Outagamie County County, WI - Biography of Thomas NICKEL/NICKLE of Maple Creek 1800-1852

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES 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.
************************************************************************

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives
Subject: Biography of Thomas NICKEL/NICKLE of Maple Creek 1800-1852
Submitter: Lynda K. McGinnis
EMAIL: lmcginnis@hms.harvard.edu
Date Submitted: Jun 13, 1999
Surnames: NICKEL
Source: Biography compiled by Lynda McGinnis, 1999


Biography:
NICKEL/NICKLE'S OF WI

Thomas Nickel was born 17JUN1800 (tombstone record) in PA.  He married cl820 (by ae of children) Catherine
Rose (maiden name from death certificate).  They had approximately 10 children, all b. in PA; at least 2 were b. in
Mercer Co (US Census & other vital records).  In 1847, Thomas & Catherine sold their land in Mercer County to the
Methodist Church for $1 and moved their entire family to the town of Utica, Winnebago Co, WI (1850 US Census &
Mercer Co deed records).  In February 1852, they moved north through the wilderness to Johnson's Trading Post,
Waupaca Co with the first group of white settlers.  This area became New London, Waupaca & Outagamie Co's, WI.
(note: The town of New London is on both sides of the county lines of Waupaca & Outagamie.) The Nickels built
their new home nearby, in what is now Maple Creek, Outagamie Co. Thomas Nickel died only 2 months after the
move.  The township didn't have a cemetery yet, so Thomas Nickel was buried in the woods.  The Maple Creek
Cemetery was later staked-out around the graves of Thomas Nickel and his grandson, "baby" McDonald.  Thomas,
Catherine and most of their children were buried in Old Maple Creek (Golden Hill) Cemetery near New London.

The information about the Nickel's move north is recorded in the History of.Outagamie Co, by Ryan Thomas.  Some
of the Nickel's sons are also recorded; Thomas C., Levi and John Nickel, all living in Maple Creek.  George W. Law
(b 1817 PA, m 1845, d 1912 WI), a son-in-law of Thomas Nickel, was the first settler in this area.  There were many
Indians here at the time and "it seemed nearly a year before his wife saw a white woman".  His wife was Isabella
(Elizabeth) Nickel, daughter of Thomas and Catherine.  Isabella died cl892 WI.
The following is a list of the supposed children of Thomas and Catherine (Rose) Nickel, all born in PA, probably in
Mercer Co. (Based on US Census, marriage and death records, tombstones and residence):

1) John R., b. c1823; m Mary ---, d?.
2) Isabella/Elizabeth, b. 29May1825, m 1845 George Law in Mercer Co, PA, d 11Jan1892;
3) William W. b. c1827, m Harriett (he was in Utica, WI in the 1850 census but, returned to Mercer Co, PA before
1860);
4) Thomas C. b. c1832, ml Isabella Mills 25 Apr 1858 Embarrass, Outagamie Co, m2 Jane Mills 19Sepl877 Fond Du
Lac, WI, d 3Nov1913 King Veterans Home, WI (Isabella & Jane Mills were sisters);
5) Catherine Anne b. 13APR1835 Mercer Co, PA, m 10Marl852 William McDonald - the first marriage of white
settlers in Waupaca Co (at Johnston's Trading Post), d 05Mayl917;
6) Levi b. 27Novl838; m 6 Apr 1866 Mary Jane Spence; d 13Febl9l2.
7) Eliza b. 9MAY1840, d. 3AUG1865;
8) Matilda b.cl839 (in the 1850 census but, no record found after).
9) Allate M. b. 11 Sep 1845 PA, m 26 Nov 1864 August Roloff Maple Creek, Outagamie Co, d 1903;
10) George B. b. cl845, m 6Febl875 Jane Billings at Liberty, Outagamie Co, d?

     Levi Nickel, Thomas C Nickel and William McDonald all served in the WI Union Forces during the Civil
War.  Levi Nickel served as a sergeant and his granddaughter has his original journal.  Thomas C Nickel & William
McDonald served together in the same unit.

note: obituary notices give us the following:
(21 Jun 1912 New London News Obit. : George W. Law died.  He was b 1817 in PA and there married Elizabeth
Nickel in 1845.  They moved west shortly thereafter and settled in New London c1850.  He was a partner in a
sawmill, tannery and steamboat businesses and a farmer.  They have 3 dau & 1 son who survive him: Ena Cornelius of
New London, Emma Finger of Port Arthur, Canada and Mary Finger of Sugar Bush, Davis Law of Maple Creek.)

note: no newspaper available for Isabella (Elizabeth) Nickel Law's obit.
(10 Apr 1903 New London News Obit.: Mrs Allate M. Roloff died.  She was b in PA, 11 Sep 1845, and came west
with her parents Mr & Mrs Thomas Nichol [sic] when she was but six years old ..." She married August Roloff 26
Nov 1864.  They had 11 children, 10 survived.)

(29 Sep 1910 New London News Obit.: August Roloff died.  His first wife died about 6 years previously and he was
survived by his 2nd wife.  His children who survived him: Fred Roloff of Manitowoc, Julius of Medford, Ed of
Dorchester, Henry, August and Herman of Maple Creek, Mrs Buelow of Sugar Bush, Mrs Roeder of Maple Creek,
and Miss Alma of Texas.)

     Catherine Anne Nickel was born in Mercer Co, PA, 13APR1835 and married William McDonald on
10MAR1853.  They were the parents of 6 children, all born in New London, Outagamie Co, WI:
1) Aaron, b. 17APR1858; 
2) Bower, b. 15SEP1860; 
3) Delila A., b. 22AUG1864; 
4) Elnora, b. 11JUL1866, m. William Snook c 1886, lived Hortonia, Outagamie Co, WI, d. 1900-10; 
5) Bertha, b. 6NOV1870 Maple Creek, Outagamie Co, WI, ml. 25DEC1893 Charles Lyons, divorsed in 1903 and
m2.  Frank Henry Smith, she d. April 1970 Scandinavia, Waupaca Co, WI; 
6) Laura b. cl864 (this maybe the same person as #3). (ref's Wm McDonald's civil war pension file, US Census
1850-1920, marriage and death records.)

(note:    William W. & Harriet Nickel were living with John Nickel, next door to Thomas and Catherine (Rose)
Nickel in the 1850 WI census but, William W & Harriet do not appear in later WI census or other records.  They
returned to PA shortly after the marriage of Catherine Nickel and William McDonald.  William W. & Harriet Nickel
were living in Delaware Twp, Mercer Co, PA in the 1860 census and in Clarksville, Mercer Co, PA in 1880.  The
History of Mercer Co, PA has a sketch of the "William Nickel" farm.  Since Alexander R Nickel also had a son,
William and they lived in the same town for a while, it's not possible to determine which one owned the farm in the
photo.)