Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-03-13
IN nEMORIAM

ty.second year, after eight days of i'll.
ness from heart failure.
Humanity is indeed vast process.
ion from whose ranks, as they pass,
individuals are continually dropping
by TIE way while the great mass moves
onward, ever onward. But, oh, how
| lonely seems the way as our dearest
friends fall by our side and we must
so OH, even though it be for little
way without their companlonship!
Such is the experience of the writer as
well as of large circle Of relatives
aud friends in the departure from this
busy, throhbing life, of our personal
friend, James Nichols. We cannot
say of him in the language of French
skepticism, "He is no more," for,
although gone, he still lives. not only
in the affections of these who learned
to love him, but beyond the vail that
hides from our mortal eyes the gorles
of Immortality he waits for our coming
and will greet us again i'll his own
personality to sharewith him the bless.
ings Of an existence unalloyed by the
sorrows of earth.
MIR. Nichols was born Sept. 10, 1924,
at Londonderry, New Hampshire,
during Monrce's administration. He
was converted to the faith of the Cos.
pei of Christ and joined the NJ. E.
church i'll his early youth, and contin.
ued a consistent member of that
church to the time of his departure to
the church triumphant. Through all
the hardships OF pioneer life, ,ntensi.
he'd by repeated domestic Affections,
as we'll as in his later years he has
bourn quiet, trustiful testimony to
the saving and sustaining power of
| Christ,
lie obtained good education in
the schools of his native state, and
followed teaching there for a time,
afterwards engaging in mercantile
business In Boston. In the early SOS
he came west to Indiana and resumed
teaching. Following the tide of cmi.
grafton he came to Illinois where he
continued teaching, land finally engaged
in farming.
From Oregon, ILL.,, he came to How.
ard county with an OK team. arriving
May 20, 1856, aud prompted the land
which has ever SINCE been his home
farm in Albion township.
Having made the best preparation
| then practicable for home he return.
ed in the fall of the same year and in
October was married to Mrs. Julia
Mason of Oregon. ILL.,, who came with
him to Iowa, bringing her little son by
her former marriage with her. The
son, Steven G. Mason, now of Oregon,
H., is prominent educator, having
served two terms as Supt. of Schools
of Ogle Co., ILL.,, and in other educa.
tional work, and now engaged III edi.
torial work. is man highly respected
for his ability and character.
The winter of '56.7 MIR. Nichols
taught the school in the Phillips set.
Element in west Albion. There were
but two schools then i'll tile township.
Two years of busy, rugged pioneer
life passed when the clark shadow"
fell upon the home. The wife fell a
victim Of consumption, leaving hus.
band and son to NOUN for her loving
presence WHICH could never come to
them again in this life.
On May "a, 1860, Mr.. Nichols mar.
ried MISS Maria NJ. Carpenter, of New
Oregon, Howard county, and the home
fire was once more lighted. To them
were born a daughter. Hattie, who
died at three years Of age. aud son,
| James H., who now resides near
Bonair. When James was eleven days
old his mother died, Oct. II, 1864,
and the home was again left desolate.
The mother was LAID to rest in the
New Oregon cemetery. Kind friends
ministered as best they could to the
motherless children and the twice
stricken husband.
| June 10, 1867, Mr.. Nichols was
married to Miss Martha Jane Carpen.
ter. of New Oregon, who now survives
him and mourns his loss. To them
were born two sons, Jerome c. and
Erwin H., who reside at the old home.
stead.
/ That he was kind and affectionate
husband and father is the testimony
OF all who knew him during the forty
years of his residence in Howard Co.
Coming to the county when there was
little here but the undeveloped resour.
ces of the soil, lie has taken deep IN.
terest in everything pertaining to the
development and the prosperity of the
country. During these forty years he
has lived and labored, not only for his
own. but for the general good and the
public welfare of county, state and
nation. A mac Of good judgment
clear perception and KIND heart He
was useful citizen, a safe advlser
and true friend.
In all his relations in life he was
the same reliable, faithful man, whom
his children and all who knew inH
best love and respect, and will ever
revere and emulate.
His life has extended through the
period OF the most wonderful develop
ment of the most wonderful nation o.
all time and he has contributed hi
share towards that development. Sue
ceeding generations should not forget
the pioneers whose very lives are
woven into and have become part O.
our higher civilization and have made
the improved conditions which are
now our rich heritage.