Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Nicholson, Francis ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 9:46 am Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County FRANCIS NICHOLSON, deceased, was one of the early settlers of Joliet, having come here in 1836. He was born in New Hartford, Oneida County, N. Y., a son of Jared Nicholson, and a member of an old and honored American family whose ancestry is traced back to Governor Nicholson of Connecticut. His father was born in Connecticut, but at an early age settled in Oneida County, N. Y., and thence, when Francis was six years old, removed to Chautauqua County, the same state. There the boy grew to manhood. Reared on a farm amid frontier surroundings he had no educational advantages, and even if schools had been numerous his health would have interfered with his attendance. Not being strong enough for manual labor on a farm he took up the tailor's trade, which he followed. A few years after his marriage in Westfield, N. Y., he started for Illinois, driving across the country with his wife in a covered wagon. The trip was safely made, although at one time he was followed by robbers for a whole day, but reached a settlement by night and so escaped from them. When he arrived in Joliet the town contained forty buildings, including stores, barns and residences. His first meal in the county was in the Yankee Settlement. Settling about seven miles north of Joliet on the road west of the river he spent a short time there. In 1837 he opened a tavern on Bluff street, and was there when the first stage drove through to Joliet. He saw the first canal boat on the Illinois and Michigan canal and the first railroad train ever run into Joliet. Later he resumed his trade, which he followed for some time. For seven years he clerked for Mr. Wilcox. Prior to 1860 he started in the grocery business with his son, but not finding the enterprise profitable he took up tailoring again, and at this he continued until he was past eighty years of age. In politics he was a strong Democrat. For years he served as vestryman and warden of the Episcopal Church, in the work of which he was quite active. His life was protracted to a great age, for he was ninety-three when he died in February, 1896. During the long period of his residence in Joliet he witnessed its steady growth and took pleasure in noting its progress. Personally he was a man of quiet and retiring disposition. The first wife of Mr. Nicholson died when she was a young woman. Afterward he married Mary Ann Burdge, member of a Holland-Dutch family of New Jersey. Mrs. Nicholson was a woman of ability, energy, great kindliness of heart, and an excellent conversationalist. She was fond of reading and kept well posted in the progress of current events and in politics. Possessing a deeply religious nature she did all within her power for the advancement of Christianity, and was instrumental in the upbuilding of the Episcopal Church. In homes where sickness came her presence brought comfort, and her careful nursing did much to restore the sick one to health; indeed she had quite a local reputation as a nurse. Four children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson, three of whom attained maturity. Both of the sons are now deceased. The older, Frank, went to California in 1850 and engaged in prospecting and mining there. He married there and reared a family of eight children. The younger son, Harman, enlisted in the second Michigan Cavalry immediately after the first battle of Bull Run. Entering as a private he was promoted successively to second and first lieutenant and captain, and at the close of the war was commissioned major in recognition of gallant service. Much of his service was under Sheridan in Virginia and Tennessee. At his death he left four children. The only surviving member of the family is Mr. Nicholson's daughter, Katherine Sophia. She was born in a house that stood on North Hickory street, Joliet. Her earliest years were associated with pioneer events and experiences in the rapidly growing frontier town. For fifty-six years she made her home in the family residence on Exchange street, but during some of that time she was employed in other cities, although always considering Joliet her home. In order to aid the family she took up teaching, which occupation she followed for eleven years in California and Illinois. For six years she was employed as bookkeeper in a store in Muskegon, Mich., after which she held the position of librarian of the Joliet public library for eleven years. In 1870 she went to California, where she taught for two years. In 1880 she started a greenhouse in Joliet, and this she conducted successfully until her retirement from business in 1898. The property she has since rented. She owns and occupies a residence which she erected in 1898, and in which she has as a companion a young girl whom she is rearing, Mary Adele Nicholson. She is a woman of excellent business ability, and at the same time, has genial, kindly ways that win and retain warm friends. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/nicholso1103gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb