Daniel Merritt Nickle (1858-1938)

History

Excerpted from Ira C. Nickle Jr., "Nickle-Auld-Brown-Burchett-Brown-Petzold"

Daniel Merritt (Uncle Mett) Nickle (Wilson2, William, Sr.1) was born on 24 July 1858 in Randolph County, Indiana. In about 1864 the family moved to Bond County, Illinois and in 1876, when Daniel was eighteen years old, they moved to Barry County, Missouri.

Daniel attended the Barry County Normal School at Cassville conducted by R. D. Shannon, LL.D. The curriculum consisted of: Orthography, Reading, Penmanship, Mental and Written Arithmetic, Descriptive and Physical Geography, English Grammar, U. S. History, Theory and Practice of Civil Government, Physiology, Etymology, Algebra, Zoology and Physics.

Daniel’s certificate of attendance with a grade of 95 was dated 27 July 1880. He held a second grade teachers certificate. Daniel taught school in Barry and Lawrence Counties for several years.

He met his future wife, Martha Ellen Burchett, while teaching Long School and boarding with Rebecca Jane (Burchett) Trantham and Martin O. Trantham, her aunt and uncle. Martha lived with her aunt and uncle because her father’s third wife, Surilda (Long) (Miller) Burchett, mistreated her.

Martha Ellen was born on 15 June 1863 in Polk County, Missouri. Her parents were Hiram Emerson Burchett, a Union veteran, and his second wife, Mary Elizabeth Spencer.

Daniel and Martha Ellen were married on 8 February 1885 at the residence of Martin O. Trantham in Barry County. Joseph J. Eubanks, Elder of the Christian Church, officiated.

Martha Ellen was illiterate and the practical one of the family. She was greatly loved by her children and grandchildren.

Daniel homesteaded 40 acres in Barry County on 15 August 1888. The certificate number was 5524. He owned three farms in his lifetime.

In 1907 D. M. Nickle suffered from rheumatism. He was clerk of the Butterfield School Board in 1913.

Daniel sold the 60 acre family farm at Butterfield, Barry County, to his disabled son, Ira Calvin Nickle, Senior. The farm, one mile north of Butterfield, was originally 80 acres but 20 acres on the northeast corner had been sold. Daniel then bought a farm in the Neosho River bottoms in Quapaw Township, Ottawa County, Oklahoma on the outskirts of the town of Miami.

For many years Daniel led the choir of the North Miami Church of Christ. He used a tuning fork and the song books had shaped notes. Musical instruments were not allowed. Some church members even objected to the use of a tuning fork.

Martha Ellen died at her farm home at Miami on 28 May 1935. (Her death certificate attributed her death to myocarditis and nephritis.) At the time of her death she had long, straight, black hair. It is believed she had Indian blood.

Daniel died at his farm home at Miami on 24 April 1938. (His death certificate attributed his death to coronary thrombosis.) Daniel died intestate and his son-in-law Ezra Davis was named administrator of his estate.

Daniel and Martha Ellen were buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, once called New Hope, at Butterfield, Missouri. Daniel and Martha Ellen's children were:

1. Frederick Elmer Nickle was born on 12 June 1886 in Barry County, Missouri. He was nicknamed Peggy for having the first peg-leg pants in Butterfield.

Elmer was a veteran of World War I. He was inducted on 28 May 1918 at Cassville, Barry County, Missouri. His Army Serial Number was 3231009. He trained with the 88th Infantry (Cloverleaf) Division at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Elmer sailed for France on 11 August 1918 on H.M.S. Delta. Elmer was last assigned to E Company, 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th Division. He arrived back in the United States on 30 May 1919. Frederick Elmer Nickle was honorably discharged at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky on 7 June 1919. His discharge papers describe him as a farmer having brown eyes, brown hair, a ruddy complexion and being 5 feet, 9 inches in height. His Veterans Administration claim number was C 3059 227.

Elmer married (1) Maude (Ray) Kinser, whom he divorced, and on 27 March 1953 he married (2) Grace (Brown) (Nickle) Hettel his brother Ira’s widow. He and Grace were married by Reverend Hinson, a Baptist minister, at his farm home at Butterfield, Barry County, Missouri. Elmer had no children of his own.

Elmer was a carpenter. During World War II he worked as a carpenter constructing Camp Crowder at Neosho, Missouri, Smoky Hill Air Force Base at Salina, Kansas (later named Schilling Air Force Base), and the Atomic Works at Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

He served several years as a District Road Commissioner in Barry County and Representative to the District Rural Electrification Agency.

Elmer died of a heart attack on 20 October 1974 at his home on the old Nickle farm at Butterfield. He had been a member of the Odd Fellow Fraternity and was a member of the Christian Church. Elmer was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Butterfield.

