The Nichols Family of Oil City, Pennsylvania

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Through marriage this family is connected with the Farwell, Mason and Riddell lines, all three of which are mentioned in this narrative. Nothing is known concerning the immigrant ancestor of this family, and the first representative of the name of whom we have record is John Nichols, of Farmersville, New York. He married Ann Seely. Children:

  1. George Nichols
  2. Maria Nichols
  3. William Wallace Nichols, of whom further
  4. Caroline Nichols
  5. Benjamin Nichols, served in the civil war
  6. Ormes Nichols, killed in the civil war
  7. John Nichols, served in the civil war.

(II) William Wallace Nichols

William Wallace, son of John and Ann (Seely) Nichols, was born in Farmersville, New York, October 27, 1830. He was reared and educated in the place of his birth, whence he removed to Salamanca, New York, where he died July 4, 1895. He was for many years in the employ of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad Company, which was finally merged with the Erie road. He married, in August, 1857, Mary Victoria, daughter of Lucius and Lucy (Farwell) Durkee (see Farwell X). Lucius Durkee was born in Brandon, Vermont, February 14, 1804, and married Lucy Farwell, February 18, 1830. He was a son of Robert Durkee, born in Brandon, Vermont, in 1780, and married Delight Polly. William Wallace and Mary Victoria (Durkee) Nichols had one son:

  1. Hosea Monroe Nichols, of whom further.

(III) Hosea Monroe Nichols

Hosea Monroe, son of William Wallace and Mary Victoria (Durkee) Nichols, was born in Farmersville, New York, November 26, 1859. He was educated in the public schools and Randolph Academy. On the completion of his education he entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company and worked up to the position of assistant cashier of the Bradford office of that company. In 1885 he went south to Meridian, Mississippi, where he was for four years teller in the National Bank. In 1890 he came to Oil City and again entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company. In 1902 he organized the Citizens’ Banking Company on the South Side, Oil City, and was elected its first president, which office he now holds. He is also connected with various other enterprises in this city. He is a member of the Venango and Rockmere clubs, and in his religious faith he is a devout Methodist.

He married, March 31, 1878, Zaidee Lenore Mason, daughter of Augustus C. and Charlotte (Riddell) Mason, born August 12, 1860, died January 4, 1913 (see Mason VII). Children:

  1. Lotta May Nichols, born January 25, 1879, died March 26, 1881.
  2. Ethel Maud Nichols, born April 19, 1880, died January 6, 1881.
  3. Roy McKay Nichols, born March 24, 1881; married, July 24, 1905, Margaret Ellen Touhey; children:
    1. Margaret Lenore Nichols, born July 13, 1906, died May 29, 1909
    2. Richard McKay Nichols, born April 10, 1909
    3. David Monroe Nichols, born January 11, 1910.

(The Farwell Line)

The ancestry of this old family is traced for four generations in England prior to the immigration to America of Henry Farwell, in 1631.

(I) Simon Farwell

Simon Farwell was born and reared in Yorkshire, England, whence he removed, with his wife Dorothy, to Bishop Hill, near Taunton, England, in 1500. He had a son:

  1. George Farwell, of whom further.

(II) George Farwell

George, son of Simon and Dorothy Farwell, was born in England. He married a girl whose Christian name was Phillippi and they had a son:

  1. George Farwell, of whom further.

(III) George (2) Farwell

George (2), son of George (1) and Phillippi Farwell, was born in England. He and his wife Mary had a son:

  1. John Farwell, of whom further.

(IV) John Farwell

John, son of George (2) and Mary Farwell, was born in England. He married Dorothy, and had a son,:

  1. Henry Farwell, of whom further.

(V) Henry Farwell

Henry, son of John and Dorothy Farwell, was born in England, in 1596. After his marriage he came to the United States, settling at Concord, Massachusetts, in 1631. In 1630, at Bishop Hill, England, he married Olive. He died August 1, 1670; his wife Olive died March 1, 1691. Their children:

  1. John Farwell, born December 2, 1639
  2. Mary Farwell, December 26, 1640
  3. Joseph Farwell, of whom further
  4. Olive Farwell
  5. Elizabeth Farwell.

