BIO: Matthew NICKLE, Beaver County, PA
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson
  
  Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
  of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
  Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 266-269.
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  MATTHEW NICKLE. The Book of Biographies of Beaver County would certainly be
  incomplete if mention were not made of the gentleman named above, a highly
  respected citizen and one of the wealthiest farmers in the county. His life
  has been one of industry, and he is now spending its declining years in the
  happy enjoyment of the fruit of his toil, on the old family homestead in
  Green township. He was born on July 7, 1822, in Hanover township, Beaver
  county, and is a son of David and Mary (Morrow) Nickle. David Nickle, the
  father of Matthew, came from Scotland, in 1820, and located in Hanover
  township, Beaver county, Pa., upon the farm on which the latter was born. He
  purchased that property and lived upon it two years, and then for a time
  rented another farm. He bought a farm in the northern corner of Hanover
  township, consisting of one hundred acres, which was left to his son, David,
  and is now owned by a son of the latter. He erected a fine house and barns,
  and cleared most of the land, devoting the closing period of his life to
  sheep-raising. He died in March, 1847, aged sixty-six years, and his wife
  died in 1872, at the age of seventy-two. While a resident of Scotland he
  married Mary Morrow, and five children were born to them before coming to
  this country, namely: James; George; William; David; and Elizabeth.
  Thereafter three children were born: Matthew; Alexander; and Margaret. They
  are all deceased but the subject hereof. Matthew Nickle was born on the first
  land purchased by his father and continued to live with his parents until he
  reached the age of twenty-three, although previously to that time he rented
  and cultivated a farm owned by his father. Upon his father's demise he became
  possessed of a portion of his estate, and has since made his home upon it.
  During the oil excitement, he leased his property, and realized large
  returns. He is a self-made man in every particular, as a boy being
  industrious and ambitious. He improved his condition in life steadily and
  grew to be one of the most influential agriculturists in the district, owning
  at the present time some five hundred and fifty acres of rich farm land. In
  1867, he erected a handsome residence, which is well-arranged and
  appropriately furnished, and also put up fine barns and out-buildings. While
  he has attained more than ordinary success in his life's work, he has at all
  times been most liberal with his money, - lifting many of his less fortunate
  fellow men to their feet when in distressing circumstances. He is of a modest
  and retiring disposition, and would have his charitable acts overlooked, but
  his numerous friends, who have known him so well for many years, delight in
  telling of his generosity. Being a man of good character and pleasing habits,
  and a clever conversationalist, he is very popular.
  
  BEAVER COUNTY  269
  
  In 1847, he married Margaret Patterson, by whom he had nine children, four of
  whom are now living, namely: Thomas F., who lives on the home farm; Alexander,
  who lives in Liverpool, where he is employed as a clerk in Robert Hall's
  lumber yard; Margaret R., who lives with her father; and William, who, when
  an infant, was adopted by Alexander and Mary Scott, of Ohio. Mrs. Nickle was
  called to her eternal home in 1868, and Mr. Nickle formed a second union,
  with Jane Hall, nee Bigger, who is also deceased. Politically, Mr. Nickle was
  formerly a Democrat, but is now a supporter of the Prohibition party. He is an
  elder of the U. P. church, and it was through him that the present fine church
  of that denomination was erected.