Robert Isaac Nichols

     Robert Isaac Nichols was born on 23 March 1904 at Enon, Nicholas County, West Virginia. He was the son of John Edgar Nichols and Lydia Jane Keenan. Robert Isaac Nichols married, at age 21, Ilo Fitzwater, age 15 on Sunday, 26 April 1925. Robert Isaac Nichols died on 9 February 1994 at Summersville, Nicholas County, West Virginia, at age 89 years, 10 months and 17 days.
     From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and comp., 'Robert Isaac Nichols,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 5 No. 3 (January 2002), pp. 11 - 12.

ROBERT ISAAC NICHOLS

Robert Isaac Nichols was born March 23, 1904, at Enon, West Virginia. His father was James Edward Nichols who married Lydia Jane Keenan at Gilboa, West Virginia, by Rev. L. Huffman on December 31, 1895. They were married on horseback. Rev. Huffman had arranged to have two witnesses in a tree where they were married. Robert married Ilo Fitzwater on April 26, 1925. Three children: James Delbelt born December 22, 1925, deceased; Verna June born December 3, 1926, living at home and Bobby R. born August 7, 1929, married Emma Justice on September 17, 1950. One granddaughter, Debra Ray, born April 3, 1955, and one great granddaughter, Melissa born March 27, 1984.

Robert was a farmer and stockman and retired after being a coal mine operator in 1962. His son, Bobby R., was interested in mining and after owning several mines retired in 1980. Bobby's wife died in December 1981.

Robert's first trip to Oklahoma was in 1907 because of illness and death. He went again with his father, mother, brothers and sisters to Kansas on the train in 1913, (a trip of 6-7 days), to reap the harvest of corn, wheat, etc. returning to W. Va. in a covered wagon in 1914. They made several trips to Kansas to spend the summers during harvest. They returned to Kansas in 1915 on train staying nine years and returning to Nicholas County in 1924.

In May, 1925, Robert took his new bride, Ilo Fitzwater Nichols in a Model T Roadstar to Nebraska to follow harvesting. Their first son was born and buried there. They continued harvesting and often times counted fifty-three jack rabbits on occasion and the boa snakes were so thick they had to watch their step!

Robert's grandfather, Isaac, joined the Yankees during the Civil War. Afterwards they went to Oklahoma to be with his family. He plowed the sod with long horn oxen at night because the heat prevented their working in the sun!

The first car Robert saw was owned by Maggie Williamson who owned Glen Ferris Inn. She was driving to Summersville from Glen Ferris and they had gotten word the car was coming so all the people from miles around went out to see.

Robert was one of ten children: Clarice born December 12, 1895, deceased; Elsie Evelyn Wolfe, born March 6, 1898; Pat Edward, born November 11, 1899, deceased; Ottie Blanche Gamble, born October 23, 1902; Robert Isaac Nichols, born March 23, 1904, Alexandria Nichols, born March 28, 1903, deceased; Violet Nichols Morris, born August 11, 1910; Gracie Merze Nichols Williams, deceased, born November 5, 1912; William Herold Nichols, bon November 4, 1915, deceased; and Omar B. Nichols born October 1, 1918.

Nicholas County History, 1985, pg. # 284 & 285.