U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Obituary: Nichols, Francis Edmund (1846-1920) --------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: Sons of the Revolution in the State of West Virginia, Bulletin No. 3, February, 1921 FRANCIS EDMUND NICHOLS Francis Edmund Nichols, our beloved treasurer, who has for so many years been so faithful to every demand upon him by the Society, and whose death was so universally regretted, was the son of James W. and Mary B. (Fleming) Nichols, and 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 made 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. He was in various railroad wrecks during his service as mail clerk, but fortunately was never injured. At times he was surrounded on all sides by wrecked cars, and many of his comrades lost life and limb, but kind Providence seemed to spare him from injury. At the time of his death he was still engaged in the insurance business. At first he handled both fire and life insurance, but later confined himself to fire exclusively. Since engaging in the insurance business he has had a wonderfully successful career, and had built up through his fair treatment and attention to business details a large clientele. In addition to his insurance business, he was a director in the Home Savings Bank and the National Bank of Fairmont. He was a very 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 has been the secretary of the local bodies at Fairmont for more than thirty years. As a member of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, he was for many years most active and diligent in the furthering of its interests, and has been the treasurer for a number of years. He married first Emma V. Steele on September 25, 1889; she died August 9, 1893, leaving one daughter, Mary Louise, who together with his second wife, Laura Dunnington, survive him. "Frank" Nichols, as he was familiarly known, was a man of exceptional force of character, lovable disposition, sterling integrity, and charming sociability. Few men in the Society will be missed as much as he. The following tribute is taken from the Fairmont Times of Dec. 3, 1920, being a contribution from Hon. Owen S. McKinney, former editor of that paper, a lifelong friend of the deceased and one of our honored members: Members of the Masonic fraternity from all sections of West Virginia are expected here to attend the funeral, next Sunday, at two o'clock, of Francis Edmund Nichols, state officer and prominent Fairmont citizen, who died at his home early Thursday morning. Services will be held from the residence on Fairmont avenue and interment will be in Woodlawn. The death of the aged Fairmonter followed an attack which he suffered on November 20th. Since this he had been gradually sinking and the end was expected. Mr. Nichols had not been in good health for a number of months. In his passing the community lost a prominent and much loved citizen. Death is impartial in his visitations. Sooner or later he leaves his message at every door and summons an inmate to his last abode in the sepulchre of the dead. Death is therefore such a common event that we take but little notice of it except when a member of our own family is the victim or when one of unusual prominence or excellence in our midst is taken away. Within the last few days the grim reaper has taken a heavy toll in Fairmont. He has touched men and women of all classes in the community and left grief and anguish in his wake. Perhaps no more universal sorrow has ever been felt here than when the fact became known that Francis Edmund Nichols is dead. Held in the highest esteem by all who knew him and possessing a large circle of devoted friends and acquaintances it was a distinct shock to hundreds to learn that he was no more. Going about from day to day, always cheerful and full of life, with a kindly word of greeting to all, he seemed to be a permanent fixture here. His business connections, his church relations and his fraternity affiliations made him one of the most conspicuous figures in Fairmont. Added to these, his kindly nature, splendid manners and thorough gentleness of demeanor made him loved and respected by all who came within the sphere of his influence. But few men ever had more friends in this city than Frank E. Nichols. None ever had fewer enemies. He had lived all of a long and useful life here. He was always on the right side of every public question affecting the morals and welfare of the community, and in his private life was without suspicion or reproach. All the kind things his friends can now say about him will add but little to the reputation he earned and fully deserved in his lifetime, but they may encourage others to emulate his example of correct living and prove the maxim that the good men do live after them. Mr. Nichols was the son of James and Mary Nichols. His mother was the daughter of William (Buck) Fleming, one of the pioneer families of Virginia in this section. He was the great grandson of Peter Miller, a Revolutionary soldier, from whom he derived his qualifications as a member of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution of West Virginia, whose state treasurer he was at the time of his death. He was a prominent Free Mason, being a Past Commander of Crusade Commandery No. 6 of Fairmont, a Past High Priest of Orient Chapter No. 9, a Past Master of Fairmont Lodge No. 9, A. F. & A. Masons. He was Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandery of Knight Templar of West Virginia, a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason and member of Osiris Temple Mystic Shrine of Wheeling. He was and had been for a long number of years a member of the Methodist Protestant church of Fairmont and was active, zealous and faithful in church service. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Emma Steele, daughter of the late Solomon Steele, and the mother of his only child, Miss Louise Nichols. His second wife was Miss Laura Dunnington, daughter of the late D. C. Dunnington. Last night it was said at the stricken home that Mrs. Emma Maulsby, a sister, of Los Angeles, California, would not come for the funeral, as the distance is too great. She has been here often during the past years and is well remembered by local people. Undertaker E. C. Jones will have charge of the funeral arrangements. All day yesterday the stricken home was visited by sorrowing friends, calling to pay their respects to the family. Mr. Nichols secured his education from the local schools. When a lad he attended the private school taught by William R. White in Monroe street. He made a specialty of bookkeeping but did not follow this after leaving school, for he entered the service of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company and was a mail clerk on the trains between Grafton and Chicago for twelve years. Finally tiring of the stirring life on the rail, he resigned and entered the insurance and real estate business in Fairmont. Of late years he specialized in fire insurance and was engaged in operating an important local agency when he died. Always a religious man, he took active interest in the Methodist Protestant church of which he was a life-long member. At the time of his death he was a trustee of the temple here. His private affairs did not consume all of his time. His Masonic work, his love for the organization of the Sons of the Revolution, his keen interest in the banking business caused him to be one of the busiest of the local citizens. Mr. Nichols was one of the pioneer members of the Revolution society in West Virginia and was at the time of his death the state treasurer. Without doubt the Fairmonter was among the most prominent men in the Masonic fraternity in the state and because of his long service for that order will be sadly missed. He was never known until ill health came in recent years, to miss a meeting of his organization. He was raised to the degree of master mason in Fairmont lodge No. 9, Fairmont. W. Va., on December 26, 1886, was exalted to the most sublime degree of Royal Arch Masons, Orient chapter No. 9, Fairmont, W. Va., June 14, 1872. Was created a Knight Templar in Crusade Commandery No. 6, on November 22, 1878. Was worshipful master of his lodge in 1881. Was high priest of his chapter in 1881. Was eminent commander of his commandery in 1882. Has been secretary of the lodge since the year 1904 and of his chapter since the year 1888 and has been recorder of the commandery since the year 1887 and since the year 1904 has been grand recorder of the Grand Commandery of West Virginia. He holds also memberships in the Scottish Rites bodies in Wheeling and of Osiris Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. of Wheeling. The deceased was a director of the National Bank of Fairmont and was most valuable on that board. He had ripe experience in the banking business in Fairmont and knew it thoroughly. He was a member of several local clubs and fraternities and was a man who always had time to give to each of his organizations. He was always named on important committees, for it was known that he would give untiring service to such work. Very respectfully submitted, JAS. R. MORELAND, Historian. Morgantown, W. Va., Feb. 5, 1921. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other obituaries for Marion County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/marion/obits.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------