Lillian Watson Bull Nichols – Photograph courtesy of her descendant Paul Ditchey.
Three years ago, during my first Thomas Nichols fact-finding trip to the National Archives, I thought Thomas had disappeared from the Civil War records. The Civil War pension register identified Thomas A. Nichols with three children, Mary, Florence, and Howard Nichols. However, the Thomas I knew had three children: John, Bertha, and Charles. Who was Thomas A. Nichols, father of Mary, Florence, and Howard, and who was their mother? A few months later, a distant relative of Thomas’ son, Charles Nichols, contacted me and said Thomas A. Nichols had married twice but didn’t know the name of his second wife. Back I went to the pension records…..there again was Thomas A. Nichols and his children Mary, Florence, Howard, and the comment “orphans.” It appeared that Thomas A. Nichols had remarried and lost his second wife, which left him to raise three young children.
After a research trip to Pottsville, PA, the story unfolded. Sadly, I found a marriage record and an obituary for Lillian (Lillie) Bull Nichols. Only 8 years after Thomas and Lillie married, Lillie passed away, leaving 3 young children and an older husband.
Obituary – Lillian Bull Nichols The Daily Republican, Pottsville, PA, Saturday, January 21, 1888
Death of Mrs. Thomas A. Nichols
We regret to announce the death of Mrs. Lillie, wife of Major Thomas A. Nichols, which occurred at Port Carbon last night after a brief illness of one week. She was the daughter of Ross Bull and second wife of Major Nichols and leaves three small children to mourn the loss of a loving mother. Deceased was a lady universally beloved by her neighbors and the deepest sympathy is expressed for the bereaved husband and family. Her funeral will take place on Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock, with interment in Presbyterian cemetery, Port Carbon.
[The Daily Republican Saturday, January 21, 1888]
Within 13 years, Thomas had buried two wives, each leaving three children behind to mourn them. Thomas, at 63, was left to care for children aged 6, 4, and 3. From his first marriage, his eldest daughter, Bertha, married in 1886 and moved to Trenton, N.J. Did Thomas rely on Lillie’s younger sister, Mary, to help him? He must have turned to family or neighbors to help care for the children.
Curiously, on the same day that Lillie died, 20 January 1888, Thomas baptized his 3 youngest children at the First United Methodist Church in Port Carbon, PA. Did Lillie ask this while she lay on her deathbed? Did Thomas fear for his children’s souls with death by stealing both of his wives at a young age?
Baptismal Record Mary, Florence, and Howard Nichols. Courtesy of Historical Society of PA and ancestry.com
Baptismal Record for Mary, Florence, and Howard Nichols. Courtesy of Historical Society of PA and ancestry.com
It wasn’t long before death struck the Nichols family again. Only seven years after Lillie passed away, Thomas A. Nichols died. He was 70 years old. When PA death certificates became available online this year, I found one for Thomas. After three decades of suffering from his Civil War wounds, Thomas died from an infection. His cause of death was Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys). How long he was hospitalized is not noted. His case must have been severe as he went to the university hospital in Philadelphia.
Obituary – Thomas A. Nichols – Pottsville Republican Saturday, February 16, 1895, pg 1 col 3
DEATH OF MAJ THOMAS A. NICHOLS
One of the Oldest Residents in the County and a Brave Soldier
In the death of Major Thomas A. Nichols, Schuylkill County loses one of its oldest and bravest citizens. The deceased was taken to the Pennsylvania University Hospital on Wednesday morning and died at that institution at 6 a.m. Friday, aged 70 years. He came to Pottsville in 1847. The Major has quite a war record, having enlisted in the first three months’ service in Co. G. 15th Regt., Pa. Vols, Col, Col Oakford, and held the rank of First Lieutenant. At the termination of that service e, he re-enlisted in Co. K, was promoted to Adjutant of the regiment shortly after, was wounded twice while in service with the Army of the Cumberland, was mustered out of the service in Philadelphia on June 8, 1865.
After the war, he joined George W. Johns as a bookkeeper at St. Clair and remained there for fifteen years until the colliery was sold to the P.& R. Company.
Major Nichols has resided in Port Carbon for many years; was a brother of Chief Burgess Mahlon Nichols of Pottsville; has been married twice; by the first wife, he had two sons and a daughter; the second wife, one son, and two daughters; the latter children being all minors. The children by the first wife are John, residing in Omaha; Charles at Apollo, Pa., and Bertha B. Donaldson, at Trenton, N.J.
Funeral on Monday on the arrival of the 12:55 p.m. train on the P.& R. railroad. Interment in the Presbyterian cemetery.
[Pottsville Republican Saturday, February 16, 1895, Pg 1 Col 3]
Obituary – Thomas A. Nichols – Pottsville Daily Republican Monday, February 18, 1895 pg 4 col 2
DEATHS AND FUNERALS
The funeral of the late Major Thomas A. Nichols took place this afternoon upon the arrival of the 12:55 train from Philadelphia, where he died. The funeral was in charge of the Shroeder Brothers and was very largely attended. Delegations from John Ennis Post, of St. Clair, of which the deceased was a member, and Gowen Post. G.A.R. of Pottsville were in line, and the well-known and gallant veteran was given a soldier’s burial in the Presbyterian cemetery.
The services were held at the grave by the Rev. George Gaut, D.D. pastor of the M.E. church. The pallbearers were Messrs. A.A. Krebs, Simon S. Fister, Frederick Trachte, Port Carbon, W.P. Jones, C.E. Breckons, and C.H. Short of St. Clair.
[Pottsville Daily Republican Monday, February 18, 1895, Pg 4 Col 2]
What a grand tribute it was for Thomas to be given a soldier’s funeral and recognized by his comrades and community. He would have been proud.
What became of his orphaned children?
© 2014 copyright Kendra Hopp Schmidt. All rights reserved.
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Genealogy Sketch
Name: Thomas Ackley Nichols
Parents: Matthias Nichols and Sarah (Ackley- surname not determined)
Spouse: Helena Knerr and Lillian Watson Bull
Children: John, Bertha, Charles and Mary, Florence, Howard
Relationship to Kendra: 3rd great-grandfather
- Thomas Ackley Nichols
- John Mathews Nichols
- Mabel Elvina Nichols Hyde
- John Frederick Hyde Jr.
- Jean Hyde Hopp Eichorn
- Kendra
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