Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume II, Part 43

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 646

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(II) Thomas (2), son of Thomas (I) and Mary ( Moulton) Nichols, was born at Ames- bury, Massachusetts, October 16, 1670. He became a member of the Society of Friends. His will, dated November 16, 1724, was proved December 7 following. He married (first) Jane Jamison, born February 23, 1673-4, daughter of John and Esther (Martin) Jami- son ; (second) April 30, 1731, Judith Hoages, of Newbury. Children by first wife: Anna, married Samuel Colby ; Jonathan ; Mary, mar- ried Ralph Balisdell; Esther, married Ichabod Colby ; Thomas; David, of whom further ; Rachel; Stephen. Children of second wife: Ebenezer, Benjamin.

(III) David, son of Thomas (2) Nichols and his first wife, Jane (Jamison) Nichols, was born at Amesbury, Massachusetts, Octo- ber 26, 1709, and died in 1756, lost at sea. He was a resident of Salem. He married, 1730, Hannah Gaskill, born August 16, 1709, died

June 30, 1793, daughter of Samuel (2) and Bethia (Gardner) Gaskill. Her father was born January 23, 1663, and died in 1725; her mother was born March 26, 1654, daughter of Thomas (2) Gardner, died 1683, son of Thomas (1), born 1592, died 1674, at Salem. Samuel Gaskill (I), father of Samuel (2), was born September 6, 1638, married Provi- dence Southwick, born December 6, 1639, daughter of Lawrence and Cassandra South- wick. Edward Gaskill, father of Samuel, was the immigrant. David and Hannah Nichols had issue.

(IV) It cannot be stated with certainty which of the children of David and Hannah Nichols should be placed at the head of the fourth generation. It was not Ichabod, as his son David died unmarried. It seems sure that David Nichols, of New York, was a grandson of David and Hannah, of Salem, Massachu- setts.

(V) David, grandson of David and Hannah (Gaskill) Nichols, was born at Claverack, Co- lumbia county, New York, about 1775. He later settled in Jefferson county, New York, at Cape Vincent, where he died in 1830. Dur- ing the war of 1812 he served in the American army. He followed farming, and was a man of great energy and thrift. He married Jerusha Spinning. Children : Elijah, Andrew, Lucretia, George, Demmick and Julianna.

(VI) Andrew, son of David and Jerusha (Spinning) Nichols, was born in Oneida county, New York, April 2, 1806, and died in Kennedy, Chautauqua county. New York, May 13, 1891. He was a farmer of Jefferson county, owning his own land, and was also engaged in lumbering on the St. Lawrence river. About 1870 he sold his interests in Northern New York and came to Chautauqua county, where he purchased a small farm near the village of Kennedy. Here he resided until two years prior to his death, when he removed into the village. He was a Democrat all his life, but voted for President Lincoln when he was a candidate for a second term. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and always was most hospitable in his entertainment of its members and min- isters. He was a member of the school board, interested in the cause of education, and of the upbuilding of the church. He had pros- pered in business, and was considered one of the substantial men of his town. He married, in 1830, Cordelia Holcomb, born in Essex

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county, New York, March 22, 1811, died Oc- tober 21, 1900, aged eighty-nine years, daugh- ter of Sullivan Holcomb, who was born in Guilford, Connecticut, December 3. 1776, and settled in Jefferson county, New York, near Cape Vincent, where he died, January 25, 1865, at the age of eighty-eight years ; he was an officer in the war of 1812, fought at Chip- pewa, Lundy's Lane and Little York, and was captured by the British after he was dis- charged from service and on his way home; he married Abigail Lee, born October 7, 1778, died November 7, 1866, daughter of Seth Lee. Children of Andrew and Cordelia Nichols : I. Maria, born 1831, died 1887, aged fifty-six years, four months, twelve days ; married Har- vey S. Elkins. 2. Benjamin, of whom further. 3. Seth Lee, born July 2, 1837 ; veteran of the civil war: now a stock dealer and farmer of Minnesota. 4. Ira C., born in Clayton, New York, March 16, 1840, died 1908 ; he served in the civil war as lieutenant of the Thirteenth Regiment, United States Colored Troops, and after the war engaged in the lumber business at Kennedy, New York; he married, July, 1867, Selina Abbey ; children : E. Ross, Lynn, Leigh, Mary and Edna. 5. Jane, married Ed- ward Carr ; resides near Randolph, New York ; no issue. 6. Andrew (2), was a stockman and farmer of Minnesota, now resides near Tacoma ; married Harriet Walker, deceased ; has son, Kenneth. 7. Mary, married William Cole, superintendent of Chautauqua Lake As- sembly Grounds, where they reside; no issue. 8. Isaac C., a mine owner of Ashland, Wis- consin ; now a resident of Tacoma, Wash- ington.

