Abram Nichols (1816-1852)
Nichols Brothers, "Old Bachelors", Among the First Lowell Settlers
According to Rev. T.H. Ball's early Lake County history, first among the settlers of this vicinity were two old bachelor brothers. They were Abram R. and Horatio Nelson Rice Nichols, sons of a shoemaker, William and Nancy (Randall) Nichols, of Madison County, N.Y.Abram was born Jan. 24, 1816, and Horatio was born Jan. 25, 1818.
The boys worked on their father's farm during the summer and attended the district school in the winter. When Horatio was 18 years old a tide of emigration set in toward the great and growing west and a strong desire took possession of young Horatio to see the western county. So, in company with his older brother, they set out on their journey, reaching LaPorte, Ind., on June 2, 1836, where they remained until October, when they came to Lake County.
Abram and Horatio purchased a claim, which then included a great share of the present site of Lowell, for which they paid $250.
The following May, the boys moved on their claim, where they continued to farm together for five years and were known by their few neighbors as the "old bachelors."
March 16, 1840, Abram R. was married to Samantha Fuller who had moved to this vicinity in 1838 with her parents, James and Lydia Fuller, from New Hampshire.
Horatio Nelson Rice Nichols married Phoebe Eliza Kenyon of Pleasant Grove on January 23, 1845 (50 years from this date they celebrated their golden wedding in their capacious home on Lowell's west side).
Abram R. Nichols died in Lowell September 21, 1852 (100 years ago). Their children were: Horatio James, born Jan. 4, 1841; Albert Lafayette, September 25, 1842; Benjamin Franklin, May 20, 1845; Archibald William, July 10, 1848; and Abram Resseguie, Jr., Sept. 25, 1851 (all were born in Lowell).
Horatio died at his home in Lowell in 1897, Phoebe, in 1912. Their children were: William Calvin, born Nov. 10, 1845, who married Mary J. Gragg; Irvin Lester, 1847-79; Hannah Louisa, married Mortimer Gragg; Ella Medora, married Cyrus F. Dickinson; Alma Eliza, married Edson Foster; Charles Elmer, married Edna May Smith.
Their descendants have populated the Lowell community with people who possess the sterling qualities of these earliest of Lowell's pioneers. At the time of the death of Horatio's wife (Phoebe), the Lowell Tribune wrote: "Mrs. Nichols suffered all the hardships of pioneer life, and lived to see this country develop from a wilderness to one of the most prosperous settlements in the state of Indiana. She was woman of more than ordinary ability; being a great readier, she conversed intelligently on current topics of the day. She was a woman of strong personality and lived up to her convictions. It was a pleasure to know her and she will be sadly missed."
Acting as pall bearers at her funeral were her grandsons, George L. Foster, Harry Foster, Ernest Dickinson, Carl Gragg, William H. Nichols, and a great grandson, Byrl C. Grant.
Go to Abram R. Nichols, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
Return to Lowell Biographies.