Nickell, John

ESQUESING'S FIRST BORN SON.
Mr. John Nickell, the First Male
Child Born in the Township,
Died Last Thursday.
John Nickell, of lot 22, con. 4, Esquesing, died last Thursday at the home of his son, Mr. J. R. Nickell, of Nassagaweya. For several years, Mr. Nickell has not been in rugged health, but was able to go about and until a couple of weeks ago helped with the work of the farm. About the 10th of January he contracted a severe cold which developed into bronchial pneumonia, and he died last Thursday at the good old age of 77 years.
John Nickell, sr., father of the deceased emigrated from the county Antrim, Ireland, in 1819. He spent a year or so in Michigan and then came to this county and having secured a homestead from the Crown - lot 22, con. 4 Esquesing settled upon it and the property has for nearly eighty years remained in the family. When Mr. Nickel went upon his property he built a log cabin on the rear of it, and his descendents tell the story that he had for the rear of this first residence a cut of one of the immense pine trees which then abounded there. It was here that his first son was born, and careful investigation in after years proved that this was the first male child born in the township of Esquesing. Mr. Nickel lived on this farm until he had reached the age of 86 years.
The subject of this sketch continued owner of the property up to the time of his death. His partner in life died nine years ago the 16th January. About four years ago Mr. Nickell went to reside with his son near Crewson's Corners. He was possessed of a very retiring disposition and never held any of the public offices of the township. He was a hard worker, and to him there was no place like home, and the brightest spot on earth to him was the old homestead on the fourth line. Evidence of this is apparent when it is stated that he was never farther from home than Toronto; that he visited the city only once, and that he was sixty-five years of age before he took that trip, a little over thirty miles from his home. Mr. Nickell was an adherent of Knox Church Acton, and Rev. H. A. Macpherson conducted the largely attended funeral on Saturday.
Mr. Nickell was the father of two sons and four daughters: John R., in Nassagaweya; William, in Detroit; Mrs. Cooke, Eramosa; Mrs. Henry Cole, Esquesing, Mrs. John Kenney, Jr., Acton and Mrs. Thomas Irvine, deceased.
The pall bearers at the funeral were deceased's brother James, his sons, John R. and William and three sons-in-law, Thos. Cook, Henry Cole and Jno. Kenney, jr.