KINFOLKS
by Evelyn Flood

JOHN CLIFTON NICHOLS STORY
15 September 2000
This E-mail letter was received from Mary Jane Smith, a descendant
of John Clifton Nichols and Amanda Cora Brown Nichols.
"Evelyn,
I thought you might be interested in a news flash regarding
John Clifton Nichols.
At one time you had written on a Gen Forum response about
Jewel Nichols Clark having lots of information about
John Clifton Nichols, so I wrote to her then and found out that
our great grandfather's Hamett Asbury and Frank were brothers,
children of John Clifton and Amanda.
So we have become great friends. Through Jewel's research and some of
J C's relatives in Jasper they have determined where John, Mary and
Amanda are buried so on Saturday, September 23,(2000) 10:00 am there
will be a memorial held in memory of our oldest known Nichols
ancestors.
It will be held at Union Hill Cemetery, Jasper, Newton County,
Arkansas. Head stones will be placed at that time.
I know you don't live in Arkansas, but I thought you might like to
know about this event.
Mary Jane Smith"

The more people I research, the smaller this world seems to get.
Just the other day, a lady contacted me about the Mathis and Henson
families.
Come to find out, the Hensons married into the Mathis family.
The Hensons married into the Harris family (our great-grandmother
was a Harris).
They were related in some way to John Clifton Nichols and the Brown
families.
Mrs. J.Clark wrote a letter to the Newton County, Arkansas Times
Newspaper in June of 1996 in which she was trying to locate the grave
of her great-grandfather, John Clifton Nichols.
In her letter to the Editor, Jewell stated that the heirs of John
Clifton Nichols sold their land to Matt and Francis Brasel.
The description of the land was as follows:
Newton County, Arkansas, Lot #3, North East quarter of the North
west quarter of Section 16 in Township 15 North of Range 21 West...
40 acres.
So, Jewell was able to find her great-grandfather's land and the
reunion was planned and took place as mentioned in the first part
of this story.
John, his wives MARY ANN and AMANDA CORA BROWN were buried in
Union Hill Cemetery of Newton County. The rocks that were marking
their graves had been moved.
Really glad that the family was able to locate the graves and place
new markers on their graves.

Let me tie all the families together by writing this article about
John Clifton Nichols.

A little about the family of John Clifton Nichols:
Have not worked on my Nichols files for a long time
John Clifton Nichols was born 1 Jan 1811 in White County, Tennessee,
married MARY ANN DAVIS on 20 March 1830 in White County, Tennessee.

Found the family on the 1850 Franklin County, Arkansas Census in
White Oak Township.
In 1860 they were in Franklin County.
Clifton Nichols enlisted or was conscripted into Co. C Old, and Co.D,
27th Arkansas Infantry on 15 February 1862 at Bellefonte, Arkansas.
He was 51 years of age.
He is not listed in the Confederate Soldier Pension Book.

In 1870 they were in Newton County, Arkansas in Jackson Township.

MARY ANN DAVIS NICHOLS died 3 October 1869\70 at Mt. Parthenon,
in Newton County.

I show the following children for John Clifton and Mary Ann Nichols:
(1) JAMES M NICHOLS, born 30 July 1830 in Marion County, Tennessee.
He married SELINA TAYLOR on 14 January 1854 in Franklin County, Arkansas.
Known Children were:
Hugh, Andrew, James, George, Joseph, Noah and Millie Nichols.

(2) ROBERT NICHOLS, born 1834 in Marion County, Tennessee.
He married LOUISA J (Eliza J) ADAMS on 20 June 1858 in Franklin County,
Arkansas.
Children were:
John, Jane, Margaret and George Nichols

(3) JOHN (J or W) NICHOLS, born February 1838 in White County, Tennessee.
He served in Co. K, Second Arkansas Cavalry (Union) in Civil War.
He died in November 1865 at a Veterans Hospital in Little Rock,
Arkansas.
His father, Clifton, filed for John's Civil War Pension.

NOTE:
If men were in the Union Army during Civil War, the birth year and
place of birth are taken from the Arkansas Union Soldiers Index.
John is listed as John J Nichols in Union Soldiers Index.

