Son of Nathaniel NICHOLS , Jr. (b: 1775 in Hertford Co., North Carolina) and Susanna WARD (b: 1775 in Bertie Co., North Carolina).

M1: Eliza DUNNING on May 23, 1836, Caldwell Co. KY.
Five ch:
-Narcissa Ann NICHOLS (b: March 16, 1839 in Trigg Co., Kentucky), m: Solomon Dunning nine ch: Mary Ellen, Elizabeth Eudora, John Freeman, William Ward, Fountain Brown, George Marshall, Eunice Louise, Leslie Pool, Bertie Lois
-Almira B. (Mary) (Oct 27 1841/MO- )
-James Mortimor L. (Jan 15, 1845/MO-abt 1866 or 67/murdered by a horse thief. m. Agnes Jane Parks, ch: James Parks Nichols.
-William Ward (Nov 4 1846/MO- )
-Henry B. (Dec 14, 1848/MO-Feb 25 1907/Whitesboro, Grayson TX. Henry is not shown with his widowed stepmother and his siblings in 1860 census when he would have been about 12 yrs; Another relative must have raised him.)

Eliza died from complications nine days after Henry's birth.

m2: Mrs. Catharine PARKS WITHERSPOON on April 24, 1851 in Henry Co., Missouri.
ch:
-Susannah Catharine "Susie" (1852-1929/Good Hope Cem, m: George Folks Smith, ch include William Freeman 1870-1964, George Henderson 1873-1896, Lemney Folks 1897-1968, Finis Francis 1882-1883, Adelia Frances 1885-1955, Lillie D. 1887- , Cora A. 1890- , Jennie Almira 1892-1906, unknown - 7 of 9 children were living in 1900 - George and Finis were the two who had died). See memorial# 27450934 .

-Ellen Frances (1854-1924/Good Hope Cem m1: Parks, m2: Joseph Harrison Smith. Their ch include Ida Lee 1870-1941, Hugh A., John A 1875- , Elmer J. 1878-1966, Pinckney Freeman 1881-1942, Audrey 1886- , Mary Jewett 1889- , Norma 1892- , Winnifred 1896- , Helen 1899- , unknown who died before 1900, they have 10 of 11 living in 1900)

-George Washington (Mar 19, 1856 in Coal, Henry Co., MO- m: Sarah Josephine "Josie", 6 ch, found at Camden, Adair Co. 1900-1930 census).

Catherine (dau of John Parks and Rachel Stines) was a widow of John Witherspoon and brought their son, John Alexander Witherspoon, to the marriage.

1850 Grand River Township, Henry Co, MO (from Henry Co. website, used with permission.)
D328:F338 - Pg052 - Sep 26 1850
NICHOLS Freeman - 36 wm (1814) blacksmith - $480 - Kentucky
NICHOLS Narcissa A. - 11 wf (1839) - KY
NICHOLS Almira - 8 wf (1842) - MO
NICHOLS James M. L. - 6 wm (1844) - MO
NICHOLS William W. - 4 wm (1846) - MO
NICHOLS Henry B. - 1 wm (1849) - MO
The household is between that of his mother-in-law, Adah Dunning and children, and the Henry Dunning/Nancy Ann McFarland family. It is also near the family of Rachel Parks with widowed dau Catharine (Parks) Witherspoon, who James Freeman married in 1851.

James Freeman died on March 25, 1860 in Henry Co., MO.
(note: the author of "Dunning Footprints and Wagon Tracks" made the statement: ""When Narcice's father, James Freeman Nichols was killed in 1860, Solomon Dunning was appointed co-administrator of the estate." In answer to my inquiry re COD, she wrote me that "He was in a posse to bring in some men. They stopped for breakfast leaving Freeman to guard their captives. One of them got a gun somehow and shot him."
Another source indicated that James' son, James Mortimer Freeman, was killed by a horse thief abt 1865-66. It would be unusual for father and son to be shot and killed by a prisoner/horse thief -- it is possible/probable one of the accounts is incorrect. The obit of James Mortimor's son, James Parks Nichols, states that his father (James Mortimer) was killed while guarding a horse thief (follow link from Jmes Mortimer to his son).

Thanks to Cecelia, who has the book, for providing enough information to reach the author.

James' will was probated on May 15, 1860 in Henry Co., MO. Catharine, his young widow, was left to raise three of his children with his first wife, their own three children, and her son from her first marriage. The 1860 census finds her and the children in Leesville, Henry Co MO. She is buried in Good Hope cemetery with two of their daughters.

James is buried with his first wife in her Dunning family cemetery, which no longer has road access. It is on private property in heavily wooded and very overgrown area. The cemetery is large, compared to the number of known burials, with graves spaced quite far apart. Most tombstones have fallen over, unless you trip over one, it is easy to miss them. In all likelihood there are many more graves there than entered. There is evidence of old roads and some remains of cabins/buildings. The Corps of Engineers has much of the area posted.

Thanks to descendent R.Tope for providing information to enhance this bio.

James is listed in the 1860 Mortality schedule as James F. Nichols, farmer, born in KY, who died Mar 1860 in Henry Co MO. Unfortunately it incorrectly shows his age as 18 and birth year as 1842.

Stone is engraved "James F., husband of Catherine Nichols"