Tag Archives: Staughan

Peter James Nicholson

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Peter James Nicholson
b. 22 January 1800, Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Kentucky, to William and Elizabeth [–?–] Nicholson
d. 31 October 1896, Mineralridge, Boone County, Indiana

m. 30 April 1833, Putnam County, Indiana
Elizabeth Frances Staughan
b. 1813, Shelby County, Kentucky
d. 30 October 1886, Polk County, Iowa

Children with Elizabeth Frances Staughan:

  • Stark Dupey
  • John William
  • Francis Marion
  • Nathaniel Stanford
  • Elizabeth Catherine
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • Martha Ann
  • Aaron Calvin
  • Alsy
  • Peter
  • Silas
  • [–?–]

Peter Nicholson immigrated to Washington County, Indiana, from Kentucky in 1819 with
his parents. He was one of the leaders of a group of his relatives and friends who emigrated from Putnam County, Indiana, to Fraser, Boone County, Iowa, about 1848 after Iowa had opened for settlement. The town of Fraser sprang up around his pioneer home in Iowa.

Submitted by:
Bethel L. Marshall
Boise ID

Elizabeth Catherine Nicholson

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Elizabeth Catherine Nicholson
b. 8 September 1841, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, to Peter James and Elizabeth (Staughan) Nicholson
d. 17 March 1922, Fromberg, Carbon County, Montana

m/1. about 1861, perhaps in Iowa
Bartlett Lapham
b. about 1840
d. about 1869

m/2. 1872, Iowa
Abraham Messersmith
b. 18 August 1839, Johnson County, Indiana, to Andrew and Charlotte (Sells) Messersmith

Children with Bartlett Lapham:

  • Grace Alice
  • Peter James
  • Martha Ann
  • Eulalie “Lou”

Elizabeth Catherine (Nicholson) and Abraham Messerssmith had eight children, all born in Iowa. They lived for some time in Colorado, where they probably prospected for gold, but left the Cripple Creek area just before the big gold strike. They were pioneers of Oklahoma but left there and moved to Montana, where Elizabeth died. Abraham later returned to Iowa, where he died. Abraham was a widower when he married Elizabeth.

Submitted by:
Bethel L. Marshall
Boise ID