Wasco-Statewide County OR Archives Biographies.....Nicholson, J. A. October 15, 1847 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 12, 2007, 7:22 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company J. A. NICHOLSON. Fifty years have passed since J. A. Nicholson first came to Wasco county and during this period he has held a place among the extensive and successful ranchers of this section of the Columbia River Valley, having through his persistence and well-directed efforts gained a competency which has enabled him to retire from active pursuits, and he is now living in Boyd. Mr. Nicholson was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of October, 1847, and is a son of John and Nancy (Frew) Nicholson, both of whom also were natives of Pennsylvania and were of Scotch descent. The father, who was a successful farmer, was also active in local public affairs, having served as a justice of the peace, a notary public and a member of the school board. He and his wife spent their last years on their farm and both are deceased. They became the parents of seven children, namely: J. A.; Sarah, who still lives in Pennsylvania; Mrs. Nellie Gregg, of Pennsylvania; Mrs. Annie Carroll, deceased; Homer, deceased; Charles, who resides at Bend, Oregon; and Mrs. Mary Sproules, deceased. J. A. Nicholson received the advantage of a good education in the public schools of his native state, and remained at home until 1873, when he went to Illinois, where he was employed at farm work for one year. He then went to Sacramento, California, and from there to Live Oak, Sutter county, that state, where he worked on a ranch for three and a half years. In 1878 he went to Salem, Oregon, from which place he drove a band of sheep to Wasco county, wintering them on Pine creek, near the John Day river. In the following spring he came to The Dalles and soon afterward filed on a preemption claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land seven miles southeast of Dufur. In order to pay current expenses he went to work for the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company at The Dalles, but later went to his land and proved up on it, after which he returned to his railroad job and for four years was employed as a watchman in the car shops and lumber yard at The Dalles. In 1891 he took up the active operation of his ranch, raising grain, and in partnership with Menzo Selleck, also bought one hundred and sixty acres additional. They operated together until 1896, when they dissolved partnership, after which Mr. Nicholson made his home with his brother, Charles, until 1909, when he went to Sherman county, this state, where he remained about ten years. After his marriage, in 1910, he again took up his residence on the farm, to the operation of which he devoted his attention closely until April 4, 1919, when he leased both of his farms and moved into Boyd, in order to afford better educational advantages for his children. He is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, which is devoted mainly to the raising of hay and grain. On April 12, 1910, at The Dalles, Mr. Nicholson was united in marriage of Miss Marcia Maie Rust, who was born in Colusa, California and is a daughter of Lot Morol and Martha Lethalena Harriet (Cooper) Rust, of whom the former was named after Lot Morol Merrill, who was three times governor of Maine. The Rust family has long been established in this country, the American progenitor having come over as a passenger on the “Mayflower” in 1620, and Mrs. Nicholson traces her ancestry back in direct line to John Paul Jones. Mr. Rust made the voyage around Cape Horn to California in 1857 and for ten years was engaged in gold mining. He then sent east for his fiancee and they were married in Sacramento on November 24, 1867. Mr. Rust farmed for some years in Colusa county, California, and in July, 1881, he came to Oregon, driving through with a covered wagon and six head of horses. He arrived in Wasco county on November 1st and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, one and a half miles south of Moro, on which he engaged in farming. He also ran freight teams, hauling wool and grain to The Dalles, and became a man of prominence in his community. His death occurred on his ranch, July 19, 1907, and his wife passed away October 18, 1918. They became the parents of five children, namely: Pearl A., who was born in Colusa, California, is the wife of M. A. Leslie, of North Yakima, Washington; Ruby B., who married C. W. Fairchild by whom she had five children, and later married Lester Pettys, of Sherman county, Oregon; Lot W., of Sherman county; Maude E., who is the wife of J. F. Watson, of The Dalles, and Mrs. Marcia M. Nicholson. The last named was educated in the public schools at Moro, Oregon, and remained at home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson are the parents of two children, James Alexander, who is a graduate of the Boyd high school, and Jereld Rust, who is in the eighth grade, stands exceptionally high in his studies and during the past six years has never missed a day nor been tardy at school. Mr. Nicholson has been a lifelong supporter of the republican party and has always shown the proper interest in public affairs, though never an aspirant for office. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they give liberal support. Mr. Nicholson is a man of scrupulous honesty in all of his dealings, is hospitable and charitable, and possesses to a marked degree the traits of character which commend a man to the favor and good opinion of his fellowmen. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Pages 268-273 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/wasco/photos/bios/nicholso340gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/wasco/bios/nicholso340gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb