Nichols Family 

Submitted by F. Richard Barr

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SECOND GENERATION - continued

3.        JEANETTE2 NICHOLS (Samuel1) , born She lived in Manchester, Delaware County, Iowa. She died.

        She was married three times. She married, first,_______ _________. He was born.

        She married, second, ________ ________. He was born. He died.

        She married, third,   __________ DAVIS. He was born. He died. 

Estella May (Nichols) Barr says of her: “Aunt Janette lived in Manchester, [Delaware County] Ia. for many years she lived there 27 years before my father went from Omaha to see her her name as Davis at that time she was married three times.” 

 4.      MARY ANN² NICHOLS (Samuel¹), born about 1823, New York. She died 10 September 1885, Summerhill Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. She was incorrectly called “Lucy” by Estella May (Nichols) Barr.^A

        She married THOMAS COLE, a farmer. He was born about 1813, New York. He died. He was incorrectly called “Samuel” by Estella May (Nichols) Barr.^A

 Children of Thomas Cole and Mary Ann Nichols:

6.        SIMON2 NICHOLS (Samuel1), b. Ca. 1838., Meadville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania.^A  He enrolled in Co. K, 150 Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, also known as “The President’s Bodyguard.”^B He apparently deserted 23 January 1863, according to the Company Muster Roll for January and February 1863; he was captured and incarcerated in the Central Guard House. The Company Muster Roll for March and April 1863 report that he was returned to duty by order of General Martindale. According to a memo addressed to Captain Denckson, Commander of Co. K, 1 50th P.V., and signed by Major Thomas Chamberlain, dated 27 January 1863 at Georgetown, D.C., he was to be docked 

“$6.70 charges against him for apprehension, transportation, &c., which you will retain from his next pay for the benefit of the U.S.”^C This short desertion apparently did not seriously harm his reputation. His commanding officer later wrote of him:^B

Hartstown Pa.

July 12th 1869

Hon. J. H. Barrett

Commissioner of Pensions

Sir.

In reply to yours of June 21st I have the honor to report the following in the case of Elizabeth Nichols No. 83040. Simon Nichols was a member of the 150th Pa. vols (of which I had command over two years. He was a man of sober habits. I never knew him to be Intoxicated while in the service of the W.O. On or about the 16th of December 1864 I gave the said Nichols the Post of standing duty at the Presidents Mansion at that time. Our camp was in the Park South of the Mansion. There is a stone wall at the south side of the Park which is about seven feet higher then (sic) the side walk. Our tents were neer (sic) the edge of the wall, over (sic, i.e., next page,) The Soldier on Post at camp on the night of the 16th of December (I dont remember his name now) reported the next morning that the sd Nichols came to camp about twelve oclock at night. I asked him if he noticed anything unusual in Nichols he said he did not. The men who tented with the sd Nichols had been detailed (after Nichols had left camp) to keep fire in the Barracks which were being built for my company on 1 5th St. before the Treasury gate. When Nichols went to his tent and learned the men were all down at the Barracks and had taken all the Blankets from the tent he Nichols told the man who was on guard at camp ne Nichols would go down to the Barracks & sleep and he started towards the Barracks. On or about the 17th of December 1864 at five oclock A.M. sd Nichols was found on the sidewalk in an insensible condicion and never spoke after. My opinion is he sliped off the wall which was about seven feet above the side walk and when he fel on the sidewalk it caused a Pistol to be discharged which he had in his trouser pocket on Examination of the Body a Pistol shot wound was found on the right side about two inches from the navle which was supposed to have caused his death. the above is all the information I am able to give in the case. I have the honor to be

your obt servant 

/s/ Thomas Getchell 

Late Capt Co “K” of Pa. vols

To the Commissioner of Pensions

Washington, D.C.

         He was “...killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol in Camp at Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., December 17, l864.”^C According to his death certificate his body was shipped home by friends.^D No date or place of burial has been found. 

        He married 26 January 1860 ELIZABETH GEHR in the Township of Summit, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, by William Putnam, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Crawford in the State of Pennsylvania.^E She was born ca. 1835 in Pennsylvania.^F After the death of her husband she resided for a time with relatives near her son while he attended the Pennsylvania Soldiers Orphan School.^G She moved to Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, where she died in 1891. She was buried 17 June 1891, in the John Wesley Nichols family lot, Omaha, Nebraska.^H 

Child of Simon and Elizabeth (Gehr) Nichols:

27.    i. Captain Lincoln3 Nichols, b. 28 October 1860, Summit Township, Crawford County, Pennsyivania.^G,H

7.  SALVADOR2 NICHOLS (Samuel1), born about 1836 “...Another brother was in the navy he was home on a furlough and started away with quite a sum of money they never heard from him again they think he never got out of the county. his name was Salvador..."^A Perhaps this is the Samuel N. Nichols, aged 14, born in Pennsylvania, enumerated with Catherine Ama.^B

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