My Genealogy Hound

OSCAR EUGENE NICHOLS, a representative farmer and business man of Cincinnatus, is the only son of George and Celestia (Hungerford) Nichols, and was born September 15, 1842, in the town of Cincinnatus, this county. He was instructed in the common schools of this county, until he was about twelve years old, when his father moved to Illinois, where he finished his education. In the autumn of 1861 he returned to his native state and decided to take a course in the Commercial College of Binghamton, from which he graduated. He had been employed as a clerk before entering college, and after his graduation he again served in that capacity in Chemung County for one year, when he went to Port Jervis and entered the employ of the Erie R. R. Co., for three years, acting as brakeman and for the succeeding ten years as conductor. He then returned to the town of Cincinnatus, this county, where he has since resided on his farm. He is the owner of a fine apiary, of which he is justly proud, as it produces for him the choicest quality of honey that is to be obtained. Mr. Nichols gives the best attention to his bees, and the returns certainly repay him for his trouble.

Mr. Nichols has been twice married; he first led to Hymen’s Altar Elizabeth M. Soper on January 1, 1867; two children were born to them: Edith, who was born August 26, 1868, and died April 1 5, 1872; and Howard S., who was born March 13, 1870, and who is united in marriage with Susan Carmichael of Binghamton, where he lives. Mrs. Nichols died March 28, 1870, in her twenty-ninth year, leaving her husband with two little children to care for. As his second wife he chose Marilla Place, who was born June 18, 1844. They were wedded August 21, 1872, and this wife has added two more children to the family: they are Clark G., born September 28, 1882, and Julia M., born August 11, 1885. Our subject’s second wife died January 5, 1887. Politically, Mr. Nichols has always been a Republican and has done much to further that cause in the county, frequently representing his party in county and congressional conventions and conferences. He is at present one of the assessors of the town of Cincinnatus. During his residence of eighteen years in the town he has always been connected with the government of the school in some way, either as trustee or clerk; he is a great friend to education and takes an interest in all affairs of that nature. He is an influential member of the Grange; is a member of Lodge No. 706, F. & A. M., of Cincinnatus; a member of Never Sink Chapter, No. 186, R. A. M.; also a member of Port Jervis Council. He has been connected with the Baptist Church for years, and at one time was one of the trustees.

His great-grandfather was in all probability a native of Rhode Island. The grandfather, Scissons Nichols, was born in that state August 24, 1794, and died March 18, 1881. He moved to Cortland County in 1818 and located in the town of Cincinnatus, and later made his home in Willet. He was a farmer for the first years of his business life, then learned the trade of a shoemaker, at which he worked with good results for a number of years. He was united in marriage with Almira Cole, and to them a large family was born: George, born August 30, 1819; David B., born April 28, 1821, and died February 13, 1847; Thomas, born July 15, 1824, and died September 4, 1846; Benjamin, born July 9, 1826, died January 26, 1847; Betsey, born August 15, 1830, died June 1, 1833; Susan, born March 24, 1833, died November 18, 1862, the wife of Hiram Moon; and Rebecca A., the wife of Charles Maybury of Winona, Minn.

George Nichols was born in this county and lived here until 1854, when he moved west and located in Sterling, Ill. He was a cabinet maker and joiner, skilled in the craft; when a young man he worked hard at the trade, but advancing age has obliged him to live a life of retirement. He was married to Celestia Hungerford, who was born in 1823, and died June 30, 1843, when but little more than out of her ‘teens, leaving behind an only son, our subject. She was a daughter of Nathaniel Hungerford, who was born January 22, 1895, in the State of Connecticut, but moved to Cincinnatus, this county, where he died August 6, 1849. His vocation was that of a foundryman, and he owned and operated a plant here. The brothers and sisters of Celestia (Hungerford) Nichols are: Jerome, who lives at Sunbright, Tenn.; George, deceased, formerly a physician in Illinois; Newton, who resides in Buffalo, this state; Harriet, deceased, was the wife of Peter Daley; and Elmira, wife of Henry Tozer of Waverly.