BIOGRAPHY, Rockbridge County, VA- "N" ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** NELSON-- Alexander L. Nelson, a native of Augusta, was graduated from Washington College in 1846 and succeeded General D. H. Hill in the chair of mathematics. Professor Nelson, who was a great grandson of Sampson Mathews, died in 1910 at the age of eighty-three. His wife was Elizabeth H. Moore. Source: A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia by Oren F. Morton, published in 1920. Transcribed and submitted by: "Marilyn B. Headley" , 1997 ************************************************************************************** JOHN ALEXANDER NICELY - is a native of Alleghany county, Virginia, born October 4, 1824. His parents were born in Alleghany county, George and Sally Frances (Circle) Nicely, and are deceased. Nathan and Elizabeth (Deacon) Chittum were the parents of Eliza Jane, born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, December 11, 1829. Nathan Chittum resides in Bedford county, and his wife is deceased. Near Fincastle, the countyseat of Botetourt county, Virginia, December 24, 1850, John A. Nicely and Eliza Jane Chittum were united in wedlock. The record of their children is: George F., born October 27, 1851; Mary Elizabeth (Morris), August 7, 1853; Joseph N., November 18, 1855; Charles Fletcher, March 3, 1858; John C., May 7, 1860; James Newton, December 17, 1861; William Lewis, March 26, 1864; Sallie Frances (Clark), September 10, 1866; Martha Jane, February 6, 1869; Henry D., February 6, 1872. The two oldest have the homes of their married life in Buffalo district; Joseph N. lives in Oakdale, James N. at Paintersville, Ohio, and the others at home. John A. Nicely entered the Confederate army in 1862, and took part in the battles of Droop Mountain, Lynchburg, Cedar Creek, Snickers Gap, and Gordonsville, continuing in the service till Lee's surrender. He made his home in Rockbridge county in February, 1856, and he owns 388 acres of fine farming land twelve miles southwest of Lexington. He combines stock-raising with farming. Collierstown, Rockbridge county, Virginia, is his postoffice address. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411. Transcribed and submitted by: "Valerie F. Crook" ********************************************************************** NICHOLS-- General Edward Nichols was born at Petersburg, 1858. He was graduated with high honors from the Virginia Military Institute in 1878, and took a post-graduate course in engineering. He entered the legal profession but left it to take the chair in engineering at the Institute in 1882. From 1890 until 1908 he held the chair of mathematics. In this interval he became the author of an "Analytical Geometry," and "A Differential and Integral Calculus." He is the present Superintendent of the Institute. The first wife of General Nichols was Edmonia L., a daughter of Doctor Livingston Waddell; the second is Mary E., the oldest daughter of the late William F. Junkin. Her first husband was Lawrence Rust, LL. D., of Loudoun county. Source: A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia by Oren F. Morton, published in 1920. Transcribed and submitted by: "Marilyn B. Headley" , 1997 ************************************************************************************** WILLOUGHBY MABERRY NORCROSS - a native of Rockbridge county, was born at Buffalo Forge, July19, 1835, a son of William and Mary (Johnston) Norcross. In the war between the States he was three years a member of Company H, 14th Virginia Cavalry, and since the war he has been engaged in farming, owning 192 acres of land lying on Walkers creek. Near Fairfield, Rockbridge county, April 18, 1865, were recorded the marriage vows of Willoughby M. Norcross and Sarah Jane Taylor. She was born in Nelson county, Virginia, August 16, 1833, a daughter of George W. and Nancy Ann (Miller) Taylor. A Brother of W. M. Norcross, named George W., enlisted at the beginning of the warin Company H, 14th Virginia Cavalry, and went through the entire war without a scratch. Three brothers of Mr. Norcross, William, James B. and Henry H., were in the service. William died of disease at Appomattox C. H., a short time before the surrender. The postoffice address of W. M. Norcross is Brownsburg, Rockbridge county, Virginia. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411. Transcribed and submitted by: "Valerie F. Crook" **********************************************************************