2. Ethel Mae Nickle (1887-1940) married Ezra A. Davis a farmer and carpenter on 19 October 1911. Ezra was a son of Thomas Baldwin and Emily Jane (Terrill) Davis. Ezra’s sister, Allie Davis, married Ethel Mae’s cousin James Nickle. Ethel and Ezra moved from Missouri and bought a farm in Ottawa County, Oklahoma near Miami. Their children were:

A. [Living]

B. Beulah Davis was a spinster.

C. Lorene Davis was a spinster.

3. IRA CALVIN NICKLE, SENIOR

4. Edward Everett Nickle was born on 25 January 1898 and he died on 13 November 1985. He was nicknamed Hugh. He was a bachelor, a carpenter and farmer. He owned a good farm near Butterfield.

He served in the Army, for a short time, during World War II. Everett was a member of the Church of Christ at Exeter, Missouri and he was buried in Mount Pleasant near Butterfield. Reverend Bob Stafford held the funeral service.

Everett was extremely stubborn. When he was a boy, Everett was told by his father to bring in a stick of wood for the heating stove. Everett returned with a stick that was too large for the stove. His father told him to go and get a stick of wood that would fit in the stove. Everett returned with a stick that was too small. His father told Everett to go and get a stick of wood that was the right size for the stove. Everett refused to go since he had already gone twice. Needless to say he was so soundly whipped his mother had to intercede for him but he didn’t get another stick of wood.

5. Carl Spencer Nickle (1902-1986) married Lois Sheppard. He was nicknamed Peewee. He was a carpenter and lived at Miami, Oklahoma. During World War II he helped construct Smoky Hill Air Force Base at Salina, Kansas. Carl loved to fish and hunt quail. Reverend Forrest Lowry and Robert Ham held his funeral service. Carl was buried in the GAR Cemetery at Miami. He had no children.

6. James Carman Nickle was born on 13 October 1905. He married Jewell Inez Prier a daughter of Adam Franklin Prier and Myrtle Fannie Adams. Carman was a successful farmer. His farm was north of Butterfield. Carman died on 29 August 1955 of melanoma. Inez died on 25 September 1999. Both are buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery west of Butterfield. They were the parent's of two daughters:

A. [Living]

B. [Living]

7. Mary Jane Nickle (1909-1988) married Millard Dearl Vandiver. He was a railroadman and they lived in Miami until his retirement. Millard died at Miami and Mary died at her home at Copan, Oklahoma. She was a diabetic. Their children were:

A. Norman Lee Vandiver

B. [Living]

C. Robert Vandiver

D. Ethel Kay Vandiver

E. [Living]

F. [Living]

Ira Calvin Nickle, Sr. (Daniel3, Wilson2, William, Sr.1) was born on 27 December 1892 on the Nickle family farm approximately one mile north of Butterfield, Barry County, Missouri.

He was nicknamed Barney for Barney Oldfield the race driver. Ira was known for having a heavy foot on the gas.

The town of Butterfield is located 12 miles south of Monett, Missouri on the Arkansas Branch of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad. It is at an altitude of 1,549 feet.

The plot of the town of Butterfield was made for George Readman of Edinburgh, Scotland and was acknowledged in the office of the sheriff of Perthshire, Scotland on 14 September 1883.

Ira was named for his mother's cousin William Ira Burchett Trantham and her half-uncle, Calvin R. Spencer. Ira was baptized by Rev. John A. Counts on 17 October 1909.

He was a farmer until World War I. His father often said he was the best farmer of any of his sons.

Ira volunteered to join the Army during World War I but failed his physical (tachycardia). He passed his Draft physical on 14 February 1918 and was inducted. His Army Serial Number was 3231060.

From 28 May 1918 to 30 July 1918 Ira served with the 163rd Depot Brigade, 88th Infantry (Cloverleaf) Division. All incoming men were attached to the 163rd before being permanently assigned.

The 88th was organized at Camp Dodge, Iowa, near Des Moines, on 4 September 1917. It was an all draftee division made up of men from Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Missouri and Nebraska.

Ira served with the 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th Division. On 25 July 1918 the Division began moving from Camp Dodge overseas.

On 16 August 1918 Ira sailed for France probably on the ship Messanbie sailing from Hoboken, New Jersey. On 28 August the Messanbie docked at Liverpool, England.

On 1 September the troops disembarked at Cherbourg, France. On 5 September 1918 Major General William Weigel commanded the division.

The troops were assembled in the 21st Training Area at Semur, Cote D’Or. On 14 September 1918 the Division had begun to be moved by rail into the Hericourt-Saone Training Area near Belfort, France.

Their position there enabled the American 29th Infantry Division to be withdrawn from the Center Sector of Haute-Alsace and take part in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. The 88th lacked transportation and was without gas masks and helmets.

On 20 September 1918 an influenza epidemic set in. There were over 6,815 cases of influenza and 1,041 cases of pneumonia in the Division that resulted in over 90 deaths.