(VII) Benjamin, son of Andrew and Cor- delia (Holcomb) Nichols, was born at Clay- ton, Jefferson county, New York, January I, 1835. He was educated in the public schools, and worked with his father on the farm until he was about seventeen, when he came to Chautauqua county, finishing his studies at Jamestown Academy in 1852. He learned the millwright's trade with Barnett Stillwell, and after two years with Carlisle Paterson and John Phetelace, was engaged in business for himself until 1883. He built and equipped flouring mills in Kennedy, New York, Union City, Meadville and Conneautville, Pennsyl- vania, and other places, as well as doing a great deal of work in his line at other points. He resided in Kennedy, New York, from 1857 to 1884, and was engaged in the lumber busi-

ness there with W. T. Falconer Sr., also with his brother, I. C. Nichols. During the civil war he built flatboats in association with Dan- iel Griswold and Harvey S. Elkins, which they loaded with provisions and farm produce for the army, floating them down and dispos- ing of their largess on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. In 1883 he formed a partnership with William Babcock, and operated a foundry and machine shop. They purchased the Jamestown Iron Works, which they fitted up for their purposes, operating them successfully until 1888, when he purchased Mr. Babcock's inter- est and admitted his son, Charles M. Nichols, as a partner. In 1904 he retired from active business. In 1884 he built his present home in Jamestown, which has been his place of residence ever since, and he maintains a hand- some summer home at Point La-Ni-Ta, on the St. Lawrence river, between Clayton and Cape Vincent. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years was a member of the official board. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and served his city as alder- man. He married, November 10, 1856, at Kennedy, Jane M. Taylor (see below). Chil- dren : I .. Delia M., born February 8, 1858, died October 3, 1904; she was a woman of most cheerful and happy. temperament, was educated in music, and was organist of the Kennedy Methodist Episcopal Church; she married Celestus L. Wilcox. 2. Melvin C., died aged four years. 3. William S., died in infancy. 4. Charles M., of whom further. 5. Myrtle L., born May 12, 1866; she is an educated musician, and a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church; she married, Novem- ber 20, 1901, Charles E. Brown. 6. Maud C., born December 20, 1867, died November 26, 1887 ; she married Salem Parker, and left a daughter, Maud Alline, born November 20, 1887, married Paul Rosencrantz. 7. Pearl L., born December 14, 1871, married Franklin H. Oaks ; children: Louis Benjamin, Gerald Z., Percy, Donald and Dudley.

Jane M. Taylor, who became the wife of Benjamin Nichols, was born at Schroon Lake, Essex county, New York, March 28, 1841, daughter of Eli and Lucinda (Jenks) Taylor. She was twelve years of age when her par- ents settled in the town of Poland, Chautau- qua county. She is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, taught a Bible class for many years in the Sunday school, and is an efficient member off the Missionary

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Society. Eli Taylor, father of Mrs. Jane M. Nichols, was born at Schroon Lake, February 13, 1812, died July 10, 1875, son of Nathan and Mehitable (Watkins) Taylor. Nathan was a mill owner, was twice married, and had fifteen children. Eli continued his father's milling business at Schroon until after his marriage, when he removed to Chesterton, Warren county, New York, where he operated a flouring mill. Later he settled in Randolph, Cattaraugus county, thence at Kennedy, Chau- tauqua county, where he died. He was an ac- tive member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and superintendent of the Sunday school. He married, 1832, Lucinda Jenks, born June 15, 1816, died December 9, 1894, daughter of Obadiah and Melintha (Mason) Jenks. Children: Nathan, born in Essex county, New York, 1839; Jane M., married Benjamin Nichols ; Orlando, born 1843, a vet- eran of the civil war, now a resident of Ken- nedy : Fayette, born 1845, a veteran of the civil war, resides in Kennedy; Charles, born 1847, a veteran of the civil war, resides in Kennedy ; Jesse, born 1849, in East Randolph, New York, resides in Kennedy.

