My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN NICHOLS is a son of Andrew and Cordelia (Holcomb) Nichols, and was born January 1, 1835, in Jefferson county, N. Y. His paternal grandfather, David Nichols, was also a native of Jefferson county, where he died in 1830. He married Jerusha Spinning, who bore him these children: Elijah, Andrew (father), Lucretia, George, Dimick and Juliann. His maternal grandfather, Sullivan Holcomb, was born in Guilford, Connecticut, and emigrated to Jefferson county, New York, where he resided until his death. He was born in 1776. He was a farmer by occupation, but served as a soldier during the war of 1812-15. He was in the battles of Lundy’s Lane and Chippewa, being captured by the enemy in the latter engagement. He married Abigail Lee, who bore him a son and four daughters. The son, Seth, located in Jefferson county. The father of Benjamin was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1806, and removed to Chautauqua county about 1870, locating in Poland, where he is now living. He is a farmer by occupation, in politics a stanch republican and in religion a Methodist, being a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Cordelia Holcomb, who still lives, aged eighty. They had five sons and three daughters, all living except the eldest daughter. Of the others, Ira C. is a mill-man, residing in Kennedy; Seth L. is a stock-dealer, who makes a specialty of fine horses, in Minnesota; Andrew, stock-dealer in Minnesota, and Isaac C., who lives in Ashland, Wisconsin, and is a miner, owning and operating extensive iron-mines.

Benjamin Nichols was educated in the common schools and in Jamestown academy. He learned the trade of millwright and labored in that vocation from 1852 until 1883, in the latter year engaging in the machinery and foundry business in Jamestown, and has been interested in that business to the present time. When he entered the business he had as partner a Mr. Babcock, whose interest he purchased in 1887, his son, C. M., being admitted as partner. Mr. Nichols in politics is a republican and has served the city of Jamestown as alderman. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Nichols located in Jamestown in June, 1852, and has been a resident of that city ever since, esteemed and respected by all who know him.

On November 10, 1856, Mr. Nichols married Jane A. Taylor, a daughter of Eli Taylor, by whom he has had these children: Delia, married to Celestus Wilcox, of Kennedy, Chautauqua county, by occupation a painter, still residing in that town; Melvin C. (deceased); Charles M., in business with his father in Jamestown; Myrtle; Mand C. (deceased), who married Selam Parker; and Pearl L., married to F. H. Oaks. Grandchild — Mande Allene, daughter of Selam and Mand Parker.