James Nicholson

James Nicholson, a native of Scotland, came to the United States in 1819, locating in St. Lawrence county, N. Y, where he resided until 1838, when he migrated to Sangamon county, Ill. In 1842 he settled in this township and died here in 1856, aged sixty-six years. His wife died prior to the removal of the family from York state. Six of his children settled in Stark county, namety: David, Jane, wife of James Johnson, Toulon; James, a citizen of California, Elizabeth (deceased), Peter, in Nebraska, and William, of Company B, Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, who died in hospital at St. Louis, Mo., in 1862. David Nicholson was born in Scotland, in 1818, accompanied his parents in all their travels, but preceded his father in settlement here, having located one-half mile west of his present home in 1811, and entered the eiglity acres on which his house now stands. In February, 1843, he married Jane, daughter of Thomas Johnson, then residing near Springfield, Ill. After the ceremony he had only twenty-five cents left to begin life on, and this investment is now represented by 485 acres of well improved land—all the result of his own thrift and enterprise. Of the eleven children born to Mr. Nicholson ten are living, namely: Louisa, Margaret, James and Thomas, twins, Mary, Robert David J., Carrie, William F., Francis B., and Nancy (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson have been members of the Congregational church at Toulon for over thirty years. Politically he is a Republican.