JOHN W. NICHOLS. This gentleman is a representative citizen of Marion County, a man well known and highly respected, and one whose life affords an example worthy the emulation of the rising generation. He started in business with no capital outside of his physical and mental abilities and the good habits he had formed, and is to day one of the substantial citizens of Centralia. To such as lie the entire community owes a debt of gratitude for the labors performed in promoting the development of the county.
In referring to the ancestral history of Mr. Nichols we find that his paternal grandparents removed from Christian County, Ky., to Illinois about the year 1812 and settled four miles southeast of the city of Carlyle, where they entered a tract of land from the Government, making it their home until death.
The father of our subject, Fountain Nichols, was born in Christian County, Ky., in the city of Hopkinsville, in 1808. and was brought to this state at the age of about four years. His boyhood days were spent upon the farm which his father had entered from the Government, and which he aided in clearing.
While residing in Clinton County, ILL., Fountain Nichols married Miss Mary B. Wakefield, who was born in Kentucky in 1813 and was of Virginian descent. Her father, Charles Wakefield, was a native of Kentucky. Four children were born of this union, of whom John W. is the sole survivor. Of the others we note the following:
The mother of this family passed away February 13, 1845, when our subject was only four years old.
The second wife of Fountain Nichols was Mary Ellen Berry, and five children were born of their union, one of whom died in infancy, while Daniel C. passed away at the age of seven. Three are now living, namely:
The mother of these children died on the old homestead March 19, 1890.
After his first marriage Fountain Nichols settled upon a farm adjoining that belonging to his father and situated four miles northeast of Carlyle. From the wilderness he cleared a tract of tillable land, which he placed under good cultivation.
He added to his original property until he owned about four hundred acres, the most of which he cleared. He was first an old-line Whig and later became a stanch Republican. He officiated as Deputy Sheriff of Clinton County and for many years was Constable. In educational matters he maintained a deep interest and served as a member of the Board of Directors. Throughout the county he enjoyed the reputation of being a successful farmer, progressive citizen and efficient stockman. He made a specialty of raising fine horses and cattle. At the time of his death, in October, 1860, he was one of the oldest surviving settlers in the county.
The subject of this sketch was born near Carlyle, Clinton County, ILL., October 15, 1842. In boyhood he attended the old Collins school, but his education has been mainly acquired by self-culture. At the age of seventeen he went to make his home witli his uncle, David A. Nichols, in Buxton Station, III. Soon after the firing on of Ft. Sumter, fired with patriotic impulses, he entered the service of the Union, becominga member of Company K, Thirtieth Illinois Infantry. He enlisted August 15, 1861, at Carlyle, and was mustered into service at Camp Butler, where the Thirtieth was organized. Under the leadership of General Grant, the department commander, the regiment moved over to Kentucky and took part in the Maysfield Expedition, a raid of fourteen days in the vicinity of Columbus. His first engagement was at Belmont. Following that was an expedition to Girard after guerrillas.
Proceeding to the Tennessee River, the regiment was in service during the siege of Ft. Henry, and later under General Oglesby moved to Ft. Donelson, where they took an active part. Later they went to Clarksville, on the Cumberland, where they went into camp. Before the battle of Pittsburg Landing they were ordered to that field, and then broke camp, took transports and arrived at the Landing on the 9th of April, relieving the Seventy-first Indiana Infantry. Then began the siege of Corinth, in which Mr. Nichols took a prominent part as a member of Colonel Logan's brigade. This siege was followed by a march to Jackson, Tenn., where the regiment went into camp. About that time occurred the hard fight with Forrest's cavalry. Later they marched to Medina, on the Mississippi Central Railroad, near which place they met. the enemy, six thousand strong. Following this engagement, after marching and countermarching, they proceeded to Memphis, reaching that city January 19, 1863.
