Bio: James W. Nickelson, Claiborne Parish, LA
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted for the LAGenWeb Archives by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez, Jan. 2000


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James W. Nickelson was born in Jackson County, Tenn., in 1833, being the 
ninth of ten children born to Nicholas and Mahala (Ferrell) Nickelson, who 
were natives of North Carolina, the father's birth occurring in 1760.  He was 
a direct descendant of Irish parents, and possessed the intelligence and wit 
of his ancestors.  The subject of this sketch resided in Tennessee until 1848, 
when he came with his parents to Claiborne Parish, La., where his father died 
in 1856, and his mother in 1861.  James W. Nickelson was given the advantages 
of the common schools, and continued his studies until he started out in life 
for himself as a farmer, after he had attained his majority.  At the breaking 
out of the Rebellion he espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and became a 
member of Company A, Twelfth Louisiana Infantry, with which he served until 
the close of the war, being in the engagements at Belmont, Shiloh, Coffeeville, 
Port Hudson, Baton Rouge, Grand Gulf, Jackson, and surrendered at Vicksburg, 
after which he joined Price, remaining with him until the war closed, being 
assistant forage master.  After his return home he was married in 1865 to Miss 
Sarah A. Snider, a daughter of William and Jane A. Snider, and their union has 
been blessed in the birth of nine children, six of whom are still living.  Mr. 
Nickelson is a warm Democrat, and has taken an active part in the selection of 
good and worthy men to fill the various offices of the State and parish.  He has 
been a member of the A. F & A. M. for many years, and his wife is a member of the 
Missionary Baptist Church, and is an earnest and truly consistent Christian.

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