BIOGRAPHIES: William Nicholls, Caledonia Township, Trempealeau Co., WI

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William Nicholls, one of the leading agriculturists of Trempealeau County, 
carries on farming operations in Caledonia Township, not far from Trempealeau 
Village, and has as good a farm as is to be found in this region. Born on the 
homestead of his parents, William and Charlotte (Dunham) Nicholls, July 7, 
1870, he has spent his life on the home place, and has established for himself 
an excellent reputation among his fellow men. Until 12 years of age he 
attended the school of district 3, near his home, then he entered the 
Trempealeau schools, and was graduated from the high school there at the age 
of 17 years. During the winter of 1887-88 he was a student in the agricultural 
department of the University of Wisconsin, at the time when that department 
was still in its infancy. With this preparation he took over the active 
management of the home place, and here he has since remained. This he has 
improved in every way, adding to its value year by year through careful 
cultivation, building operations, fence construction, and the purchase of 
tools, implements and machinery. The original home has been remodelled until 
it is a large commodious structure, modern in many ways, and well furnished 
throughout. Three new barns, 28 by 64 feet, 40 by 72 feet, 20 by 46 feet, a 
swine house, 20 by 46 feet, and many other buildings have been constructed. 
To the original tract he has added 255 acres, and now has a place of 400 acres, 
150 acres of which are under the plow, and 250 acres in pasture, hay and 
woodland. The cattle on the place are Guernseys, his herd containing about 
60 head. From this herd he secures some 15,000 quarts of cream annually, which 
is shipped to Winona and sold at retail. His cattle are widely known and are 
shipped from coast to coast. In addition to stock raising and dairying he 
specializes in pure blood Chester White swine. He likewise successfully carries 
on general farming. Mr. Nicholls is a public-spirited citizen, and while not 
actively interested in political affairs, has consented to serve for several 
terms as a member of the town and school board. He helped to organize the 
Citizens State Bank of Trempealeau, and has been its president since 1912. He 
is a stockholder as well in the Western Wisconsin Telephone Company, the 
Trempealeau Lime Products Company, the Galesville Creamery and other 
organizations. In the Congregational church, of which he and his family are 
all members and active workers, he is a trustee. His fraternal relations are 
with the Masonic order, the Eastern Star, the Modern Woodmen and the Independent 
Foresters, in all of which local lodges he has held office. Mr. Nicholls was 
married June 22, 1893, to Elizabeth Carr, daughter of Thomas and Regina Carr, 
of De Soto, Wis., and born in Winona, March 1, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholls have 
had three children: Auline, William Carroll and Charlotte Elizabeth. Auline was 
born March 25, 1895, graduated from the Trempealeau high school and the La Crosse 
normal school and is now a teacher. William Carroll was born May 13, 1897, 
graduated from the Trempealeau high school, and is at home with his parents, 
assisting with the work of the farm.  Charlotte Elizabeth was born June 12, 1901, 
and is still attending school.  

--Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917" pages 790-791.