(VI) Joseph Farwell

Joseph, son of Henry and Olive Farwell, was born at Concord, Massachusetts, where he died December 31, 1722. He served in the French and Indian war and was called Ensign Joseph. August 25, 1702, he conveyed one-third of his property to his son Henry and then removed with his father to Dunstable, Massachusetts. He married, December 25, 1666, at Woburn, Massachusetts, Hannah Larned, born August 24, 1649, died December 31, 1685. Children:

  1. Hannah Farwell, born January 20, 1668, at Concord, Massachusetts
  2. Joseph Farwell, of whom further
  3. Elizabeth Farwell, June 9, 1672
  4. Henry Farwell, December 18, 1674
  5. Isaac Farwell
  6. Sarah Farwell, September 2, 1683
  7. John Farwell, June 15, 1686
  8. William Farwell, January 21, 1688
  9. Oliver Farwell, April 25, 1692.

(VII) Joseph (2) Farwell

Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) and Hannah (Larned) Farwell, married, January 23, 1695, Hannah Colburn. Children:

  1. Joseph Farwell, born August 5, 1696
  2. Thomas Farwell, October 11, 1698
  3. Hannah Farwell, May 6, 1701
  4. Elizabeth Farwell, December 31, 1703
  5. Edward Farwell, of whom further
  6. Mary Farwell, February 5, 1709
  7. John Farwell, June 23, 1711
  8. Samuel Farwell, November 14, 1714
  9. David Farwell, May 21, 1717.

(VIII) Edward Farwell

Edward, son of Joseph (2) and Hannah (Colburn) Farwell, was born June 12, 1706. He married Hannah. Children:

  1. Edward Farwell, born November 23, 1731
  2. Submit Farwell, December 19, 1733
  3. Hannah Farwell, October 3, 1736
  4. David Farwell
  5. Abel Farwell, of whom further.

(IX) Abel Farwell

Abel, son of Edward and Hannah Farwell, was a soldier in the war of the revolution, as a private in Captain Thomas Warren’s company, Colonel Brooks’ regulars, returned October 31, 1776. He settled at Mt. Holly, Vermont, and was one of the pioneers of Rutland county. He married Hannah. Children:

  1. Lemuel Farwell, born January 4, 1771
  2. Solomon Farwell, February 29, 1772, died in infancy
  3. Abel Farwell, twin of Solomon, died in infancy
  4. Solomon Farwell, March 23, 1773
  5. Leonard Farwell, April 16, 1776
  6. Russell Farwell, of whom further
  7. Hannah Farwell, May 17, 1781
  8. Betsey Farwell, July 17, 1783
  9. James Farwell, December 14, 1784
  10. Lucy Farwell, July 1, 1788, died in 1886.

(X) Russell Farwell

Russell, son of Abel and Hannah Farwell, was born July 4, 1778. He married and became father of:

  1. Lucy Farwell, who married Lucius Durkee, and they were the parents of:
    1. Mary Victoria Durkee, married William W. Nichols (see Nichols II).

(The Mason Line)

(I) Sampson Mason

Sampson Mason was the immigrant ancestor of this family in America. The first mention we have of him is in 1649, when Edward Bullock, of Dorchester, in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, New England, being about to depart for England and mindful of the many perils of the voyage, made his will July 25 of that year. In this will his name appears thus: “To Sampson Mason for wife’s shoes.” The foregoing is the earliest known record to prove the presence of Sampson Mason in New England. Of his early history nothing more is known than is contained in the following extract from the “History of the Baptists in America,” compiled by the Rev. Isaac Backus. “Sampson Mason was a soldier in Cromwell’s army and he came to America upon the turn of times in England and settled in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.”

