Source: "Richard Nichols. The Immigrant", George Nichols, 1928, expanded edition, 1978.

DEATH OF A PIONEER
---------
Benjamin Franklin Nichols Died Saturday,
March 7, 1908, Aged 89 Years.

Benjamin Franklin Nichols, was born
in the town of Bainbridge, Chenango Co.,
N.Y. on July 15, 1819, and died on
March 7, 1908, in his 89 year.
He came from Bainbridge to Sharon
Township sixty-nine years ago and this
has been his home ever since. In 1842
he became acquainted with and married
Samantha Jones, five sons were born of                               *Samantha Dorotha Jones
this union, two of these together with                                    *Roscoe Nelson Nichols, Sobieski Nichols
their mother were waiting for him upon
the other shore; while three F. A. and                                   *Frank Agard Nichols, Willard Alonzo Nichols, Arad Freemont Nichols
W. A. of Shinglehouse, and A. F. of Hay-
ward, Wis., remain to mourn his depart-
ure from this world.
Mr. and Mrs. Nichols journeyed to-
gether as man and wife for 58 years. In
1892 they celebrated their golden wed-
ding. Eight years later the angel of
death called her from time to Eternity.
Since then Mr. Nichols has patiently
waited for the message which would sum-
mon him to join her upon the shores of
that land beyond the clouds. Mr. Nichols
leaves not only three children, but ten
grand children and twelve great grand-
children together with other relatives
and a large circle of friends and neigh-
bors to mourn his departure from this
life.
For nearly seventy years he has been
identified with the life of Sharon Town-
ship his business and social relations
have been such as to give him a warm
place in the hearts of those who knew
him. During the early part of his life
Mr. Nichols was engaged in lumbering.
In those days the principle lumber mar-
kets were in Pittsburg and Cincinnati,
and the only means of delivery was by
rafting and running down the river, but
as the timber grew scarce he turned his
attention more to farming.
Mr. Nichols descended from good old
Revolutionary stock. His grandfathers                                   *James Nichols -> Benjamin F. Nichols   ]-> Benjamin Franklin
both on the paternal and maternal side                                  *   ?       Dodge ->   Phebe Dodge            ]      Nichols
were with General Putnam in the Rev-
olutionary War. He was a great reader
keeping himself well posted on the af-
fairs of his own country and the world.
He was a friend to both the old and the
young.