Ancestor Query

[familyfinder68]

Hello, everyone. I joined this online forum for genealogy assistance with some of my Civil War veteran ancestors. I will start with the first one. His name is Andrew J Nichols, and I believe he is my great great great grandfather. Andrew served in Ohio and was a native of Ross County. He was in Company E, Regiment 114. He appears to have died of chronic diarrhea at age 22 and is buried in the Soldier's Circle in Greenlawn Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ohio. A couple of questions I need help with 1. I cannot discern the writing regarding where he died on the U. S. Register of Death of Volunteers 1861-1865 2. I am seeking enlistment paperwork that might indicate some biographical details about him that are not otherwise available to me.

Any information pertaining to Andrew J Nichols, who may or may not be my great great great grandfather would be deeply appreciated. Thank you.
*** Edited to delete personal (genealogical) information after reading forum rules.

 

[Gary Morgan]

Post an image of the document you can't read here. Believe it or not, we have some experts at deciphering Civil War records.

 

[steamboater]

Hello, everyone. I joined this online forum for genealogy assistance with some of my Civil War veteran ancestors. I will start with the first one. His name is Andrew J Nichols, and I believe he is my great great great grandfather. Andrew served in Ohio and was a native of Ross County. He was in Company E, Regiment 114. He appears to have died of chronic diarrhea at age 22 and is buried in the Soldier's Circle in Greenlawn Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ohio. A couple of questions I need help with 1. I cannot discern the writing regarding where he died on the U. S. Register of Death of Volunteers 1861-1865 2. I am seeking enlistment paperwork that might indicate some biographical details about him that are not otherwise available to me.

Any information pertaining to Andrew J Nichols, who may or may not be my great great great grandfather would be deeply appreciated. Thank you.
*** Edited to delete personal (genealogical) information after reading forum rules.

I seem to have run across some conflict with the info you provided for Andrew J. Nichols. I went to my purchased information source, www.civilwardata.com ,and looked for him under personnel of the 114th Ohio. They show a record for "Andrew J. Nickel". His residence is not listed. He enlisted on 8/22/1861 as a private, age 33. Mustering into Ohio 114th Infantry, Co.E. He died of disease on 6/16/1863 on Hospital Boat DA January. (Not sure what "DA January " means) Their source is the Official Roster for the State of Ohio, as well as the Roll of Honor of Ohio Soldiers.

I then went to their search query for any Andrew Nichols serving Ohio, and got a hit. This from The Official Roster of the soldiers of the state of Ohio................ Andrew J. Nichols 31 years old, enlisted 8/14/1861 as a private in the Ohio 2nd infantry, E Company. His residence unknown, he was transferred out on 7/1/1863 into the Veteran Reserve Corps. (The VRC was a unit of the Federal service that allowed soldiers who were debilitated to serve in some non-combat unit) The date and method of his discharge not given.

So, maybe you are barking up a wrong Ohio tree, that of a "Nickels" tree. Please do some research to see which of the two is your ancestor and get back to us.

 

[steamboater]

I just finished looking into the National Archives, and it does not show any "Andrew Nichol". It does have records for Andrew J. Nickel serving the 114th Ohio, and, secondly a record for Andrew J. Nickol with the same service, noting the alternate spelling of the surname. No mention of his Veteran Reserve Corps service.

Looking again at your data, I noticed you have him age 22 at death, where the two individuals I found on CWData are much older. It may be neither of the records I found pertain to your ancestor.

 

[steamboater]

Working with Google, I came upon a depiction of the Civil War US Hospital ship, The D.A.January, a sidewheel steamer.

 

[familyfinder68]

Post an image of the document you can't read here. Believe it or not, we have some experts at deciphering Civil War records.

The part I could not discern has been addressed. It was "DA January". Thank you for the tip, though.

 

[familyfinder68]

I seem to have run across some conflict with the info you provided for Andrew J. Nichols. I went to my purchased information source, www.civilwardata.com ,and looked for him under personnel of the 114th Ohio. They show a record for "Andrew J. Nickel". His residence is not listed. He enlisted on 8/22/1861 as a private, age 33. Mustering into Ohio 114th Infantry, Co.E. He died of disease on 6/16/1863 on Hospital Boat DA January. (Not sure what "DA January " means) Their source is the Official Roster for the State of Ohio, as well as the Roll of Honor of Ohio Soldiers.

I then went to their search query for any Andrew Nichols serving Ohio, and got a hit. This from The Official Roster of the soldiers of the state of Ohio................ Andrew J. Nichols 31 years old, enlisted 8/14/1861 as a private in the Ohio 2nd infantry, E Company. His residence unknown, he was transferred out on 7/1/1863 into the Veteran Reserve Corps. (The VRC was a unit of the Federal service that allowed soldiers who were debilitated to serve in some non-combat unit) The date and method of his discharge not given.

So, maybe you are barking up a wrong Ohio tree, that of a "Nickels" tree. Please do some research to see which of the two is your ancestor and get back to us.

Ok, let's start over with different information. I took this information off a document I found on Ancestry and wasn't even double checking it with information I already had available to me (put the cart before the horse and made assumptions). Anyway, the man I am seeking further information about has Civil War data as follows: Company B, 26th regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He has two grave markers, one says "A. J. Nichols" and the other says "Andrew J Nichols". I am seeking any biographical information about him that may be found on military paperwork, such as family, cause of death, location of death, military engagements he may have been involved in, and marital status. If he was not married, I am probably barking up the wrong tree and he is not a direct line ancestor after all and need to go back to the drawing board.

Thank you for you efforts on my behalf. My research skills are hampered by the absence of a meticulous nature, and my excitement gets in the way of slowing down and being methodical sometimes.

 

[lupaglupa]

There are records for Andrew Nichols of the 26th Ohio online. They appear under three spellings: Andrew Nichols, Andrew Nicholls, and Andrew J Nicholas. According to the Official Ohio Roster he enlisted September 8, 1861, mustering in to Company B on that same day. He was 21 years old. He mustered out June 20, 1862 at Chillicothe. The records state he died of disease.

I did not find a pension record for him, either for a parent or a spouse.

 

[familyfinder68]

There are records for Andrew Nichols of the 26th Ohio online. They appear under three spellings: Andrew Nichols, Andrew Nicholls, and Andrew J Nicholas. According to the Official Ohio Roster he enlisted September 8, 1861, mustering in to Company B on that same day. He was 21 years old. He mustered out June 20, 1862 at Chillicothe. The records state he died of disease.

I did not find a pension record for him, either for a parent or a spouse.

Was it unusual to sign up and muster in the very same day? What resources would have information on any engagements he may have been involved in? Lastly, if he mustered out, I would assume he was alive, so why would there be a recording of his cause of death, unless he mustered out by dying, darn him.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hello, everyone. I joined this online forum for genealogy assistance with some of my Civil War veteran ancestors.

Welcome @familyfinder68 !

I looked at the Ohio Civil War records on fold3.
Quite a few guys named "Andrew Nichols" appeared.

Unfortunately, I could not find any that met your description.
But that was a very common name ... much like searching for a specific "John Smith".
Researching any ancestor may take longer than one thinks.

But don't give up.
Not all records are available on line from any "ancestor site".

Once again, welcome to CWT. And good luck !
I feel the more you search, the more info you may find.

 

[familyfinder68]

Welcome @familyfinder68 !

I looked at the Ohio Civil War records on fold3.
Quite a few guys named "Andrew Nichols" appeared.

Unfortunately, I could not find any that met your description.
But that was a very common name ... much like searching for a specific "John Smith".
Researching any ancestor may take longer than one thinks.

But don't give up.
Not all records are available on line from any "ancestor site".

Once again, welcome to CWT. And good luck !
I feel the more you search, the more info you may find.

Thank you. I do realize that the ancestor sites I regularly utilize leave much to be desired. I guess my next step is to approach the Ross County, Ohio historical society and see what resources they have regarding local Civil War veterans. I like local resources when they are available because I have found so much in dusty backrooms or in the head of some archival librarian that are simply not available elsewhere. You are right about the plethora of "Andrew Nichols" which makes an uncertain search even more complex, and I am feeling impatient. When that happens, sometimes it is best to step back and wait for the energy of the search to shift back again. Research is mentally draining and I have found my best breakthroughs after backing off sometimes. I am not quite there yet, but close with this guy. I have other CW veterans also clamoring for my attention.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Thank you. I do realize that the ancestor sites I regularly utilize leave much to be desired. I guess my next step is to approach the Ross County, Ohio historical society and see what resources they have regarding local Civil War veterans. I like local resources when they are available because I have found so much in dusty backrooms or in the head of some archival librarian that are simply not available elsewhere. You are right about the plethora of "Andrew Nichols" which makes an uncertain search even more complex, and I am feeling impatient. When that happens, sometimes it is best to step back and wait for the energy of the search to shift back again. Research is mentally draining and I have found my best breakthroughs after backing off sometimes. I am not quite there yet, but close with this guy. I have other CW veterans also clamoring for my attention.