On the ninth day of March, 1650-51, Sampson Mason, designated shoemaker, purchased from William Betts his house and home lot in Dorchester, the lot containing six acres. The date of purchase of this house probably indicates very nearly the time of his marriage to Mary Butterworth. In February, 1655-56, he sold to Jacob Hewins his house and home lot and some other land. The exact date of his removal to Rehoboth is unknown but the records of the town have the following entry: “1657, December 9, it was voted that Sampson Mason should have free liberty to sojourn with us and buy houses, lands and meadows, if he see cause for his settlement, provided he lives peaceably and quietly.”

From the records it is evident that Sampson Mason had acquired considerable property when he removed to Rehoboth and then entered extensively into land speculations. He appears as the holder of one share of the seventy-nine and one-half shares in the Rehoboth North Purchase, which afterward became the town of Attleborough, and also one of the proprietors or shareholders of the town of Swansea, in which his descendants for many generations were prominent. He was one of the original proprietors of Swansea and a subscriber to the agreement which took effect when the town was incorporated by the court at Plymouth in an order as follows: “March 5, 1668. The township of Wannamoisett and the parts adjacent are established as Swansey.”

It is probable that Sampson Mason became a member of the First Church about this time and the family tradition that he was converted to the Baptist faith by Elder John Myles, the first Baptist minister and founder of Swansea, may rest upon a substantial foundation although the tendency of his religious leaning was manifest prior to this time. During his residence in Dorchester he evidently had some connection with the orthodox church, possibly through his wife, and had not then arrived at the conclusion that infant baptism was wrong, for his son Noah was baptized in 1652 without protest or any evidence of disapproval on his part; but in 1660, when his son John was brought to baptism in the First Church of Dorchester by John Gurnell, he expressed his disapproval while giving his consent.

Though in 1672 Sampson Mason was allotted twelve acres of land in Swansea and erected a house upon this plot, there is no evidence that he removed to Swansea and his burial is recorded in Rehoboth, September 15, 1696. His personal estate was large for his time. During King Philip’s war, which broke out shortly before his death, his widow contributed thirteen pounds, five shillings and ten pence, the ninth largest in the list of contributions from Rehoboth.

About 1650 he married Mary Butterworth, who was probably a daughter of John Butterworth, of Weymouth, Massachusetts. She died August 29, 1714. Children:

  1. Noah Mason, born between October 26, 1651, and February 8, 1652, died March 2, 1699; married (first) Martha, who died February 6, 1675; married (second) December 6, 1677, Sarah Fitch.
  2. Sampson Mason, born probably in 1653; married, July 14, 1705, Abigail Ferris.
  3. John Mason, born between March 18 and May 12, 1655, died March 18, 1682; married, October 15, 1679, Content Wales.
  4. Samuel Mason, born February 12, 1656, died January 25, 1743; married (first) March 2, 1682, Elizabeth Miller, who died March 3, 1718; married (second) November 4, 1718, Mrs. Lydia Tillinghast.
  5. Sarah Mason, born February 15, 1657.
  6. Mary Mason, born February 7, 1659, died November 15, 1727; married, January 7, 1684, Ephraim Wheaton.
  7. Joseph Mason, born March 6, 1662, died May 19, 1748; married (first) March 12, 1683, Anne Daggett; married (second) September 4, 1686, Lydia Bowen.
  8. Bethiah Mason, born October 15, 1665, died before 1712; married, May 23, 1688, John Wood.
  9. Isaac Mason, of whom further.
  10. Pelatiah Mason, born April 1, 1669, died March 29, 1763; married, May 22, 1694, Hepsibeth Brooks; is said to have had three other wives.
  11. Benjamin Mason, born October 20, 1670, died in August, 1740; married Ruth Rounds.
  12. Thankful Mason, born October 27, 1672; married, June 17, 1689, Thomas Bowen.