(VIII) Charles M. Nichols, fourth child and third son of Benjamin and Jane M. (Taylor) Nichols, was born in Kennedy, Chautauqua county, New York, May 18, 1864. He was educated in the public schools of Kennedy, where his early life was spent. In 1883 he entered the office employ of Nichols & Bab- cock, then owning and operating the James- town Iron Works as a foundry and machine shop. When Benjamin Nichols purchased the interest of his partner, Mr. Babcock, in 1888, Charles M. was admitted a partner and the firm name was changed to Benjamin Nichols & Son. The business was continued under this name until 1904, when the father retired. This brought about a reorganization, and busi- ness was continued as the Jamestown Iron Works, founders and machinists, with Charles M. Nichols as superintendent and general manager, in which position he now continues (19II). The plant of the company is located in Jamestown, is well equipped, and in suc- cessful operation. He reorganized in 1910 the Jamestown Garage Company, located on Cherry street, of which company he is sec- retary and treasurer. This is a prosperous company, owning and conducting the largest garage in the city. He has spent eleven years in the service of the National Guard of New

York, enlisting September 20, 1887, in the Thirteenth Separate Company. During the Spanish-American war he volunteered and went out with his company, but ill health com- pelled him to return in a few weeks. He is a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons, and Rising Sun Chap- ter, No. 67, Royal Arch Masons. He is a member, with his family, of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Republican in poli- tics : in 1898-99 he represented the third ward as alderman, and he served eleven years as vol- unteer fireman, member of Eagle Hose Com- pany No. 2.

Mr. Nichols married, June 10, 1895, at Jamestown, Sadie (Sara) Sweet, born at Corry, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1871, daugh- ter of Samuel and Regina Frances (Huber) Sweet. Child, Charles Malcolm, born in Jamestown, June 25, 1906. The family reside at No. 108 Barrett street, Jamestown, with summer home at Clement Park, on the shores of Lake Chantauqua.

Samuel Sweet is a son of Isaac and Saralı (Powell) Sweet, who were the parents of six other children, all born in the parish of St. George, near Bristol, England, and whose names were as follows: Ann, Isaac, George, Henry, Walter and Elizabeth. Isaac Sweet was a son of Abraham Sweet, born at Rayne- ham, near Bristol, England, and his wife was a daughter of Samuel Powell, born at Kings- wood, near Bristol, England. Regina Frances (Huber) Sweet is a daughter of Jacob Peter and Elizabeth Huber, natives of Freiburg, Baden, Germany.

(The Holcomb Line).

Cornelia Holcomb, wife of Andrew Nichols, mother of Benjamin and grandmother of Charles M. Nichols, is a descendant of Thomas Holcomb, an early Puritan settler of Massachusetts, later of Connecticut.

Thomas Holcomb was an early settler in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He was made freeman there in May. 1635, and that year sold his house and lands and removed to Wind- sor, Connecticut. In 1639 he went to Pequon- nock to live, and that year was one of the rep- resentatives of Windsor and Hartford on the committee which framed the constitution of the colony of Connecticut. He died at Wind- sor, September 7, 1657, leaving a widow, Elizabeth, who married (second) James Enno, in 1658. Children: Elizabeth, Mary, Abigail,

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Joshua, Sarah, Benajah, Deborah, Nathaniel, Deborah (2), Jonathan.

(II) Nathaniel, son of Thomas and Eliza- beth Holcomb, was born November 4, 1648. He settled at Simsbury, Connecticut, which town he represented in general court, 1703-04- 05-06-20-22. He was a farmer, and later in life was of Granby, Connecticut. He married Mary Bliss, of Springfield, February 27, 1670. Children: Nathaniel, Mary, Jonathan, John, Esther, Catherine, Sarah, Benjamin.

(III) John, son of Nathaniel and Mary (Bliss) Holcomb, was born in 1680. He was of Granby, Connecticut. He married, March 19, 1706, Anna Pettibone. Among their chil- dren was Azariah.

(IV) Deacon Azariah, son of John and Anna (Pettibone ) Holcomb, died in Granby, Connecticut, in 1771, aged sixty-four years. He married, June 25, 1730, Hannah Loomis, born May 21, 1705. Children: Abner, born April 3, 1731; Elizabeth, May 18, 1733; El- dad, January 9, 1735; Obed, January 8, 1737 ; Hannah, January 9, 1738; Bethia, January 20, 1740; Mary, May 21, 1744; Benjamin, of further mention : Lois, July 5, 1749; Eunice, June II, 1751.

(V) Benjamin, son of Deacon Azariah and Hannah (Loomis) Holcomb, was born March 3, 1746, died about 1809. He married Mercy Kendall, who died in 1827. Children: Sulli- van, Harvey, John, Lyman, Samuel, Mahala, Nettie, Susan, Lillie, Mercy.

(VI) Sullivan, son of Benjamin and Mercy (Kendall) Holcomb, was born December, 1776, died January, 1865. He married Abi- gail Lee, born October 7, 1778, died November 7, 1866, daughter of Seth Lee, born 1732, died 1802; married Johanna Johnston, who died in 1818 (see Nichols, VI).

(VII) Cornelia, daughter of Sullivan and Abigail (Lee) Holcomb, married Andrew Nichols (see Nichols, VI).

The earliest mention of this MOODY name in England is that of Reg- inald Moody (spelled Mody), living in Norfolk, 1272. In America the fam- ily has been prominent from very early times, beginning in Essex county, Massachusetts, the emigrant ancestor, William Moody, settling in Newbury.

The family is notable for the great num- ber of distinguished ministers it has pro- duced, the best known of the present day be-

ing Dwight L. Moody, the great evangelist, whose fame extended over two continents.

(I) William Moody, the principal pro- genitor of the name in New England, came from Wales in 1633, wintered at Ipswich in 1634, and removed to Newbury, Massachu- setts, with the first settlers of that place in 1635. Tradition asserts that they landed on the north bank about one hundred rods below the spot where the bridge now stands. Here he was admitted a freeman and received a grant of ninety-two acres of land. It is said he was a blacksmith by trade and the first person in New England who adopted the prac- tice of shoeing oxen, enabling them to walk on ice. He, as well as his three sons, was of considerable note in church and civil affairs of the town, from which it may be inferred that they were not only pious men, but pos- sessed much practical wisdom and general in- telligence. He married Sarah -- , by whom he had three children: I. Samuel, took the oath of allegiance in 1666, and united with the church in Newbury, 1670; he died in that town, April 4, 1675; married, November 30, 1657, Mary Cutting. 2. Joshua (of further mention ). 3. Caleb, born 1637; married twice; was representative from Newbury in the Massachusetts general court in 1677-78, and during the administration of Governor Andros was imprisoned five weeks for daring to act and speak like a freeman ; he died Au- gust 25, 1698. Caleb was the ancestor of the famous Evangelist, Rev. Dwight L. Moody.

(II) Rev. Joshua Moody, son of William and Sarah Moody, was born 1632, died July 4, 1695, his funeral sermon being preached by Cotton Mather from the text, "Looking stead- fastly on him they saw his face, as it had been the face of an angel." He was graduated at Harvard College in 1653, after which he commenced the study of divinity and very early began to preach. Before leaving college he made a public profession of religion and joined the Cambridge Church. He began his ministerial labors in Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire, early in the year 1658, founding the First Congregational Church of that town, then supported by eighty-six subscribers. In 1660 the town passed a regular vote for his establishment in the pastoral office, but for some reason he was not ordained until 1671. He continued his ministry in Portsmouth until 1684. when he began the first of a series of persecutions from the hands of Lieutenant-

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Governor Cranfield, to whom he had refused to administer the Lord's Supper after the way of the Church of England, Rev. Moody being a Nonconformist. He was held in prison for nineteen weeks, and then by the interces- sion of friends was dismissed with a charge to preach no more under penalty of further imprisonment. He then accepted a call from the "Old Church" in Boston, where he con- tinued preaching until 1692, when he returned to Portsmouth. While in Boston he declined giving any countenance to the severe measures taken against those charged with "Witchcraft," his usefulness being greatly impaired by his manly resistance to popular and widespread delusion. From 1692 until his death he re- mained in Portsmouth in usefulness, harmony and love. He published many of his sermons and probably wrote more sermons than any other minister. The ninety-third volume of his manuscript sermons is in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the last of which is numbered 4070, and dated September 30, 1688, which will average two and a half sermons weekly for a period of thirty years. He was twice married. His first wife is be- lieved to have been a daughter of Edward Collins, of Cambridge, and a sister of Rev. John Collins. His second wife, a widow, Ann Jacobs, of Ipswich, survived him. Among his children are: 1. Martha, married Rev. Jona- than Russell, of Barnstable, Massachusetts. 2. Sarah, married Rev. John Pike, of Dover, New Hampshire. 3. Hannah. 4. Samuel. In his last will and testament Rev. Moody di- rects: "If I die in Portsmouth my body shall be laid in the burying place there, under the great stone by the side of the Oak where I buried my first wife and the deceased children I had by her."

(III) Samuel, only son of Rev. Joshua Moody, was born, it is believed, about 1669, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1689, and was for several years a preacher at New Castle. It is said that dating from about 1700, he preached several years at the Isle of Shoals, off the coast of Maine a few miles, where his hearers were mostly fishermen and sailors. After this he seems to liave laid aside his calling as a preacher and to have taken up the profession of arms. He took command of a body of men in an expedition against the Indians, eventually settling at Falmouth, now Portland, Maine, where he rendered important

services. His house was the first resort for the minister and school master. He was a member of the committee who invited Rev. Thomas Smith to settle in the town, "the first church that was ever settled to the eastward of Wells." He acquired the military title of "Major" and seems to have been a sort of spiritual Gideon, willing to fight foes, seen and unseen. He was selectman, justice of the peace, and held other responsible positions. He died April 5, 1729. He married, April 4, 1695, Esther, daughter of Nathaniel Green, of Boston. Children: 1. Joshua, born October 31, 1697 ; baptized in the First Church of Bos- ton, 1698 ; graduate of Harvard College, 1716. 2. Samuel (of further mention). 3. Mary, born November 16, 1701; married Edward Mountfort, of Boston.