(continuing with children of John Clifton Nichols

(4)WOODSON F NICHOLS, born 1840 in Tennessee.
He served in Confederate Army. Enlisted Co. D, 27th Arkansas Cavalry
(Confederate). Enlisted 20 June 1862 in Jefferson Township, Carroll
County, Arkansas. POW paroled in 1865 at Shreveport, Louisiana.
He was a Baptist Minister and Farmer.
He married MARGARET "Peggy" ANN EOFF in 1866 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Margaret was daughter of Alexander and Jane Eoff.
Children were:
Alexander, William, Margaret and James Clifton Nichols.

Woodson Nichols' Probate Record is in Newton County, Book PR-1,
Page 307, dated 1878

(5) MARY JANE NICHOLS, born in 1843 in Tennessee.
She married WILLIAM J CAMPBELL on 14 March 1869 in Newton County.
William was son of Richard C Campbell and Nancy Ann Berry.
Children were:
Allen L; Richard A or D, William F and Manerva Campbell.
Mary Jane Nichols Campbell died before 1878.
William J Campbell owned land in Section 15, Township 17 North,
Range 20 West in Boone County, Arkansas.

(6) AMANDA E NICHOLS, born 1845 in Tennessee.
She married A L POOL on 4 May 1887 in Franklin County, Arkansas.
Have a question on this.
Show her death as 4 May 1887?

(7)TENNESSEE EMELINE NICHOLS, born 30 November 1846 in Tennessee.
She married PHILIP HEFLEY in 1866 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Phillip Hefley was son of William Anderson Hefley and Mary Roy.
Children were:
John; Mary; William "Stagger Bill"; James W; Andrew H;
Arkansas "Rena"Nichols Davis; Crockett L; Daniel "Preacher Dan";
and Mat Hefley.
Tennessee died on 29 November 1920 at Cartersville, Haskell County,
Oklahoma and is buried in Old Cache Cemetery.

(8) MARTHA VIRGINIA NICHOLS, born 18 August 1847 in Tennessee.
She married (1)CALOWAY MAYHEW BROWN on 5 December 1875 in Newton
County,Arkansas.
She married (2) R MARTIN (date and place unknown).
Her children were:
William L; James f; Columbus M; Rosa Pearly Pool; Haywood; Sarah;
Dora Brown Smith; Sherman W and George W Brown.
Martha Nichols Brown died before 1910.

(9) JESSE A NICHOLS, born September 1849 in Arkansas.
He married MARY JANE LOVE on 23 January 1871 in Newton County,
Arkansas.

(10) ARRENA "Rena" NICHOLS, born 1852 in Arkansas.
She married W D BANKSTON on 1 December 1881 in Franklin County,
Arkansas.

(11) WILLIAM S NICHOLS, born 1854 (January 1857) in Arkansas.
He married:
(1) MALINDA E ADAMS on 26 August 1879 in Franklin County, Arkansas.
and:
(2) MARGARET NICHOLS SMITH on 21June1889 in Newton County, Arkansas,
Book B, page 467).
William died on 23 May 1930 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is buried
in Rose Hill Cemetery there.

(12)JULIA ANN NICHOLS, born 1856 in Arkansas.
I show her as marrying JACK ROGERS. They were on the 1880 Franklin
County, Arkansas Census, White Oak Township, visit 347.
Other researchers have Julia marrying AMBROSE TAYLOR??
She reportedly killed herself by jumping in a well. She left her
clothing outside the well so she could be found.

(13)ALBERT LAWSON NICHOLS, born 28 April 1858 in Arkansas.
He married LOU ELLEN "LIZZIE"NICHOLS on 9 June 1890 in Franklin
County, Arkansas. Book D, page 332.
Children were:
Arminda L; Quintella; Ginetta; Alexander, Venie; Clifton; Charles;
Mattie; Henry and Malina Nichols.
Albert died on 9 February 1934 in Franklin County, Arkansas.
He is buried in Harmon Cemetery there.

On 22 August 1873, John Clifton Nichols married:
AMANDA CORA BROWN.
She was born 7 February 1854 in Franklin County, Arkansas.
He was 62 and she was 19.
Amanda was the daughter of Lewis? Brown and Melinda (mnu) Brown.
It is Melinda Brown who later married STEPHEN W MATHEW (Mathis?).
In 1880 they were in Newton County in Jackson Township.

John Clifton and Amanda Cora Brown Nichols had the following
children:
(14)HAMET ASBURY NICHOLS, born 30 May 1874 in Newton County, Arkansas.
He married SARAH J MAY on 9 April 1899 in Searcy County, Arkansas.
He died 3 January 1947 in Marion County, Arkansas.

(15)FRANCIS FRANKLIN O'BAR NICHOLS, born 13 August 1876 at Jasper,
Newton County, Arkansas.
He married DOLLIE E JACKSON on 29 November 1897 in Johnson County,
Arkansas.
He died 21 July 1954 in Sebastian County, Arkansas.
See my Kinfolks Story on Dollie Jackson.

(16) MELINDA ANN NICHOLS, born 1879 in Newton County, Arkansas.
She married Tom W Brown on 31 March 1894 in Searcy County, Arkansas.
She died on 18 December 1958 in Marion County, Arkansas.

(17)CALLAWAY MAHEW NICHOLS, born 13 February 1881 in Newton County,
Arkansas.
He married ROSA NORTHCUTT on 23 December 1900 in Searcy County,
Arkansas. Callaway died on 29 February 1952 in Kerman, California.
He is buried in Belmont Park Cemetery, Fresno, California.

(18) CHARLES WESLEY NICHOLS, born 20 May 1882 in Newton County,
Arkansas.
He married:
(1)MINNIE DENNINGTON on 18 March 1900 in Searcy County, Arkansas.
(2)JESSIE MYRTLE LIPPS unknown place and date.
Charles Wesley Nichols died 11 November 1964 at unknown place.

(19) HARRISON B NICHOLS, born 1884 in Newton County, Arkansas.
He married SISSIE GREATHOUSE (unknown place and date).
Harrison died ca 1921 at Ft.Smith, Arkansas.

NOTE: As mentioned earlier, someone contacted me about the Mathis, Harris
and Henson families.
This person ordered my 1900 Newton County, Arkansas Census Plus
Township Book and when she mentioned these names, was able to make
connections of the Mathis, Brown, Henson and Harris families.

Seems the father LEWIS? BROWN died and mother MELINDA (mnu)Brown
married STEPHEN W MATHEWS (MATHIS)after Lewis Brown's death.
Stephen Mathews (Mathis) supposedly died in Civil War.

In Franklin Co.AR Marriage Book:
Stephens W Matthews (30?) married BELINDA BROWN (29)
on 14 May 1854 in Franklin County, Arkansas, (page 96)

Found the Stephen W Mathews family living in Searcy County, Arkansas
in 1860, Tomahawk Township, Visit 433.
Mathews, Stephen W 35........TN
Malinda 35 f.....TN
Jane 14 f.....TN (Mary Jane Brown)
Caloway 12 m......TN (Calloway Brown)
Amanda 7 f......AR (Amanda Cora Brown)
Susan 4 f......AR (Susan Sarah Mathis)
Elizabeth 3 f......AR (Martha Elizabeth Mathis>
William 2 m......AR (William Mathis)
In the Arkansas Confederate Soldier's Index I found:
Stephen M Mathews in Co. K, 31st Arkansas Infantry.
Do not know if this is the correct Stephen Mathews.

1870 Census??

1880 Newton County, Arkansas, Prairie Township, pg 617a.
Visit 396
Mathis, Malinda.........F..56..W...TN,NC,NC
William E.......m..22..S...AR,TN,TN
Melinda ? Brown Mathews(Mathis) is buried in Wayton Cemetery
Newton Co. AR.

1900 Newton County, Arkansas Census, Jackson Township.
46-49
MATHIS(MATHEWS?)
William Elisha..H..Mar1858....42 M...7yrs...AR,TN,TN
Nancy J.........W..Sep1875....24 M...7yrs...3-3...AR.AR.AR
Vanner L........D..May1893.....6 S................AR,AR,AR
Sarah L ........D..Nov1894.....5 S................."
Ida P ........D..Jun1899....9/12 S.................."
(Nancy J Henson married WILLIAM ELISHA MATHEWS (Mathis) on
28 Aug 1893 in Newton Co. AR.
Nancy Jane Henson was the twin daughter of
John W Henson and Lucy Minerva Jane Self.
Ida P Mathis married CLAUDE HARRIS
Claude Harris was the twin son of Washington Hoyle Harris and
Amanda Gladden Harris Thomas.
Washington Hoyle Harris was half-brother to our great-great
grandmother Rachel Caroline Harris Flood.

