Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Asa Nichols

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Descendants of Asa Nichols

Generation No. 2

2. JOHN² NICHOLS (ASA¹) was born August 20, 1787 in VT ², and died Unknown. He married (1) WEALTHY REYNOLDS June 20, 1816. She was born September 30, 1798, and died August 20, 1826. He married (2) ASENTH D. EDMONDS April 23, 1827. She was born May 15, 1807 ³, and died March 30, 1878.

Notes for JOHN NICHOLS:
From Stan Lawson's Nichols News, Vol 1, Issue 1:
John Nichols, the patriach of our various Nichols families, was a native of the "Green Mountain State," having been born near the shores of Lake champlain in 1797. when still a chld he moved wit his parents across the lake to a farm near the village of Crown Point, NY. Here he spent nearly 40 years of his life.
      In 1816 John won as his bride 17 year old Wealthy Reynolds. They were married only ten years when death claimed the wife. Three sons were born to them: Ozias M. Myron D. and Ansell A.
      Less than a year after Wealthy died, John found a new wife and a stepmother for his three boys. In 1827 he married Asenath Dorcas Edmunds, a native of the state of New Hampshire.
      After adding four more sons to the Nichols household (John E. Osman S. Levi A. and Charles T.) John and Asenath moved from Crown Point to a farm near Shalersville, OH about 1836.
      John and Asenath remained in Ohio a few years - long enough to have two more sons (George W. and Orrin P. ) then feeling the need to again relocate moved in 1843 to Branch Co., MI. They settled on a farm southwest fo the village of Quincy. Here the household was finally graced with the birth of a daughter, Annette.
      Besides farming, John worked as a shoemaker and apparently made advantage of his mechanical skills. His death occured near Quincy about 1866.
      Asenath was married a second time to Elijah Williams, a minister. In her later years Asenath lived with her sons' families, first with George i coldwater and later in Kansas with John E. She died near Vinland, Douglas Co., KS in 1888.


Children of JOHN NICHOLS and WEALTHY REYNOLDS are:

10.	i.	OSIAS M³ NICHOLS, b. May 18, 1818; d. January 18, 1898.
	ii.	MYRON D. NICHOLS, b. April 05, 1822; d. Unknown.
	iii.	ANSEL A. NICHOLS, b. February 18, 1824; d. Unknown; m. (1) E. J. SANGER, October 20, 1844; d. January 01, 1849; m. (2) MARY ELWELL, October 1854; d. January 23, 1908.

Children of JOHN NICHOLS and ASENTH EDMONDS are:

11.	iv.	JOHN EDMONDS³ NICHOLS, b. February 29, 1828, New York; d. July 18, 1912, Vinland, KS.
12.	v.	OSMAN SMITH NICHOLS, b. September 28, 1830; d. September 01, 1898.
	vi.	LEVI A. NICHOLS, b. June 27, 1832; d. Unknown.
13.	vii.	CHARLES TRUMAN NICHOLS, b. January 23, 1835, NY; d. April 03, 1913.
14.	viii.	GEORGE WASHINGTON NICHOLS, b. November 03, 1837, Ohio; d. July 19, 1894.
	ix.	ORRIN P. NICHOLS⁴, b. March 02, 1840, Brnach County, MI; d. December 31, 1862, Tennessee.

Notes for ORRIN P. NICHOLS:
From Stan Lawson's Nichols News Vol 1, Issue 1.
Orrin P. Nichols (1840-1862) a member of the 11th Michigan Infantry, he was killed at the Battle of Stones River, Tenn. on Dec 31, 1862.

15.

ANNETTE NICHOLS, b. July 02, 1845, MI; d. Unknown.

3. ANDREW² NICHOLS (ASA¹) was born September 26, 1790 in Shoram, VT ⁵, and died November 01, 1867 in Shalersville TWSP, OH⁵. He married SALLY HAVEN⁵ January 07, 1819⁵. She was born July 17, 1797 ⁶, and died December 28, 1873 ⁷.

Notes for ANDREW NICHOLS:
HISTORY OF THE HAVEN GOODELL FAMILY
(ANDREW NICHOLS MARRIED SALLY HAVEN)
by James H. Nichols, ESQ., Son of Andrew and Sally, Raven na, OH
At the reunion last year it was suggested that I act as the historian for the year 1893. I accepted the trust without considering what its duties are.
On considering the matter I find I cannot be a historian for anything. I never wrote a sentence in my life to be read in public and whatever review I must needs be very unsatisfactory. The history of the Haven-Goodell family is so closely interwoven it is difficult to separate it, as Jonas Goodell and Molly Haven were brother and sister and both lived to old age in the same township, both passing to their respective rewards within about half a mile from each other. In the review of the lives of the haven-Goodell family there is one very striking trait. From the earliest intelligence we can obtain of its different branches from their arrival here from England early in the 16th and 17th centuries to the present time no person with a drop of the ancestral blood coursing in their veins has ever extended a palm for charity or been consigned to a charitable or penal institution.
      Another striking characteristic is that nearly all of the numerous descendants of the two families have been and are agriculturists, tilling the soil or some other great physical labor has generally been their chosen field; originally born in poverty and reared in adversity, subject to toil and hardship incident to a pioneer life, they naturally became physically strong with industrious, frugal habits, they at once became a respected factor in the great characteristics of industry, economy and integrity, for which the people of the Western Reserve are celebrated wherever they are known.
      Living before the era of schools and the press, which now so fully illumines our pathway, they were thrown upon their own resources physically and mentally, and they naturally became strong and self-reliant, but though their time was adverse to their development, let us not for a moment harbor the thought that they were weaker than ourselves in intellect. I know there is a tendency at the present time to look upon ourselves as being of stronger minds than our ancestors in family and national history. One of our self-wise politicians of this county a year ago stated to a public audience that they should no look to the signers of the Declaration of Independence for guidance, for they wore knee breeches and had their hair powdered, but let me say to him and all other like minded unfortunates that for advanced wisdom and enlightened statesmanship, the signers of the Declaration of Independence produced a document the like of which the world had never seen before, and probably for many centuries will not see again.
      The members of the Haven family by marriage were all about on the same plane, for industry, economically and intelligence. James Coit, Orman Goss, E. B. Chapin, and Andrew Nichols all came to Portage county when a comparative wilderness each purchasing a farm of unbroken forests, cleared them up with their own industry, and with one exception, lived thereon for the remainder of their days. Leaving them unencumbered to their children, Orman Goss having sold his farm here and had gone to Michigan with great profit to himself and family.
      It is not my purpose at this time to attempt to sketch the lives of all these sturdy founders of our destiny, but only say a few words of the ancestral branch of the Nichols Family.
      ANDREW NICHOLS was born at Shoram, Vermont Sept 26, 1790 and shared the hardships and privations of those times. his education was of course, limited, as he was compelled to labor for the support of the vary large family, he being the oldest of fifteen children. He was a man of great physical strength and wonderful powers of endurance. His energy was more like that emanating from a motor than coming from and forming part of human mechanism. He was of a very nervous excitable temperament, easily thrown from his usually quiet, peaceful manner, and when once aroused, knew no fear, rushing upon and breaking down all opposition. This peculiar trait was destined to find ample field for action in a way least expected. In 1811 the relations between England and the U.S. which had not been cordial since the Revolution, became more strained and the intolerance of the British ministry, under charge of King George became unendurable and the American people, though not fully recovered from the he Revolution and weak in numbers, being but 7,000,000, could endure British insults no longer, and on the 19th day of June, 1812, Congress declared war against England, ordered the increase of the regular army by 25,000 and 50,000 volunteers, at the same time Congress voted funds for the war, $11,000,000; for militia. a sum not sufficient to buy the whiskey or hire the servants of some of our military leaders, Gen. Miles, for example.
      On the declaration of war the people with unbounded enthusiasm rushed to the defence of the country. General Scott, who was then Colonel, commanded a regiment in which ANDREW NICHOLS enlisted June 20, 1812, in which he served for five years, being discharged in June, 1817.
      Immediately after enlistment he went into camp for drill and instruction, as our soldiers do now, and such was his energy and enthusiasm in his profession that in the spring of 1813 he was appointed sergeant of his Co., of which Luther Leonard was captain. For the next year Sergeant Nichols's time was arduously spent in drilling recruits to the army and detecting and arresting deserters and British spies, by which our headquarters and fortifications were infested.
      In the year 1813 he arrested one spy who was found by court martial to have in his coat collar true plans of our fortifications and of ships building i the yards. He was found guilty and hung. He also arrested and delivered at headquarters nine deserters. Their punishment was generally a loss of pay for the greater or less period of time, or in some cases to do garrison duty with a ball and chain attached to their ankle.
      In the spring of 1814 Col. Scott, who was then General, and Gen. Ripley planned the invasion of Canada. These officers commanded what was then called the Army of the North. Gen. Drummond and Gen. rial commanded the English. Our army invaded and took Fort Erie, fought and won the hard battle on the Chippewa River and July 25th they encamped in full view of the English near Niagara Falls. That night Capt. Luther Leonard with twenty-nine selected for their strength, courage and daring, crept in the rear of the British army and captured and carried away Gen. Rial and staff. ANDREW NICHOLS helped in taking the prisoners. Thus weakened, the British army of 5,000 veterans, who had fought the great Napoleon, were compelled to meet 3,000 Yankee troops, many of them old Revolutionary soldiers.
      On July 26, 1814, the greatest battle from the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown to the war of the Rebellion, was fought, called the battle of Lundy's Lane. Although our men are armed with old flint lock muskets, on the stampede of teh English they left 800 dead on the field and took away a thousand wounded. Our army being the assailants, lost in 800 or more than one fourth of all our forces engaged. This battle broke the spirit of the English Army of the North and they looked anxiously for peace, but the English were destined to greater reverses.
      After the capture and banishment of Napoleon to Elba in 1814 the British ministry thought to crush and wipe out the bright western star of human liberty and hastened to despatch the flower of those resistless conquerors of the French to strike a last blow to freedom; thus the English Army of the North was swollen to 14,000. Flushed with the pride of having fought and taken prisoner the greatest despot of modern times they, under the leadership of Gens. Provost and McCombs approached the little town of Plattsburgh on the west side of lake Champlain at the south of the Saranac River. here they found opposing them the American army, which had been strengthened by the victors from Lundy's Lane. The British naval forces under the command of Commodore Downie on Lake Champlain, were to co-operate with the land forces. They were met by the American fleet under command of Commodore McDonough. A decisive battle was fought, the British commodore killed, all his better ships taken, a few of the smaller escaping. had Schley been there he would have caught them all.
      On Sept. 6, 1814, the English army appeared on the Saranac and for four days tried to cross the river.
      I give some of the particulars of this engagement to show the part taken by Sergeant Nichols, who had been entrusted to the charge of a battery of two six-pound guns and stationed at the river to prevent the English crossing from the 6th to the 10th. The English tried to cross, but Nichols; battery loaded with grape and cannister as often scattered their forces and they were compelled to prepare for a decisive battle on that side of the river.
      Here I wish to relate one occurrence to illustrate how little Nichols knew in battle when the order retreat, was given. The British forces were coming over the hill in solid columns approaching the river, and our forces being weak at that point, were ordered to retreat to the main body of the army, but ANDREW looked back and saw them coming with drums beating and colors flying and thinking the opportunity too good to be lost, asked his gunner what the guns were loaded with. He answered, "Grape and cannister." "Unlimber," said Andrew. They were unlimbered and poured a fearful storm of grape and cannister shot into British ranks. For this disobedience he was arrested and court marshaled. his lieutenant said, "By what authority did you disobey my order?" "By the authority of your superior officer," Andrew said. At the trial the colonel of the regiment testified the told Sergeant Nichols whenever he saw a dozen Redcoats together, to give them hell. Nichols was triumphantly acquitted and received the thanks of Gen. Scott. That day he was sent for by a British officer, who was wounded and taken prisoner. He asked if he commanded the battery, and being answered in the affirmative, he said, "Give me your hand. I have stood before the guns of the great Napolion and had never seen such destructive shots; that the passage made by them was for rods wide enough to drive a wagon."
      On the 11th day of September, 1814, the great and decisive battle of Plattsburgh was fought and the British army was routed and driven from the field. This was the last battle in which the subject of this sketch was engaged. he had passed through the war of three years, without a day's sickness or wound, except a slight one at the battle of Plattsburgh, when he was sighting his gun in the heat of the action, he felt a smarting near the knee and rubbed it, but seeing his hand covered with blood, found on examination he had been struck by a musket ball, and in the excitement of the action did not know it, as it was only a flesh wound. On one occasion Young Andrew was taken prisoner by the, as he called them, "British Injuns". he was compelled to pull off his boots for the old chief, and fastened to his four companions by hickory withes around their necks was marched to the British camp,his feet bleeding so he could be tracked by the blood. That night they made their escape by young Nichols swimming up to the stern of a British ship and stealing a boat, which they all entered, but being seen and fired upon, wounding a man by the name of Waters in the he thigh. He groaned with pain, but Andrew said, "no groaning, but take a paddle and work." They reached the American army and sold the boat for $25.
      While Sergeant Nichols was engaged burying dead on the battlefield of Plattsburgh there was an incident happened which shows a peculiar trait in his character and also the excitement of the occasion. His father's family lived near Lake Champlain on the Vermont side, and a messenger came to him with the intelligence that his father, who was a soldier under Washington at Yorktown, had just died, and his mother wanted him to come home. Nichols said tell mother I have something else to do. About three months after his brother ASA, a boy of 15, came to his quarters and said, "Andrew, mother wanted to send you something and here is a piece of cake. She wants you to come home. We haven't hardly anything to eat." He obtained a furlough and visited his good mother with the large fatherless family, and ever after during his service his pay went for their support.
      After the land and naval battles of Plattsburgh both sides desired peace, which was made by a commission, the treaty being signed on the 26th day of December, 1814, and ratified by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 18, 1815, in which Jackson lost 8 killed and 13 wounded, while Packinham lost 800 killed, 1400 wounded and 500 prisoners, so let us remember the American armies have been terrible in battle before the Rebellion or Spanish war were thought of.
      After the close of the war Sergeant Nichols, having two years more to serve to complete his enlistment, was appointed by he Secretary of War paymaster of the army then stationed at Plattsburgh. Andrew was of course flattered by he token of appreciation, but knowing the had no friend but his sword and no fort but his courage and integrity, he feared he would not be able to satisfy the department that the public money would be secure but he was relieved of this embarrassment by finding he had received the appointment through the personal recommend of his captain, Luther Leonard, and his first colonel, who was then General Winfield Scott. That, with a bond signed by himself and his close friend through his whole service, Ozias Miller, as surety, he received his commission about April 1, 1815, and he faithfully performed the duties of paymaster of that branch of the army till the expiration of his term or enlistment June 20, 1817.
      On receiving his commission he purchased this pocketbook, given by father (Andrew) to son Paris and by him to his son Merrill, who is now the owner, in which he always kept the government money, which was always under his personal guard or his surety, Ozias Miller. About the first of January, 1816, he received his funds from the he government, $9,000, with which to make his quarterly payment, enclosed it in this pocketbook and securely locked it in his desk near his bunk, as he called it. That night he was awakened by some one picking at the lock. he sprang upon the robber and in catching him by the throat and coat received a blow on the head, stretching him senseless on the floor, but the assault aroused Miller, who fired the signal gun arousing the garrison but the would be assassin and robber was never known, but ever after the tread of the guard in his nightly beat was in front of Sergeant Nichols' quarters.
      After his discharge from the army Nichols and Miller engaged in the grocery business for about six months, when he sold out and went home, where he aggrieved in December, 1817.
      On the 7th day of January 1819, he was married to Sally haven, with whom he lived and with her struggled with the hardships incident to the times till November 1, 1867, when he surrendered his life to the Giver and rests in peace.
      On the day before his death I called to see him and found him in a condition clearly indicating the change. he and my mother were alone. He sat leaned back in his chair, his feet so swollen he could scarcely walk. I asked him how he was. He replied, "I don't know, not very smart, I guess." Mother said, "James, I am afraid he is going to die right away." I said, "Don't say that; he will live years yet." he said, "I hope not. I have lived long enough."
      I said, "If you could be well, you would like to live. " He said, "No. Could I be placed back thirty years I rather go on. Life with me has been a constant struggle and I hope it is about to close." The next day he passed peacefully away, sitting in his chair.
      I have extended this sketch to such great length I must close and pass over till another time the forty-eight years of the time my father and mother dwelt together in peace and labor with only a reference to my mother.
      Mother "THOU TRUEST FRIEND MAN EVER KNEW,
            THY CONSTANCY I'VE TRIED.
            WHEN ALL WERE FALSE,
            I FOUND THEE TRUE,
            MY COUNSELOR AND GUIDE."
True beautiful words, so true of my mother. It should be engraved by her children on a tablet of gold. How well she preformed the duties of life, all laboring, never complaining, she reared her family of ten children, all save one that died at four years of age, to full grown men and women. She was a person of more than ordinary ability, not easily excited, in that way very unlike my father, but of sound reason and of unerring judgment, much better than my father. She had a strong abiding faith in the Christian religion, and during a long life and motherhood assiduously taught it to her children. The most of all of them receiving and believeing her teachings,k which germnated and spruced up, but with some withered because there was not much earth. She died as she had lived, a true, conscientious Christian.
      Well do I remember that night of the 28th of December, 1873, when the fierce winds were holding carnival with the snow without. The five sons of our ever blessed mother were gathered at her bedside to receive her parting blessing. Her tongue was swollen and palsied, her eyes were closed and her speech was apparently forever silent. She had not spoken or moved except to breathe for twelve hours. Our two sisters were not there.
      Brother Paris said, "James, can't you arouse mother and see if she realizes her condition." I approached her bedside as in the presence of death and taking her hand with energy said, "Mother, do you know we think you are about to leave us?" She gave no sign of intelligence and I repeated it with more emphasis. She started, made a great effort to open her eyes, and said distinctly, "I know that my Redeemer lives." What comfort that sweet sentence gives. She never spoke again. We looked at each other in silence. None of us would have exchanged her faith for Ingersolism then. She felt simply she was going home and did not dread the passage. How different are professed Christians. During the terrible ordeal few appear as our mother did. it depends largely on whether they really believe the doctrine professed.
      It seems to me that when a person firmly and unwaveingly believes that when he leaves this body he goes to shores of Eternal Light, where he will see an know his friends who have gone before, he will not approach the river with fear and trembling, but with a joyous anticipation of the glory he is aobut to enter. yet I think the fact is, a professed Christian is quite as apt to leave with fear and trembling as any one that is less in profession. This condition is aptly illustrated by a story told by two worthy clergymen, who decided to go abroad. After being a few days out from New York a terrible storm came up, And frightened, as they thought, with the near approach of death, went on deck to hear of the situation, and finding the sailors swearing, they brought the captain to admonish them for their wickedness. He told them sailors always swear that it did not mean anything. The clergy did not believe that, but where assured if there was real danger they would be quiet; Thus assured they went below. The storm increased ithe ship laboring heavily, one of them went up to see the sailors. He returned, saying, "Brother, it is all right,k they are swearing yet," Soon the shop gave a terrible lurch, throwing them from their hammock and they instinctively fell upon their knees. At thsi point, the rudder being broken, all was given up for lost, and two of the sailors went below to see how the clergymen got along. One, peering into their room found them on their knees engaged in real, earnest, bonafide, heartrending prayer. he called to the other. "Moike, come and see these fellers pray. It scares them worse to go to heaven than it does us to go to hell."
      Brethren, let us all try to do our duty to others and to ourselves, so that when the summons does come to take our departure, we "may wrap the drape of our couch around us and lie down to pleasant dreams" while
                  "Our spirits like a bounding bark,
                  with song and gladness rife,
                  Goes gliding to the balmy shore,
                  That lies in sun light before."
The end by James H. Nichols.