(IV) Dr. Samuel (2) Moody, son of Sam- uel (I) and Esther (Green) Moody, was born October 29, 1699, died at Brunswick, Maine, 1758. He studied medicine, was graduated from Harvard College, 1718, and practiced his profession for several years. He was a magistrate and a man of great force of char- acter. He was a surgeon in the army and an officer. He married and had sons.

(V) Daniel, son of Dr. Samuel (2) Moody, was born in southeastern New Hampshire or southwestern Maine, about 1730, later settling in Unity, Sullivan county, same state. He is recorded there among the signers to divide the town of Unity and address to the legis- lature in 1791. He married and had issue.

(VI) Israel, son of Daniel Moody, was born in Unity, New Hampshire, 1774, died about 1826. He was a farmer of the town of Unity, where he passed his entire life. He married Abigail Tufts. Children : William and Elisha. (VII) Elisha, son of Israel and Abigail (Tufts) Moody, was born in Unity, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, October, 1809, died April 18, 1891. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of Unity, and early in life became engaged in the manufacture of woolens at Port Byron, New York. During this period of his life he traveled extensively, sometimes on business connected with his plant, and often for recreation and pleasure. He had an expert knowledge of timber and the value of timber lands, which resulted in his giving up manu- facturing, and for several years he was en- gaged in locating and buying pine lands in Michigan. In 1835 he settled in the town of Newfane in Niagara county, New York, where

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he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he cleared and brought under cul- tivation. In 1839 he established a nursery on his farm, which became later his main busi- ness. The fame of his trees, plants and shrub- bery became wide-spread, and the business then established yet endures and flourishes. He became well known throughout the county, and took a leading part in the development of Niagara county. He was connected with several public enterprises, one of them being the promoting and construction of the Lock- port & Buffalo railroad, in 1876. He was a member of the first board of directors, and took an active interest in its development. He also was a director of the Exchange Bank of Lockport. He was active in the Niagara County Agricultural Society, and served as president. He was also active in the organi- zation of the American Nurserymen's Asso- ciation, and was elected its first president. He was the first nurseryman in that section, and was equally well known as a horticulturist. In politics he was a staunch Republican, and in 1867 he was chosen to represent Niagara county in the house of assembly, where he served on committees on roads, bridges and agriculture. In 1872 he was elected mayor of Lockport, and his administration is yet re- ferred to as a model of careful business methods. He was a leader in the party and chairman of the county committee. In religion he was a Congregationalist.

He married Margaret Cole, born in Penfield, New York, in 1814, died 1881, daughter of John T. and Sarah (Taylor) Cole. Children : I. Emily, born 1835 ; married Henry Gilrie, of Cambria, New York. 2. George H., born 1838 ; resident of Lockport. 3. Ellen M., born 1845; married Edward W. Scott, of New York City. 4. Edward M. (of further men- tion ).

(VIII) George H., eldest son of Elisha and Margaret (Cole) Moody, was born in Pen- field, Monroe county, New York, March 15, 1838. He was educated in the public schools of Newport, Niagara county, the Union School of Lockport, and Niagara Academy, Niagara Falls. In 1859 he began business with his father on the old Jesse P. Maines farm in Lockport, where they continued in the nursery business until the death of Elisha Moody in 1891. This caused a change in the firm name, which was effected by the brothers, George H. and Edward M., combining and

continuing the business under the name of E. Moody & Sons. Mr. Moody has spent a life- time in the nursery business, many of those years having been spent in close association with his father, than whom there was no more capable nurseryman in Western New York. Add to that his own long years of experience and experiment and you have the secret of the great popularity of the products of the Niagara Nurseries. While he has passed the years allotted to man, Mr. Moody is still vig- orous and as capably manages his business as in younger days. He is a trustee of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Lockport, and is interested in other business enterprises of his town. In religious faith he is a Pres- byterian, belonging to the First Church of Lockport. He has been a member of the Masonic Order for many years, affiliating with Niagara Lodge of Lockport. Politically he is a Republican.

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Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume II, Part 43

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 646

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 646