From Tennessee, February 22, 1863, the regiment marched to Lake Providence, La., thence to Visto Pluntatrim, later to Milliken's Bend, La., where they joined Grant's army; from there across the Mississippi, at Thompson's Hill, May 1; from there to Hankinson's Ferry; at Raymond May 12, and thence via Clinton to Jackson, pursuing the enemy after the defeat. May 16, at the battle of Champion Hills, our subject was wounded and the regiment lost heavily. After that engagement they crossed the Black River, and with the main army went to Vicksburg, arriving there May 19. The following day they charged the forts, and Mr. Nichols received a wound in the shoulder from a shell. May 25 his regiment moved to Mechanicsburg under General Blair, and returning, actively engaged in the siege of Vicksburg until June 23, when they went to Black River under General Sherman, their object being to watch the proceedure of the rebel general, Joseph E. Johnston.
After the surrender of Vicksburg the Thirtieth went to Jackson and assisted in the investment of that place, going back to Vicksburg July 25. August 20 they marched to Monroe, La., returning August 28. On the 14th of October, they went to Canton, Miss., and met the enemy at Bogachetta Creek, returning during the same month to Vicksburg. January 1 Mr. Nichols veteranized, and ten days later went up the Mississippi on a transport against the guerrillas. February 3 he left Vicksburg for the Meridian campaign under General Sherman, and endured the hardships incident to a march of three hundred miles.
Receiving a thirty-day furlough, Mr. Nichols visited home, and upon his return joined his regiment at Camp Butler, April 18, 1864, proceeding thence to Cairo and from that city starting for the Tennessee Expedition under General Gresham. May 5 the regiment started upon the Atlanta Campaign via Pulaski, Tenn., to Huntsville, Ala. Mr. Nichols participated in all the engagements of the regiment prior to the fall of Atlanta, and on the 22d of July was in the battle near that city, while on the following day he took part in the engagement at that place, where the regiment lost heavily. After the fall of Atlanta the regiment, with the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, moved to Joncsboro, took part in the battle there and went into camp at East Point.
In pursuit of General Hood the regiment, on the 4th of October, started northward, via the Kenesaw Mountain to Reseca, then returned to Smyrna Camp by way of Gainesville and from there to Atlanta. On the 13th of November they left Atlanta with General Sherman on the famous march to the sea, participating in the capture of Savannah, going thence by water to Beaufort, S. C., from there to Pacolet and taking part in the engagement at that place January 15, 1865. Thence marching to Goldsboro, they reached that place March 15. In this march they were engaged in the capture of Orangeburg, Columbia, Cheraw and Fayetteville. On the 10th of April they went to Raleigh, where they remained in camp until the surrender of Johnston, after which they marched north via Richmond to Alexandria and took part in the Grand Review at Washington, May 24, 1865. From there they were ordered to Louisville, Ky., aud in that city were mustered out of the service, July 17, 1865. At Camp Butler they were paid off and finally discharged, July 24, 1865. He now draws a pension of $12 per month.
On returning to the pursuits of peace Mr. Nichols settled upon his farm and resumed his former labors.
November 13, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen, daughter of William S. Outhouse, who was born near Louisville, Ky., and came to Illinois and with our subject's father.
Mr. Outhouse grew to manhood in Clinton County and was there married to Temperance Carter, who was born in the south. For a time he engaged in farming; he afterwards engaged in the hotel business and continued thus engaged until his death at Clement, ILL., in November, 1890. A prominent man in public affairs, he served as Alderman at Clement and was a member of the City Board. In the Methodist Episcopal Church he served as Steward for many years. He and his wife were the parents of three children, namely:
After his marriage Mr. Nichols located at Clement, ILL., where he remained until 1884, and thence came to Centralia on the 23d of May, the same year. He has since conducted an extensive business at this place as a contractor and builder, and has erected many of the finest houses in the county. He and his wife were the parents of four children, two of whom are now living, namely:
Politically Mr. Nichols has been a life-long Republican, and upon the ticket of that party has been elected Constable, Marshal of Clement, and to other positions of prominence. He is identified with W. H. Wallace Post No. 55, G. A. R., and has been an officer in that organization. He is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In religious belief he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and take an active part in religious enterprises.
Mr. Nichols is a stockholder in the Centralia Street Railway Company and the Home Building & Loan Association, also the Southern Illinois Building & Loan Association. He has been prosperous in his business transactions and has accumulated a valuable property, a portion of which is located near San Diego, Cal.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 579 - 581
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer