BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 519-520.


WILLIAM NICHOLS, a native of Loudon county, Va., now a retired farmer
and prominent citizen of Belmont, was born in the year 1814, the son
of Isaiah Nichols. The latter a native of the same county, started
in 1825 with his family for Belmont county, but died on the way at
the foot of the Allegheny mountains. Their money was kept in a
bandbox in the wagon, but was all lost at the time of his death. The
family then returned to their home, and two years later the children
were brought by the mother, Sarah (Hollingsworth) Nichols, to Belmont
county, where she bought a farm of thirty acres, with a log cabin and
barn. In this family there was one daughter and three sons, of whom
but one other than William survives, viz., Isaiah, who lives on the
homestead. William Nichols was reared on the farm, and in 1840,
was married to Elizabeth Dillon, who was born in December, 1821. 
Her parents also came from Loudon county, Va. Mr. Nichols began married
life as a farmer on rented land, and then bought a farm of fifty-six
acres, which he sold in 1882 and came to Belmont and purchased a home
which he has since occupied. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and is highly esteemed. He has one child, Minerva D., wife of
Oliver Wright, by whom she has two daughters.