U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Nichols, Francis Edmond (1846-1920) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: West Virginia and Its People Author: Thomas Condit Miller and Hu Maxwell New York, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913 Volume II, Pages 351-352 Francis Edmond Nichols, son of James William and Mary B. (Fleming) Nichols, was born September 20, 1846, about one mile from the city of Fairmont, West Virginia. He received his education at the only schools in existence in this section at that day, the private subscription schools, one of which was taught by Dr. W. R. White, and it was a most excellent educational institution for those days. Later Dr. White was state superintendent of public schools in West Virginia. He was also a noted Methodist Episcopal minister. After leaving the school room, Mr. Nichols followed bookkeeping for many years, and was with several well known business houses. His next step in business life was his appointment as mail clerk, on the line of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, his regular run being between Grafton and Chicago. He followed this work for twelve years, until he resigned in 1884 to take up a more independent work, that of insurance, in which he is still engaged but at present confines himself to fire exclusively. His spacious, well-fitted offices are in the new Masonic Temple. He has now twenty-six companies for which he is agent, doing both city and farm insurance business. He is Director in the Home Savings Bank and the National Bank of Fairmont. Politically he is a Republican, but has never aspired to nor been induced to hold public office, preferring to attend strictly to his private business. He is a far advanced Free Mason, having reached the thirty-second degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. He has held all the chairs in the local lodges, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Chapter and Commandery, and been the secretary of the local bodies at Fairmont for more than thirty years, except the Blue Lodge, of which he has been the secretary since 1904. He belongs to Crusade Commandery, No. 6, Knights Templar, and the Scottish Rite bodies at Wheeling. He is now holding the office of grand recorder of the Grand Commandery of West Virginia, having held this important office since 1904. Mr. Nichols is charter member of the newly organized County Club of Fairmont, and he with his family holds membership in the Methodist Protestant church, of which society he is a trustee. He also belongs to the Sons of the Revolution, of which he is the state treasurer. He married (first) Emma V. Steele, September 25, 1889; she died August 9, 1893, leaving one daughter, Mary Louise, born January 12, 1892, graduated at the high schools of Fairmont, her native city, and later attended Walnut Lane School, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which she graduated in 1911. He married (second) August 30, 1899, Laura, daughter of R. C. and Mary (Lott) Dunnington, of Fairmont, West Virginia. Mrs. Nichols' father was in the mercantile business, but during the latter part of his life in the insurance business, died in 1904; his wife died at Fairmont in the spring of 1911. Mrs. Nichols is one of seven children. Mary Louise, only child of Francis E. Nichols, is now an enthusiastic member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, being eligible by connecting back to men of service in that great struggle, on her paternal and maternal sides from the Nichols and Miller branches. Her connection with this body is at Fairmont, West Virginia, being a worthy member of William Haymond Chapter. The Fleming genealogy is given elsewhere in this work, and will complete the connection between the Nichols and Fleming lines. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Information: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Death Certificate Marion County WV #4247 Francis E. Nichols died 2-Dec-1920 at age 74 Occupation: Insurance Agent --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1920 Census, Marion County WV ED:23, Sheet 4B Fairmont, Ward 6 Lines 93-95 207 Fairmont Avenue NICHOLS, Francis E (head) 73, WV-WV-WV, Insurance, Fire ", Laura D (wife) 59, WV-WV-WV ", Mary L (dau) 27, WV-WV-WV 1910 Census, Marion County WV ED:61, Sheet 10B Fairmont City, Ward 4 Lines 95-98, Dwelling 197, Family 230 207 Fairmont Avenue NICHOLS, Frank (head) 61, m2-12yrs, WV-WV-WV, Insurance Agent ", Laura (wife) 36, m1-12-yrs, WV-WV-MD ", Louise (dau) 18, WV-WV-WV POWERS, Susie (serv) 22, NC-NC-NC, Servant 1900 Census, Marion County WV ED:53, Sheet 16A Fairmont, 4th Ward Lines 4-7, Dwelling 291, Family 304 207 Fairmont Avenue NICHOLS, Frank E (head) 53, b.Sep-1846, WV-PA-WV, Insurance Agt ", Laura C (wife) 39, b.Sep-1860, WV-WV-PA ", Mary Louise (dau) 8, b.Jan-1892, WV-WV-WV ", Mary B (mother) 74, widow, b.Jul-1825, WV-WV-WV ---------------------------------------------------------------------