John Matthew Nichols was born the second of six children to David Crocket Nichols and Florence (Norris) Nichols in Sugar Creek, Logan County, AR. His birthdate has been reported to be 1878 or 1879, however, according to his death certificate, his age at death was 50 yrs, 7mos, 1d (making his birth date 18 Feb 1880).
On 25 Jul 1897, John married Amanda Delilah Dunnam in Newton County, AR. They had two children: Alpha, born 2 Jul 1898, and Alvin born 13 Sep 1899. Alpha married Alva Snearly. Alvin married Mary Donahoo, and they along with their newborn daughter, and Mary's mother, were killed on 4 Jan 1922 when a tornado swept through the Cassville area.
John and "Manda" divorced prior to 1902 and he married Clara Fix on 21 Jun 1902 in Pittsburg, Oklahoma. While living in Oakland, California, they became the parents of twin boys: Melven Melwood and Elven Elwood, on 16 Oct 1918.
On 26 Jun 1926, John was sentenced to Walla Walla Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington, for 2nd degree arson in Spokane for setting fire to his home in Garden Springs. It was apparently the second attempt that week, the neighbors had extinguished the first blaze. Due to being ill, John was not sent to prison until 7 Jun 1927, which he entered on a stretcher. He was sentenced to 3 to 10 years but was paroled on 11 May 1930. He died a little over 4 months later.
Clara and the boys were living in Spokane in 1930, but moved to Priest River, Idaho, by 1940.
There is a family story that Clara and her boyfriend tried to kill John by putting rat poison on his sandwich. It is unknown if that led to his actual death or if it happened before he went to prison. He died 18 Sep 1930 in Seattle but was buried in Spokane. Clara was also arrested in the 1930s for liquor violations during Prohibition. She did not re-marry that I know of, and is buried next to John at the Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane.
On 25 Jul 1897, John married Amanda Delilah Dunnam in Newton County, AR. They had two children: Alpha, born 2 Jul 1898, and Alvin born 13 Sep 1899. Alpha married Alva Snearly. Alvin married Mary Donahoo, and they along with their newborn daughter, and Mary's mother, were killed on 4 Jan 1922 when a tornado swept through the Cassville area.
John and "Manda" divorced prior to 1902 and he married Clara Fix on 21 Jun 1902 in Pittsburg, Oklahoma. While living in Oakland, California, they became the parents of twin boys: Melven Melwood and Elven Elwood, on 16 Oct 1918.
On 26 Jun 1926, John was sentenced to Walla Walla Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington, for 2nd degree arson in Spokane for setting fire to his home in Garden Springs. It was apparently the second attempt that week, the neighbors had extinguished the first blaze. Due to being ill, John was not sent to prison until 7 Jun 1927, which he entered on a stretcher. He was sentenced to 3 to 10 years but was paroled on 11 May 1930. He died a little over 4 months later.
Clara and the boys were living in Spokane in 1930, but moved to Priest River, Idaho, by 1940.
There is a family story that Clara and her boyfriend tried to kill John by putting rat poison on his sandwich. It is unknown if that led to his actual death or if it happened before he went to prison. He died 18 Sep 1930 in Seattle but was buried in Spokane. Clara was also arrested in the 1930s for liquor violations during Prohibition. She did not re-marry that I know of, and is buried next to John at the Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane.
John Matthew Nichols was born the second of six children to David Crocket Nichols and Florence (Norris) Nichols in Sugar Creek, Logan County, AR. His birthdate has been reported to be 1878 or 1879, however, according to his death certificate, his age at death was 50 yrs, 7mos, 1d (making his birth date 18 Feb 1880).
On 25 Jul 1897, John married Amanda Delilah Dunnam in Newton County, AR. They had two children: Alpha, born 2 Jul 1898, and Alvin born 13 Sep 1899. Alpha married Alva Snearly. Alvin married Mary Donahoo, and they along with their newborn daughter, and Mary's mother, were killed on 4 Jan 1922 when a tornado swept through the Cassville area.
John and "Manda" divorced prior to 1902 and he married Clara Fix on 21 Jun 1902 in Pittsburg, Oklahoma. While living in Oakland, California, they became the parents of twin boys: Melven Melwood and Elven Elwood, on 16 Oct 1918.
On 26 Jun 1926, John was sentenced to Walla Walla Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington, for 2nd degree arson in Spokane for setting fire to his home in Garden Springs. It was apparently the second attempt that week, the neighbors had extinguished the first blaze. Due to being ill, John was not sent to prison until 7 Jun 1927, which he entered on a stretcher. He was sentenced to 3 to 10 years but was paroled on 11 May 1930. He died a little over 4 months later.
Clara and the boys were living in Spokane in 1930, but moved to Priest River, Idaho, by 1940.
There is a family story that Clara and her boyfriend tried to kill John by putting rat poison on his sandwich. It is unknown if that led to his actual death or if it happened before he went to prison. He died 18 Sep 1930 in Seattle but was buried in Spokane. Clara was also arrested in the 1930s for liquor violations during Prohibition. She did not re-marry that I know of, and is buried next to John at the Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane.
On 25 Jul 1897, John married Amanda Delilah Dunnam in Newton County, AR. They had two children: Alpha, born 2 Jul 1898, and Alvin born 13 Sep 1899. Alpha married Alva Snearly. Alvin married Mary Donahoo, and they along with their newborn daughter, and Mary's mother, were killed on 4 Jan 1922 when a tornado swept through the Cassville area.
John and "Manda" divorced prior to 1902 and he married Clara Fix on 21 Jun 1902 in Pittsburg, Oklahoma. While living in Oakland, California, they became the parents of twin boys: Melven Melwood and Elven Elwood, on 16 Oct 1918.
On 26 Jun 1926, John was sentenced to Walla Walla Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington, for 2nd degree arson in Spokane for setting fire to his home in Garden Springs. It was apparently the second attempt that week, the neighbors had extinguished the first blaze. Due to being ill, John was not sent to prison until 7 Jun 1927, which he entered on a stretcher. He was sentenced to 3 to 10 years but was paroled on 11 May 1930. He died a little over 4 months later.
Clara and the boys were living in Spokane in 1930, but moved to Priest River, Idaho, by 1940.
There is a family story that Clara and her boyfriend tried to kill John by putting rat poison on his sandwich. It is unknown if that led to his actual death or if it happened before he went to prison. He died 18 Sep 1930 in Seattle but was buried in Spokane. Clara was also arrested in the 1930s for liquor violations during Prohibition. She did not re-marry that I know of, and is buried next to John at the Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane.
Gravesite Details
Buried 22 Sept 1930
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