NICHOLAS, James Milton - Putnam

The name of James Milton Nicholas, Jr. is too well known to the people of Scott Twp. and the southern part of the county of which this book treats to need any special comment here.  He comes of an excellent old pioneer family who braved the wilds of this section of the Hoosier state when nit was still regarded as the frontier and in Montgomery and Putnam Counties, the Nicholas family has been well and favorably known for many decades, for they have not only been industrious in their affairs, but have been public spirited and led exemplary lives, thus inspiriting admiration in others.

Mr. Nicholas was born on July 20, 1853 in the northern edge of Putnam County.  He is a son of James Milton, Sr. and Manda Catherine (Hester) Nicholas.

The father was born on Aug 7, 1822 at Mt. Sterling, Ky and was a son of Charles and Ruth Nicholas of Mt. Sterling, at which place Charles Nicholas followed blacksmithing.

It was about 1828 that the Nicholas family left the Blue Grass state and came to Putnam Co., Ind, entering land from the government in the northern part of the county, settling in the heavy timber, which they cleared from the virgin soil and established the family home, and there the parents spent their lives, along the line of Putnam County, near Parkersburg and it was in that locality that James M. Nicholas, Sr. grew to manhood and engaged in farming all his life with much success, finally becoming the owner of 640 acres at one time.

He was active in the Republican party, and frequently refused to accept office.  He and his wife belonged to the Methodist Church.  Catherine Hester, mentioned above, was a daughter of Adam and Ann M. (VanZandt) Hester and was a sister of James M. Hester, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and which gives more of the Hester ancestry.  James M. Nicholas, Sr. died May 20, 1900. He had married on Oct 15, 1846 to Amanda Hester, which union proved to be a singularly happy one and their home was a Christian home.  They were loyal to their God and their church, the Methodist Episcopal.  11 children were born to them, 8 of whom survived.

The father was familiarly known to nearly everybody in that locality as "Uncle Jim." His last words to his children were, "Don’t forget to be good to the poor." By judicious management he had accumulated a large, valuable farm and was one of the substantial men of his township.

He was always ready to respond liberally to the call of those in need.  He was a positive character, decided in his opinions, and when sure he was right could not be swerved from his duty as he saw it. His schooling was obtained in the old log school house, described in another part of this work. Yet he became a well educated man, kept books and accounts of all his business and amassed 640 acres.  He and his wife started with nothing but they worked hard and managed well. For a period of 50 years he was an official in the Methodist Church in which he and his wife were faithful workers.

Her death occurred Jan 11, 1899. She was a cheerful, strong-minded and kindly woman who did much to encourage and help her husband in his struggle for success.

James M. Nicholas, Jr. lived on his father's farm near Raccoon until his marriage. He received a good common school education.  On Sept 12, 1875 he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Mary Alice Dawson, daughter of William Riley Dawson and Elizabeth Rebecca (Tyler) Dawson. She was born near Fincastle, Indiana and when a child her parents moved to Carpentersville.  Her father was a life long school teacher and his services were in great demand in the early days here. He was a native of Tenn, and his wife was b. in Ky, and she was a sister of James M. Taylor, of Ladoga, a sketch of whom appears herein. William R. Dawson was a grad. of Greencastle, and he taught in a number of the schools in Putnam Co. and a host of Putnam County people still remember with keenest feelings their old school teacher.

He is a grand old man, scholarly, kind and genial, beloved by everybody.

he has attained the advanced age of 90 and is living at Bainbridge, In.

The death of the mother of Mrs. Nicholas occurred in March 1872 at the age of 36.

When Mrs. Nicholas was a girl the family lived a few years in Mo. and Iowa but spent their lives for the most part in Putnam County.  After his marriage Mr. Nicholas began farming for himself in the SW part of Scott Twp, Montgomery County and part of his land extends just across the line into Putnam County. He has worked hard, managed well and has more than doubled his original holdings, being now one of the substantial and influential farmers of the southern part of the county. He has given his sons a good start in life and now has 189 acres of finely improved land, mostly in Scott Twp, and he has a good set of buildings there, and an excellent grade of live stock is to be seen about his place.  Mr. Nicholas is generous in charitable work and church matters and is esteemed by all who know him.

To Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas have been born two sons, Arthur Carleton, whose birth occurred Oct 21, 1876; and Charles William, born Oct 11, 1878.  The elder son married Gertie Allnutt on Feb 4, 1897 and they have 3 children, Ina Myrtle, Agnes Marie and Gail Belle; Ina is attending high school in Russellville.  Arthur owns a farm of 58 acres north of Parkersburg and he and his father are farming their two farms in partnership.

Charles W. Nicholas married Mary Tennant Nov 1, 1906 and they have one daughter, Lela Eliz.  Charles W. is operating the farm owned by his father-in-law, Henry E. Tennant, near Parkersburg.  James M. Nicholas is a member of the Modern Woodmen and Knights of Pythias. He and his wife, also their children and families are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. – transcribed by kbz