Gawd yes !

I understand all of what you have encountered.
And you are so right about the local resources. Those are always the most accurate !

Quick example :

All of my life, we heard our GG Grandfather was in the famous 2nd Mississippi Regiment fighting at Gettysburg.
Later, when I started my serious research, none of that made sense. He was in his 40's during 1863. Waaaay too old to be fighting
with an army of teenagers almost one thousand miles away in Pennsylvania.

But after many days at the local Court House, (trying to decipher faded & dusty documents) I found proof he was indeed in the
2nd Mississippi.

But not The 2nd Mississippi Regiment at Gettysburg.

( Only a state troop/militia of older men with the same numerical designation ... 2nd Mississippi "State Troops").
Over the years the "militia" part was forgotten, facts disappeared, and a false family legend was born.

So, take your time and don't rush through any of your ancestors.

 

[steamboater]

OK, I was able to find him in the 26th Ohio Infantry on civilwardata.com. As "Lupaglupa" mentioned, his surname is mangled on various sites. He is listed on CWD as Nicholas. It also states he was buried at Chillicothe, so I checked there on findagrave. He is buried there in Greenlawn Cemetery. The headstone and the cemetery's records do not list his birth, as someone who listed info about him gave a date for his marriage before his probable birth (from military records) of 1842. I suggest you contact the folks mentioned on that record to get the details straightened out. It also is possible your Andrew is A.J.Nichols,Junior, and his same named father was the spouse in the marriage in 1833.

CWD also lists a 25 year old Milton H. Nichols as also being in Company B. This is a strong indicator to me they are related, brother to brother or possibly a cousin. Milton enrolled 3 months before Andrew, and was discharged 2 months before Andrew died, his discharge just following the battle of Shiloh.

 

[lupaglupa]

If I understand correctly @familyfinder68 the thing you most want is a record that shows the particular Andrew Nichols buried in Greenlawn Cemetery was married and thus could be your ancestor - is that correct? All of the records I have found so far were missing that information.

I went to the CW draft records for Ohio, as they have a column that indicated marital status. There is an Andrew J Nichols, age 27, in Ross County (it looks like West Scioto is the town, but the writing is in the fold of the page so I can't be sure). He gives his birthplace as Ohio, occupation farmer. BUT - no mention of marital status for any of the men on the page - the column was just left blank. It does say that this Andrew J Nichols had prior military service in Company B of the 26th Ohio.

Of the other Andrew Nichols in Ohio draft records:

1. 33 and hails from Put In Bay with no marital status mentioned
2. 29 and married, living in Athens County
3. 41 years old, a married blacksmith born in Virginia living in Truro in Franklin County
4. 20 years old, a single farmer born in Ohio from Richland in Logan County

 

[Story]

Of the other Andrew Nichols in Ohio draft records:

1. 33 and hails from Put In Bay with no marital status mentioned
2. 29 and married, living in Athens County
3. 41 years old, a married blacksmith born in Virginia living in Truro in Franklin County
4. 20 years old, a single farmer born in Ohio from Richland in Logan County

@familyfinder68

Take Lupaglupa's ball and run those four Andrew Nichols for OHIO in the 1860 Federal Census.
In each case, you will find whoever else is living under the same roof as he and whether each man was married or not.

 

[familyfinder68]

Gawd yes !

I understand all of what you have encountered.
And you are so right about the local resources. Those are always the most accurate !

Quick example :

All of my life, we heard our GG Grandfather was in the famous 2nd Mississippi Regiment fighting at Gettysburg.
Later, when I started my serious research, none of that made sense. He was in his 40's during 1863. Waaaay too old to be fighting
with an army of teenagers almost one thousand miles away in Pennsylvania.

But after many days at the local Court House, (trying to decipher faded & dusty documents) I found proof he was indeed in the
2nd Mississippi.

But not The 2nd Mississippi Regiment at Gettysburg.

( Only a state troop/militia of older men with the same numerical designation ... 2nd Mississippi "State Troops").
Over the years the "militia" part was forgotten, facts disappeared, and a false family legend was born.

So, take your time and don't rush through any of your ancestors.

I admire his dedication to the cause. And I am glad to know that he was not fighting in a troop with a bunch of teenagers. I don't know which would be worse, being shot at or living with a group of adolescent males with guns. Egads!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I admire his dedication to the cause. And I am glad to know that he was not fighting in a troop with a bunch of teenagers. I don't know which would be worse, being shot at or living with a group of adolescent males with guns. Egads!

Hah !

I'm sure some men of his own age may have been more careless than the disciplined youngsters.