Mariah's brother Thomas mentioned the Nichols children often in his188 7-1888 diary.
Residences & events:
1808 Ross Co, OH. According to descendents, he arrived here thisyear .
He served in the War of 1812.
1815 Columbus, Franklin Co, OH. He was listed as a tavern owner onta x rolls.
1827 Vigo Co, IN
1836 Vermilion Co, IL
Spring 1837 Momence Twp, Will Co, IL, where he received governmentlan d.
From Momence of the Old Frontier:
"This log house was built by Cornelius Cane for a residence in 1838,an d was located about two and a half miles north-east of Momence. Thefir st election held in the county was held in this log house in 1845.Mr. W illiam Nichols was elected Squire.....
THE "GOLL DUMMED" RAILROAD
That innovations stuck "hard" in the crop of the average pioneer therec an be no doubt. Grandfather and grandmother William Nichols whoestabli shed the well known Nichols home north of Momence, near to theChicago- Vincennes Trail, in an early day, regarded with considerablesuspicion t he newfangled ideas of civilization. They were pioneersbred in the bon e, who always found the old-time methods sufficientunto their needs. I t is related of them that, shortly after thebuilding of the C.D. & V. r ailroad, now the Chicago & EasternIllinois, they one day had occasion t o cross the railroad track ontheir way to visit the Grabams. As they d rew near the crossing atrain, consisting of several antiquated coaches d rawn by a wheezy,woodburning engine, happened along. Their pioneer sou ls were thrilledby this most unusual sight and grandmother, in her exc itement,grabbed grandfather Nichols by the arm with one hand while she pointed with the other, exclaiming as she did so, "Why, dad drat it,Wil liam, 'there's people a ridin' in them keers!" 100
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After the train had passed, they drove cautiously up onto the railsand g randpa stopped squarely astride of them, and watched the spectreretrea t until it was well out of sight. At the Grahams that day,grandpa and g randma's unusual experi- ence with the cars was easilythe main topic o f conversation. This experience may have been largedupon somewhat in t he course of narration but, if so, they simply madeuse of a privilege w hich the world concedes to all who tell ofstartling things first hand. T he railroad with its "keers," easilyheld the center of the stage that a fternoon, and the terrIble ravagesof the dreaded "milk-sick," over in t he Exline woods, was notmentioned once."
1840 Vermilion Co, IL. The census recorded Wm living just down thero ad from Mariah's brother Jacob. Their family included: 1 maleunder 5 , 1 was 5-10, 1 at 10-15, William at 30-40, 1 female at 5-10,1 was 10- 15, and 1 at 30-40.
1850 Momence, Will Co, IL. Having moved before the next census andre married he was listed at 62 years of age with $4000 in real estate.Sec ond wife, Margaret was 54 and children in the house were John, 19,Pete r, 17, and Joseph, 15. Also living there was Sarah Green, 27,born IL. W illiam was a farmer.
1860 Momence, Kankakee Co, IL. Apparently county lines shifted hadsh ifted by census time. William probably lived in the same placewhere h e was recorded at 72 with a huge estate worth $21,400/3935.Margaret wa s 64 and still at home were sons Peter, 26, and Joseph,24. Next door w as son Jacob, followed by son John, and daughterMariah Kight, then nep hew William Gundy.
Taken from the Kankakee Gazette, January 4, 1877:
Estate William Nichols. Claims allowed: administrator estate of SarahA . Chatfield, $308.58; John Deerson, $66.52; H. Wilber, $177.47; H.B. H all, $107.92; administrator's report approved.
