The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-03-12
OBITUARY.


widow Of Capt J. Clifford Nickels. the town Of
Searsport loses one Of it, Oldest and best
known inhabitants. Mm. Nickels. before her
marriage Henrietta Thompson. was born in
Trenton, Maine, in the year 1929. The second
sister of large family. she spent her girl
hood on the Thompson Place in Trenton. sit
uated on a small island lying between the
mainland and the island Of Mt. Desert. from
which a toll bridge offers the only access from
the main to Bar Rarbor This toll-bridge is
still in possession of the Thompson family. to-
gether with the island and the house, which is
opened each summer for the sisters from
Philadelphia and Richmond.
Coming as young wife to the town OF
Searsport, Mrs. Nickels has lived for over fifty
wears in the old Nickels homestead in the
eastern part of the town. For the first years
of her married life she went to sea with her
husband, accompanying him on many long
voyages. Her contemporaries Of those early
DAYS were the ea-captains and their wives Of
two generations ago. who then made up the
predominatinx element in the town. Few. it
any. Of them remain; Mrs. Nickels must have
outlived everyone whom she knew when she
first came to Searsport. But. through her ac-
tive interest in people and affairs, she seemed
to pass without loss of years from generation
to generation. A women of singularly ener-
getic personality, she refused to admit the
coming of old age, and to the last retained
remarkable keenness of mind and state OF
bodily health. After the death of her hus-
band it was her custom to spend the winters
with her daughter, Mrs. Amos D. Carver. in
Brooklyn, making short trips to Philadelphia
and Richmond. sometimes going to Florida for
a few weeks; or. in the latter years of her
life, ranging farther afield, to Europe, Egypt,
the West Indies South America. and Panama.
In her eighty third year she clambered through
the great locks of the Panama Canal, then
nearing completion, and laughingly crossed
narrow foot bridge fifty feet in air, an act
which few of the party dared attempt
But with the coming of each spring. Mrs.
Nickels returned early to Searsport and OPEN
ed her house, preparing the garden and flowers,
which were her pleasure and pride. Her
second daughter, now Mrs. Lincoln R. Colcord,
liv with her until her marriage few years
ago. The hospitality of this home in summer
was celebrated; young people as well as old
shared the good cheer and affectionate inter-
est of hostess who was satisfied with nothing
short of perfection; and the large family par
ties, the jolly evenings the suppers, the genial
talk and pleasant companies that were forever
being repeated at the comfortable homestead
--.lyL - a;ol f. ~ hn
community But, most of all. will be missed
the forceful personality, the wise outlook, the
sound common-sense, the health, strength,
and gaiety of this exceptional woman. She
believed firmly in the power of the mind and
spirit to conquer the minor ailments of life.
from those around her. A wide reader. we'll
grounded in knowledge Of the Bible and Of
general literature, she subscribed to many
periodicals and kept in touch with the latest
ideas in politics, social and religious problems,
and the affairs of the world. In her household
she displayed the virtues of frugality, indus
try, and thorough knox ledge Of the art of
housekeeping; virtues more common to the
past than to the rising generations. She was
never idle, sitting down either with book,
her sewing. or embroidery.
The town will miss her about its streets. In
her last summer at home she walked several
times from her house to the village, distance
of over a mile. Every day she drove out
alone, scorning assistance, jumping in and out
of her buggy at the market or post office with
the agility of person half her age. 1t is sad
to reflect that her familiar figure, sitting up
right behind the old family horse, will be seen
about the town no more.
Her last illness was unfortunate. She had
suffered many accidents, few years ago fall
ing head foremost down her back stairs, being
thrown number of times from carriage, and
frequently slipping and falling on the floor.
from no other reason than her excessive quick
ness and energy, In December of last year
she fell on the floor at her daughters house in
Brooklyn, breaking her hip and spraining her
ankle. This accident proved serious. For
two months she remained in bed, bearing with
her accustomed fortitude the pain of the
weights on the broken limb. She recovered
slowly, but was determined to walk again. She
expressed the resolve to walk on shore from
the boat when she returned to Searsport in
the spring, saying that no one should ever see
her on crutches. After she had been about
the room some days in wheel-chair, an attack
of abdominal grippe came on suddenly. This
proved nearly fatal, but she rallied after the
doctors had given her up and was again on the
road to recovery when heart failure brought
death within an hour. She was conscious to
the last, inquiring with interest for the state
of her pulse, and describing the feeling which
had come upon her. Finally she said II can
hold out no longer. Goodbye" She died on
the evening of February Goth, 1914. aged "a
years. It was her wish that at her funeral every
thing should. as far as possible. be as if she
were living in the house. She wanted the
shades up, the fires burning in the fireplaces.
her casket closed, and no appearance Of gloom
in the room. These wishes were followed by
the many relatives who came with her remains
from New York to Searsport. and assembled
from distant parts to attend her funeral AL
though the day was stormy one, the service
was hopeful and inspiring, as if touched in
some manner by her own courageous spirit.
Flowers completely concealed the casket from
view. The Rev. E. H. Mckinney read the
Episcopal burial service, and offered prayer.
Her four nephews. Madison Scott, William