(II) Isaac Mason

Isaac, son of Sampson and Mary (Butterworth) Mason, was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, July 15, 1667, died January 25, 1741. He was a shoemaker by trade, and lived in Rehoboth for some years after his marriage. About 1706 he removed to Swansea, where he probably erected the house, still standing, which by tradition was his home. He was chosen deacon of the Second Church of Swansea soon after its organization, in 1693, and continued in that office until his death. His wife Hannah was living when he made his will in 1741, but the date of her death is unknown. He married Hannah. Children:

  1. Hannah Mason, born January 9, 1694, died February 26, 1697.
  2. Mary Mason, born January 26, 1695, died March 4, 1697.
  3. Isaac Mason, born December 26, 1698, died in 1732; married, January 29, 1723, Mary Fiske.
  4. Sampson Mason, born February 24, 1700, died probably in 1731; married, September 26, 1723, Experience Lewis.
  5. Hezekiah Mason, born June 6, 1704, died April 4, 1738; married, July 23, 1730, Rebecca Martin.
  6. Nathan Mason, of whom further.
  7. Oliver Mason, born August 20, 1706, died December 11, 1787; married, December 19, 1728, Martha Cole.
  8. Hannah Mason, born March, 1710; married, December 27, 1727, Samuel Lewis.
  9. Benjamin Mason, born April 10, 1711.
  10. Mary Mason, born May 21, 1713; married, December 18, 1737, Nathan Bowen.

(III) Nathan Mason

Nathan, son of Isaac and Hannah Mason, was born in Rehoboth, May 10, 1705, died May, 1758. He was a blacksmith, and lived in Swansea during the greater part of his life. He married, August 26, 1731, Lillis Hale, daughter of John and Hannah (Tillinghast) Hale, born in Swansea, October 2, 1714. After his death, Mr. Mason’s widow married, January 30, 1763, Mial Pierce. Children:

  1. Sampson Mason, born September 27, 1732, died September 29, 1811; married, August 5, 1751, Hannah Haile.
  2. Barnard Mason, born March 13, 1735, died December 6, 1804; married, July 22, 1756, Abiah Eastbrook.
  3. Jesse Mason, of whom further.
  4. Lillis Mason, born May 8, 1739; married, March 16, 1764, Isaac Fish Jr.
  5. Nathan Mason, born February 21, 1741; married (first) March 7, 1765, Mehitable Carpenter; (second) Mrs. Rhode Mason, widow of James Mason and daughter of Nathan Wood.
  6. Freelove Mason, born April 25, 1743, died February 23, 1814; married, March 23, 1763, Aaron Wood.
  7. Innocent Mason, born August 20, 1745, died in 1778; married, December 2, 1767, Benjamin Kingsley.
  8. Mary Mason, born June 30, 1748, died December 17, 1834; married, October 8, 1769, Joseph Cornell.
  9. Aaron Mason, born June 29, 1749; served in militia during the revolution.
  10. Rosanna Mason, born about 1750, died March 10, 1795; married, July 14, 1776, Joseph Baker.
  11. Sibbel Mason, married Levi Wood.
  12. Levi Mason, born October 15, 1752, died August 20, 1834; married Amy Tilson.
  13. Pardon Mason, born August 14, 1758, died May 18, 1845; married (first) April 24, 1785, Anna Hale; married (second) September 24, 1837, Mrs. Elizabeth Potter, daughter of John Stafford.

(IV) Jesse Mason

Jesse, son of Nathan and Lillis (Hale) Mason, was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, March 21, 1737, died October 17, 1823. He was a carpenter by trade. About 1770 he removed to Lanesborough, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He served in the revolutionary war as a private in Captain Daniel Brown’s company. The company was called into service, August 14, 1777, on an alarm from Lanesborough, Massachusetts, and fought at the battle of Bennington. He served a second time in Captain Daniel Brown’s company, Colonel Benjamin Simonds’ regiment, in October, 1780. The company rendered service at Berkshire, Massachusetts.