On 23 September 1918 advance elements of the 88th Division moved into the Center Sector of Haute-Alsace which was being temporarily held by the veteran 38th French Division.

To reach the Center Sector two nights of steady marching was required. Units were assembled at dusk and marched by parallel roads toward the front. Strict march discipline and absolute silence was enforced.

From 7 to 17 October the 38th French Division and the 88th Division occupied the trenches jointly. The first 88th Division regiments to occupy the trenches with the French were the 350th and 351st Infantry Regiments.

Each had two battalions on line and one in reserve. The other two 88th infantry regiments were in reserve immediately to the rear.

On 15 October the sector passed under the complete control of the 88th Division. The 88th served as part of the XXXXth French Army Corps of the Seventh French Army. For administrative purposes the 88th remained under VIIth American Army Corps.

German Divisions facing the 88th were the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division with one regiment on line opposite the 88th and the 44th Landswehr Division that had two regiments on line opposite the 88th.

The front held by the 88th was approximately 19 kilometers long. No Man’s Land was from a kilometer deep to less that 300 meters. The terrain was similar to that of the American Middle West.

On 24 October 1918 the 88th took over the Fulleren subsector of the South Sector of Haute-Alsace.

On 1 November 1918 the 88th Division was placed under Second American Army. On 2 November 1918 the division began to withdraw from the Haute-Alsace sector and on 4 November 1918 the sector was turned over to the 154th French Division.

On 6 November 1918 part of the 88th Division was placed in the American IVth Corps Reserve and moved to the Lagny area north of Toul. The rest of the 88th Division was placed in Second Army Reserve with the Division Headquarters being located at Lagny.

Second Army planned to attack east of the Moselle River on 14 November 1918 hitting the German line between Metz and Saarbrüecken. The signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918 stopped the planned offensive.

Ira became seriously ill in France and on 19 December 1918, while in hospital, he was reassigned to B Company, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th (Blue Ridge Mountain) Division. He was invalided home on 27 May 1919 with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis and tubercular lesions on the seventh, eighth and ninth dorsal vertebrae incurred in the line of duty while on active service.

Ira was discharged on 10 June 1919 at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky. His honorable discharge described him as a farmer with blue eyes, dark hair, ruddy complexion and six feet and one-quarter inches in height.

In 1921 Ira was in hospital at the US Public Health Service Hospital Number 60, Oteen, North Carolina near Asheville. He was adjudged totally disabled on 24 September 1921 and was awarded compensation of eighty dollars per month starting 20 June 1921.

In February 1922 Ira was in hospital at US Public Health Service Hospital Number 45, Biltmore, North Carolina near Asheville. On 15 February 1922 his compensation was amended to one hundred dollars per month starting on 15 November 1920.

He drew a Veterans Administration pension for the rest of his life. His Veterans Administration claim number was C 626 489.

Ira married Grace Brown on 29 August 1923 in Barry County at the residence of Reverend E. R. Stribling, who officiated. Initially Ira's family did not approve of the marriage.

Grace was born on 8 March 1907 at Cassville, Missouri, a daughter of Thomas W. Brown and his wife Frances Isabel (Logan) (Taylor) Brown. Grace's father gave his written consent to the marriage.

Ira and Grace bought the old Nickle farm, at Butterfield, from Ira's parents. The house burned when Maxine Brown, Grace's sister, dropped a lit kerosene lamp. Ira built a new house that burned in the 1980s.

Ira died intestate, in a coma, at his home on the farm at Butterfield on 6 September 1936. (Ira was 44 years old and his death certificate attributed his death to tuberculosis of the lungs and spine. The compiler believes he also suffered from diabetes.) He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Butterfield. On 18 January 1937 his widow, Grace Nickle, was made administrator of Ira’s estate.

Grace married (2) John G. Hettel on 17 January 1944 at Reno, Nevada. Grace was residing in California with her sister Maxine and Maxine’s husband Ernest Moudy. Grace was employed in the Kaiser Shipyard building Liberty ships. John died at Butterfield in 1952. On 27 March 1953 Grace married (3) her brother-in-law Frederick Elmer Nickle.

For 20 years Grace lived alone at Cassville after the death of her third husband, Frederick Elmer Nickle, on 20 October 1974. She drew Dependent's Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the Veterans Administration on her first husband Ira C. Nickle's disability.

In 1994 Grace moved into a rest home. She died there on the afternoon of 28 June 1997. The funeral was held at the Williamson Funeral Home at Cassville. Reverend Paul Yarnall officiated and Grace and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Butterfield on 2 July 1997. (Her death certificate attributed her death to cerebrovascular accident as a consequence of peripheral vascular disease.)

She was 90 years of age. The compiler believes she also suffered from Alzheimers. She was a member of the Baptist Church (Southern Baptist).