And so the tendrils of the vine of the Flood family have entwined
itself in yet another Newton County, Arkansas family.

Nancy Jane Henson�s twin was Sarah E Henson.
They were born 17 April 1877 (Sept 1875? per census).
Sarah E Henson, twin, married HENRY GILBERT (21) on 24 March 1893
in Newton Co. AR.
Nancy Jane�s father was John William Henson, born (July 1854) or
31 July 1851 to James M Henson and Nancy H (maiden name unknown)
Henson.
After Nancy H (mnu) Henson died, James M Henson married:
(2) MAY WISHON in 1882 in Newton County, Arkansas.

Nancy Jane Henson Mathis married :
(2) EZEKIEL ROLAND
Nancy Jane died in 1942 in Big Cabin, Oklahoma.
Her death certificate states her father was John Henson and her
mother was Lucy Wishon.
Could someone have given Nancy Jane Henson's step-grandmother's
last name of Wishon as her mother?? I wonder.
I believe Nancy Jane Henson Mathis Roland's mother was Lucy Self.
Death certificates are the LEAST ACCURATE record.
They are only as good as the person giving the information
, which is not always correct.

William Elisha Mathis (Mathews?) was the son of Malinda Brown and
Stephen Mathis.
At visit #47 on the 1900 Census in Jackson Township is
BROWN, Calaway Head.....July 1848....51...M23yrs...KY,TN,TN
(my notes say Clark Co. KY)
Martha V........Wife....Aug1855......46...M23yrs...AR,TN,TN
(this is Martha Virginia Nichols Brown).

1880 Newton County, Arkansas Census, Van Buren Township
Self, Mary .......66....H....Wd.....IL....Ala, ?
......Susan.......46...Daug..S......IL,TN,IL
......Manerva E...26...Daug..S......"
......Nancy M.....19...Daug..S......"
Manerva Self is the right age to be the Manerva Lucy Jane Self who
married John W Henson in 1874.
Wonder if they divorced or she just returned to her mothers??

1900 Newton Co. AR Census, Van Buren Township
Visit 144
SELF, Susan.....H.....66.....Single
Nancy M...Sis...39.....Single
PAYNE,Manerva M..Sis..47......WD
(Is this Manerva Lucy Jane Self Henson Payne? Looks like it.
Ages are same.
Their mother was Mary Daniels Self. Father was Erby Self.

1900 Newton Co. AR. Census, Jackson Township
Visit 48-51
HENSON, John W...H..July1854...45...M25yrs.......AR,TN,KY
Liza J...W..Aug1865....35...M25yrs..2-2..AR,AR,AR
James M..Son..Mar1886..15................MO,AR,AR
John A...Son..Nov1891...9................AR,AR,AR
Henderson, John..Boarder..Sep1865..34..Single....AR,AR,AR

I checked out the dates in the Newton County marriage books.
Malinda (mnu)Brown Mathis'children:
(1) Mary Jane Brown b:TN married WILLIAM G SIMMONS 27 Jan 1876
Mary Jane(30) and W G Simmons (22) (A240) Newton Co.AR.

(2) Calloway Mayhew Brown(23) b KY m: MARTHA VIRGINIA NICHOLS (23)
on 5 Dec 1875 (A227) Newton Co.AR

(3) Amanda Cora Brown (20) b AR married JOHN CLIFTON NICHOLS
on 22 Aug 1873 (A-168)Newton Co.AR.

(4) Susan Sarah Matthews(19) m: MATTISON(Madison)MARTIN (18) on
5 April 1874 (A183) Newton Co.AR.

(5)Martha Elizabeth Mathis(20) married JOSEPH PIERCE (57)
on 4 April 1876 (A251) Newton Co.AR.

(6) William Elisha Matthews(Mathis)33 married NANCY JANE HENSON (18)
on 28 Aug 1893 (E-3)Newton Co.AR.

There were lots of Browns in Searcy County, Arkansas.
Wonder if they owned land there?
Will have to check that out.

If anyone can add to this information, would appreciate your help.

Evelyn Flood
RKinfolks@yahoo.com

May 2016

Write me:
Rkinfolks@yahoo.com