He married, March 22, 1758, Lois Mason, daughter of Pelatiah and Hannah (Hale) Mason, born in Swansea, February 23, 1739. He is said to have married (second) in 1813, Mrs. Pratt. Children:

  1. Esther Mason, born October 17, 1759; married Simeon Martin.
  2. David Mason, of whom further.
  3. Nathan Mason, born August 8, 1762, died in Malone, New York; married, January 1, 1784, Mercy Wood.
  4. Elizabeth Mason, born October 1, 1763.
  5. Lydia Mason, born July 4, 1765, died September 17, 1812; married, December, 1782, Reuben Baker.
  6. Zephaniah Mason, born August 29, 1766; married, November 12, 1786, Desire Cole.
  7. Daniel Mason, born March 26, 1769, died in 1838; married, November 14, 1788, (possibly) Polly Whitman.
  8. Prudence Mason, born July 26, 1770; married, December 22, 1787, Kingsley Martin.
  9. Reuben Mason.
  10. Lorana Mason, married, August 1, 1789, Stephen Potter.
  11. Jesse Mason, born July 24, 1778, died about 1854; married, May 25, 1800, Hannah Brown.
  12. Lois Mason, married Stephen Greenman.

(V) David Mason

David, son of Jesse and Lois (Mason) Mason, was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, April 5, 1761, died March 16, 1817. The family settled in New Ashford, Massachusetts. He married, November 19, 1780, Mehitable Pratt, born September 11, 1762, died in March, 1852. Children:

  1. Linda Mason, born August 28, 1781; married, January, 1799, Eliphalet Dean.
  2. Benjamin Pratt Mason, mentioned below.
  3. Lewis Mason, born May 3, 1785, died September 17, 1786.
  4. Jesse Mason, born April 25, 1786.
  5. Arvilla Mason, born September 4, 1789; married William Beach.
  6. Mehitable Mason, born August 23, 1791; married, March 21, 1811, Dudley Skinner.
  7. Achsah G. Mason, born March 24, 1793; married, October 31, 1816, Elisha Davenport.
  8. Polly Mason, born March 25, 1795; married, December 20, 1813, Julius Hutchinson.
  9. Jerusha H. Mason, born April 17, 1797; married, May 5, 1816, Samuel Springer.
  10. Lewis T. Mason, born August 14, 1799, died unmarried.
  11. John Luther Mason, born January 9, 1801.
  12. Electa Beach Mason, born October 30, 1804; married Asa Skinner.
  13. Henry Turner Mason, born July 20, 1807, died September 20, 1873, unmarried.

(VI) Benjamin Pratt Mason

Benjamin Pratt, son of David and Mehitable (Pratt) Mason, was born April 23, 1783, died in 1867. He married, in 1805, Rhoda Brown, born in 1785, died December 24, 1846. Among their children was:

  1. Augustus C. Mason, of whom further.

(VII) Augustus C. Mason

Augustus C., son of Benjamin Pratt and Rhoda (Brown) Mason, was born in September, 1817, died May 26, 1895. He lived for a number of years in Buffalo, New York, and then removed to Salamanca, New York, where he was engaged in the real estate business. He married, January 1, 1837, Charlotte Riddell, born January 20, 1820, died in February, 1895 (see Riddell III). Children:

  1. Albert Woodford Mason, born in November, 1844; married Desdemonia Smith; children:
    1. Albertina Mason, married George Eastman
    2. May Mason, married Frank Gardner.
  2. Olive Jane Mason, born October, 1847; married Timothy Babbitt; children:
    1. Timothy Babbitt
    2. Jennie M. Babbitt
  3. Perry Foster Mason, born July, 1850; married (first) Evelyn Wilcox, by whom he had one son; married (second) Lucy Chamberlain. Son by first marriage:
    1. Wayne Mason.
  4. James Augustus Mason, born May, 1853; married Catherine Wright; children:
    1. Verne Mason
    2. Guy Mason
    3. Emma Mason
    4. Ada Mason.
  5. Charlotte Idelle Mason, born November 12, 1855; married Charles M. Wenrick; children:
    1. Raymond M. Wenrick
    2. Charles M. Wenrick
    3. Albert Wenrick
    4. Earl Wenrick
    5. Olive E. Wenrick
    6. Charlotte M. Wenrick
  6. Zaidee Lenore Mason, born August 12, 1860, died January 4, 1913, married Hosea Monroe Nichols (see Nichols III).

(The Riddell Line)

(I) Thomas Ridel (or Riddell)

Thomas Ridel (or Riddell) was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1739. He was brought to this country when a child and grew up in New England. He was a farmer. It is said that he served in the war of the revolution. He married Rebecca Moulton, of Monson, Massachusetts. Children:

  1. John Ridel (or Riddell), born 1761; married Olive Blodget.
  2. Joseph Riddle (or Riddell), of whom further.
  3. Elijah Ridel (or Riddell), born January 27, 1772; married Clarissa Fuller.
  4. Mary Ridel (or Riddell).
  5. Susan Ridel (or Riddell), born between 1772 and 1773; married John Squires.
  6. Sally Ridel (or Riddell), born February 16, 1774.
  7. Sally Ridel (or Riddell), born February 16, 1778; married Levi Patterson.
  8. Thomas Ridel (or Riddell), born September 7, 1781; married Minerva Merrick.

(II) Joseph Riddle (or Riddell)

Joseph Riddle (or Riddell), son of Thomas and Rebecca (Moulton) Ridel or Riddell, was born in Monson, Massachusetts, in 1763. He resided in Monson until 1808, when he emigrated to the “Holland Purchase” in the state of New York, where he settled as a farmer and resided during the remainder of his lifetime. In the summer of 1775 he enlisted under Captain Isaac Cotton, in Colonel David Brewster’s regiment. In 1776 he enlisted under Captain Joseph Munger, in the regiment of Colonel Robert I. Woodbridge, “Massachusetts Line.” July 1, 1777, he entered the service for three years under Captain Caleb Keen, and Colonel William Shepherd, of the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, General Glover’s brigade, as drum-major; and in July, 1780, was discharged by Captain Simon Larned, who was in command of the regiment at “Robertson Farms,” near West Point. He was in a short tour in the militia and at the surrender of Burgoyne, but was not in the decisive battle preceding that event, in consequence of guarding the road to Albany. He was in the battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, June 28, 1778, and with General Sullivan, in Rhode Island, in August, 1778. He married Mary or Polly. Children:

  1. Rebecca Riddle (or Riddell), born March 10, 1782; married Thomas Broadway.
  2. Polly Riddle (or Riddell), born August 1, 1784; married Daniel Moulton.
  3. Lina Riddle (or Riddell), born June 1, 1786; married Maturin Allard.
  4. Charlotte Riddle (or Riddell), born June 8, 1788; married James McKain.
  5. Orrin Riddle (or Riddell), born May 18, 1790; married Bertha Chaffe.
  6. Freeborn Moulton Riddell, of whom further.

(III) Freeborn Moulton Riddell

Freeborn Moulton Riddell, son of Joseph and Mary Riddle or Riddell, was born in Monson, Massachusetts, September 18, 1793, died March 12, 1877. He was a farmer by occupation. He married (first) Abigail Chaffe, of Alexander, New York. She died March 15, 1829. He married (second) Sarah Smith, of Batavia, Genesee county, New York. He married (third) Jemima Baston. Child by first marriage:

  1. Charlotte Riddell, born January 20, 1820, died in February, 1895; she married, January 1, 1837, Augustus C. Mason (see Mason VII).

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.

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