Captain Andrew Nichols was a scion of a family which was founded in America in 1700 by 3 brothers of the name who came from England and established their homes respectively in New York State, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. From the one who settled in the old Empire State the Ohio branch of the family is descended.

Andrew's original house was moved back for Sugar Bush use. In 1890 Andrew built a 14 room house on Vaughn Road. It had all plate glass windows, the stone and lumber quarried from the farm. Slate roof. No closets. Total cost $5,000. burned to the ground when about 80 years old under owner ship of some people from Cleveland.



Children of ANDREW NICHOLS and SALLY HAVEN are:

	i.	ROBY D.³ NICHOLS, d. Unknown.
	ii.	POLLY M. NICHOLS, d. Unknown.
	iii.	MARTHA L. NICHOLS, d. Unknown.
	iv.	ROSSELLA J. NICHOLS, d. Unknown.
	v.	ALBERT M. NICHOLS, d. Unknown.
16.	vi.	PARIS CHANDLER NICHOLS, b. July 10, 1823, Crown Point, Essex Co., NY; d. Unknown.
	vii.	JAMES H. NICHOLS⁷, b. Abt. 1824; d. Unknown.
17.	viii.	NOBLE HAVEN NICHOLS, b. May 29, 1825, Essex Co., NY; d. Unknown.
	ix.	LUCRETIA G. NICHOLS, b. March 1827; d. February 02, 1828, Crown Point, Essex Co., NY.

More About LUCRETIA G. NICHOLS:
Burial: Unknown, White Church Cemetery, Crown Point, NY

18.

MASON ELISAH NICHOLS, b. February 26, 1830, Crown Point, Essex Co., NY; d. 1883.

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