The Life and Family of Ernest Edward Nicholas


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Title	The Life and Family of Ernest Edward Nicholas
Author	Book of Rippey Iowa Circ 1950's
Text	EARNEST E. NICHOLAS was born in Germany in April 1830 and died in Greene County, October 9, 1924. He emigrated to the United States in 1842, when he was 12 years old. He was married to Minerva Hastings who was born in the Village of Bombay, New York, in 1840. She died December 3, 1900, in Rippey, Iowa. For several years they lived north of Ogden, Iowa, and then moved to Kansas. Later they moved back to Boone County. About 1883 they moved to Rippey, where his son, Abijah (Bide) now resides. Blacksmith work was his trade for a number of years. To this union eight children were born: William Earnest Nicholas born April 29, 1869 - died in Greene County in 1921. Edward Henry Nicholas born April 25, 1871, and now resides in Decatur, Illinois. Lurena Adalada Nicholas born April 3, 1873, now resides at Kansas City, Missouri. George Heizer Nicholas born January 4 1875, died in infancy. Karlos Adolphas Nicholas born June 4, 1876, died in 1932. John Ralph Nicholas born September 7, 1878, resides in Denver, Colorado. Julious Abijah (Bide) Nicholas born June 3 1882, resides in Rippey. King Fritz Nicholas born July 6, 1884, in Rippey, now resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Of the family, two sons, Earnest and Abijah (or Bide as he is known to his many friends) lived in and around Rippey. Earnest was married to Alice Chambers December, 1898, and to this union two children were born, Nora and Norman. In 1920 Nora was married to Edgar Forkner and to this union four children were born: Helen, who married LeRoy Johnson and they had two daughters and three sons. She is now married to Edward Womochil and resides in Walford, Iowa; Duaine, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II and after his discharge was married and is the father of three children, and lives at Marion, Iowa; Dale was married to Eva Spaulding - they have five children and reside at Marion, Iowa; Jerry lives with his parents at Murray, Iowa. Norman was married to Dorothy Welder and to this union one child was born, Alice Marie. Following his wife's death he was married to Ella Mae Robinson and to this union 8 children were born, William, Edward, Norma Jean, Donna Mae, Danny, Wayne, Harold and Frank. Alice Marie married Leonard Naylor and they with their daughter and son live at Dana, Iowa. Norma Jean married Keith Huss, they have one child and reside in California. William served in the Korean Conflict and in July 1955 was married to Karen Clark. They live in Iowa City, where he is a student. Donna lives with her sister in California, where she is employed. Wayne died in 1944 at the age of one year. The rest of the family are at home in Jamaica, Iowa, where Norman is a carpenter. Bide was united in marriage to Mamie Hiddleson in 1906. To this union six children were born: Delia Alice, Donald Harve, Paul Ivan, Vandon A., Veona Margaret, Marjorie Mae. Prior to his marriage, he and his brother operated a blacksmith shop at the east end of Main street in Rippey. They lived in Perry for one year, and then moved back to Rippey and worked at well drilling. In 1915 the family moved to Forrest City where they farmed for five years, then returned to Rippey and farmed in this vicinity. In 1925 the family left the farm and moved back to Rippey in the home place. There Bide built and ran a blacksmith shop of his own, until his retirement. Delia was united in marriage to Lester McDowell. They farmed in Greene County and in 1932 moved to Rippey where they now reside. To this union four children were born: Vernon and Verda (twins), Daryl, and Donna Jean who died in infancy (1936). Vernon was married to Lois Pittman (1947) and they have four girls, Janice Ileen, Marilyn Jean, Cheryl Ann, and Donna Denise. They reside in Rippey, and Vernon owns and operates a garage in Dawson, Iowa. Prior to Vernon's marriage he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Novenber 22, 1944. He served and saw foreign duty on the USS Salerno Bay, Aircraft Carrier. He served 1 1/2 years and then received an honorable discharge in 1946. Verda was united in marriage to Donald Kever (1953). They and their son, Dennis Lee, reside in Perry. Daryl was married to Mary Lou Godfrey (1952) and they now reside at Dawson, Iowa, where he is employed by his brother, Vernon, in the garage. Donald was married to Mildred Lewis and to this union three children were born, Donald Blayne, Larry Lewis, and Aretta Kay. Donald served in the U. S. Navy in the CB's - entered March 31, 1944. He was stationed 2 degrees South of the Equator in the Far East, was in service for 1 1/2 years and received his discharge December 15, 1945. His two sons also served in the U.S. Navy. Blayne entered December 27, 1950, discharged December 22 1954; Larry entered October 8, 1951, discharged Febuary 1954. Both boys saw foreign duty on the USS Rochester. Donald Blayne is at present engaged in carpenter work with his father, who is a contractor. Larry, who was married to LaVonne Moore (1954), with their son, Rodney Dean (the only one so far to carry on the Nicholas name) reside at Pensacola, Florida, where Larry is engaged in the printing business. Aretta Kay, still at home, is employed at Bankers Life Des Moines. Paul when a young man went to Peoria, Illinois (1935) and has been employed at the Caterpillar factory since that time. In 1940 he was married to Edith Brewer. He served in the U.S. Amry - entered in 1944 and served two years as a Military Policeman in U.S. Vandan grew to manhood in Rippey, then went to Peoria, Illinois and was employed at the Caterpillar factory. In April 1942 he answered the call of Uncle Sam. In 1943 he went overseas and served as a Tank Commander on a Tank Destroyer. He saw action in Africa and Italy, and landed on the Normandy Coast on D-Day, and subsequently participated in the battle that followed. On July 13, he was reported missing in action near St. Lo, France. His whereabouts is known only to God. While he was overseas, his mother passed away on June 26, 1943. Veona was married to Carl E. Fisher, and with their son, Leon, they now reside in Des Moines, Iowa. Marjorie, after her mother's death, kept house for her father and was employed at the First National Bank in Rippey until the time of her marriage to Werner Johannson. They now reside on a farm near Panora with their three children, David Lee, Linda Jean, and Sharon Kay.