda Purvis in 1817. She was born in New York in 1799, died at West Liberty at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. I. Luse in 1874, and was buried in the South Prairie cemetery. To them were born ten children, eight in New York and two in Morrow County, Ohio, where they had emigrated in 1834. Jonas was a brickmaker by trade, also an extensive contractor and taught his sons the art of tile and brick making. Though he did a large business, he did not attain financial success sufficient to give his sons a start in life, so in an early day they and their father came to Iowa. Jonas Jr. died at the age of nineteen, other children were:
Ira, born 1820, married 1843 to Elizabeth Luse, born 1821. He was a railroad contractor in Ohio and was the first of the Nichols family to reach Iowa, arriving in the spring of 1853, entering land in Wapsinonoc Twp. and later moving to West Liberty. He was very active in the affairs of the town and country and at the time of his death was a member of the Board of Supervisors. He died in 1888, his wife in 1910. Their children were : Chas. M., Isaac A., Jay I., Pliny C., who died from a wound received at Vicksburg, Miss., and a daughter who died in infancy.
George P. Nichols, born 1822, 1822, married Elizabeth St. John in Ohio, and immigrated to Iowa in 1853, entering land here. He engaged in farming and stock-raising. Their children were : Francis M., Charley W., Durinda, Henry C., Clare Belle, Harriet, Ira A., James D., and U. S. Grant. Mr. Nichols died in 1873. Both he and his wife are buried in Oakridge.
Pliny, born in 1824, married in 1848 to Celynda Grandy, a native of New York. They came to Iowa in 1856 and entered land in Wapsinonoc Twp. He engaged in farming and was an extensive purebred stock raiser. They had seven children but only five grew to maturity. They were Anna L., Geo. S., Benj. A., William P., and Linnie. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the 18th General Assembly and elected to the senate in the 19th and 20th assemblies. He originated the bill for the semi-annual payment of taxes and the optional road bill. He passed away in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are buried on South Prairie.
Phineas was born in 1827, married in 1850 tp Martha Gibson, born 1832. She was a native of Ohio. They came to Iowa in 1853, entering land in Wapsie. They had six children who grew to maturity: Joseph P., Harriet, Lura, John Clark, Rosetta, and Rozella (twins).
Daniel A., born in 1829, married in 1856 to Phoebe Redfern, born 1837. She was a niece of Asa Gregg and made her home with him. They were married in the Gregg home. Daniel worked at brickmaking with a brother Isaac, later purchasing land in Wapsie Twp. They had ten children: Eva, Lilian D., Henry L., Maude E., Rubert I., Marcus P., Kate B., Leona and Louis K. (twins) and Fred D. Mr. Nichols died in 1914. Buried in South Prairie cemetery.
Isaac, born 1831, married Rachel Gibson, of Knox county, Ohio, came to Iowa in 1855. He purchased land , but was a brick maker by trade, so he carried on farming and tile and brickmaking. He enlisted in the war of the rebellion, and remained until the close. Their children were Ella, Ida, William, Ola, Ray, Roy and Grace. He passed away in 1887 at West Liberty, Mrs. Nichols died in 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri. They are both buried in Oakridge cemetery.
Harriet, born in 1833, married to Henry Prophet and they have always lived in Ohio.
William Andrew, born in 1836 at Cardington, Ohio, married Adda Parks, born 1983. They came to Iowa in 1855 and settled in West Liberty. Their children were : Park, Jane and Mary. He enlisted in the Civil War, Company B. 2nd Iowa Infantry, continuing to the close of the war. Was wounded at the battle of Fort Donnelson. He died in 1907 at West Liberty and Mrs. Nichols died in 1909.
Eleanor A., born in 1839 in Ohio, came to Iowa with her mother Durinda Purvis in 1855 and was married to C. I. Luse. Their children were James, Walter, Harry, and Hattie. Mr. Luse passed away in 1896. Mrs. Luse in 1908, both buried in West Liberty.
Many descendants of Jonas and Durinda live in and about West Liberty, and annually a family reunion is held at the fairgrounds to which more than four hundred are eligible. The 38th annual reunion will be held this year.
ATHA C. NOLAND
