My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Franklin County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Prof. Harvey A. Nickell was born in Monroe County, W. Va., September 27, 1850. He is a descendant of an old Virginia family, his great-great-grandfather having settled in that State in 1607. His father, Dr. J. M. Nickell, was reared and received his medical education in Virginia, and there married Sallie Burdett, a native of Augusta County, Va. Besides practicing his profession Mr. Nickell manufactured flour extensively. He was a man of political power in his county, which he represented several times in the Legislature. His death occurred in 1886. Our subject passed his early life in Monroe County, and in 1871 completed a select course from the Roanoke College. He was fond of books, and from the age of sixteen had taught school in his immediate neighborhood at different times. Coming West in 1873, he spent two years in Missouri, teaching in Ralls County, but in 1875 returned to West Virginia, and taught there until 1878. In November of that year he permanently located in Franklin County, Ark., and has since devoted the greater part of his time to his profession. In the spring of 1880 he went to Eureka Springs, and there edited the first paper of that place, known as the Echo, which he continued to publish until 1882, when he sold the paper, and returned to Franklin County. From 1883 until the fall of 1884 he was the editor of the People’s Echo, a farmer’s journal, published in Ozark, but since that time has been farming in connection with teaching. He owns a nicely improved place, with a fine residence, orchard, etc., which is situated about two and one-half miles from Ozark. October 10, 1880, Mr. Nickell married Maggie A. Henderson, daughter of Thomas E. Henderson [see sketch], and a native of this county, where she has always lived. To Mr. and Mrs. Nickell two children have been born: Warwick A. and Willie E. Mr. Nickell is an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to which his wife also belongs and he is a Master Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He has held the position of secretary of the County Sunday-school Association, and in July, 1888, was elected president of the same society. He is a prominent man in the county, and is the county school examiner, to which position he was appointed in 1886.

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This family biography is one of 163 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Franklin County, Arkansas family biographies here: Franklin County, Arkansas

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