Louisiana AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

James W. Nickelson

James W. Nickelson was born in Jackson County, Tennessee, in 1833, being the ninth of ten children born to Nicholas and Mahala (Ferrell) Nickelson, who were natives of North Carolina, the father's birth occurring in 1760. He was a direct descendant of Irish parents, and possessed the intelligence and wit of his ancestors.

The subject of this sketch resided in Tennessee until 1848, when he came with his parents to Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, where his father died in 1858, and his mother in 1801, James W. Nickelson was given the advantages of the common schools, and continued his studies until he started out in life for himself as a farmer, after he had attained his majority. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and became a member of Company A, Twelfth Louisiana Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, being in the engagements at, Belmont, Shiloh, Coffeeville, Port, Hudson, Baton Rouge, Grand Gulf, Jackson, and surrendered at Vicksburg, after which he joined Price, remaining with him until the war closed, being assistant forage master.

After his return home he was married in 1865 to Miss Sarah A. Snider, a daughter of William and Jane A. Snider, and their union has been blessed in the birth of nine children, six of whom are still living. Mr. Nickelson is a warm Democrat, and has taken an active part in the selection of good and worthy men to fill the various offices of the State and parish.

He has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. for many years, and his wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and is an earnest and truly consistent Christian.

Biographical Sketches| Claiborne Parish

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, Southern Publishing Company, 1890