Fayette County Genealogy Project

James Witter NICHOLSON 
Contributed by Keely Deuschle

NICHOLSON (p. 645):

Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, is named in honor of James Witter Nicholson, who was born in Maryland, near Nicholson Gap, second son of Commodore James Nicholson, died September 2, 1902, and Frances (Witter) Nicholson. His sister married Albert Gallatin, and James Witter Nicholson came to New Geneva (Nicholson township), as manager of the glass works belonging to his brother-in-law. He married Ann Griffin and died on his Elk Hill farm, October 6, 1851, aged seventy-eight years. It is probably from James Witter Nicholson that the Connellsville family herein recorded descends.

(I) Benjamin F. Nicholson was born and lived near Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He later in lived move to the township of Connellsville, where he now resides, very old. He married Mahala Hatfield, of the old Fayette county Hatfield family. She is now deceased. Children: William; John; Frank, of whom further; Smith, all living; Aaron; Jennie, George, deceased.

(II) Frank, son of Benjamin F. Nicholson, was born in Connellsville township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania about 1861. He has followed teaming nearly all his life and is now living retired. He is a Republican. He married Mary Frances Safeman, daughter of Isaac, deceased, and Mary (Ulery) Safeman, of Springfield and Bullskin township. Their children, Sarah, deceased; Mary Frances and Maria. Children of Frank and Mary Frances Nicholson: Charles S., of whom further; Mary, married John Leighleiter; Eliza, deceased; Frank; Bessie; Eleannor; Nellie; John; Maude; Edward; Beulah.

(III) Charles S., son of Frank and Mary Frances (Safeman) Nicholson, was born in Connellsville township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1882. He was educated in the public schools of the township, and after several years of varied occupation became a driller of wells, and now has a profitable and well established business. In politics he is a Republican. He married, January 17, 1906, Myrtle, daughter of William R. and Nannie (Stafford) Balsley, the latter deceased. Children: William, born January 8, 1907, deceased; Ewing, born January 24, 1910.

 

Source:
Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Under the Editorial Supervision of
John W. Jordan, LL.D.
Librarian of Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia AND
James Hadden of Uniontown, Pennsylvania; author of “Washington and Braddock’s Expeditions Through Fayette County,” and the reproductions of Judge James Veech’s work entitled “The Monongahela of Old, or Historical Sketches of Southwestern Pennsylvania to the Year 1800.”

New York
Lewis Historical Publishing Company
1912
Three Volumes

 

 

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