Memorials › Pvt. Charles Nicholson

Pvt. Charles Nicholson

1831 – 3 Dec 1863

Birth1831
Death3 Dec 1863
CemeteryNashville National Cemetery
Madison , Davidson County , Tennessee , USA
Added byJacob Everett on 22 Jul 2025
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/272533538

Gravesite details

No known marker. Not found in the National Cemetery Administration's Find a Cemetery database.

Bio

Civil War soldier, private in the 125th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, died in service. Charles Nicholson was born about 1831 in Hamilton County, Ohio, the son of Susan (née Higdon) and James Nicholson, a blacksmith. The Nicholson family was enumerated in 1850 in that county near Cincinnati; relocated in the early 1850s to Indiana; and was enumerated in 1860 in Decatur County, Indiana.* Charles "Nicholson" and Frances Abbott were married on 4 December 1853 in Decatur County, Indiana. (In 1850, Frances Abbott, age 14, was enumerated 18 dwellings away from Charles's maternal grandparents, Sarah and Benjamin "Higden, " in Fugit Township, Decatur County.) The couple's first child, Luwella, was born on 26 September 1854 in Indiana, and they soon afterwards moved to Illinois. The Charles Nicholson family of three was enumerated in 1855 in Piatt County, Illinois. The couple's second child, William, was born 3 October 1856. The Nicholson family was enumerated in 1860 in Piatt County's Sangamon Township, and later moved to East Bend Township, Champaign County, Illinois. Charles "Nickelson" enrolled for 3 years' service on 9 August 1862 in Newcomb, Champaign County, Illinois. According to his enlistment papers, he was "age 26," married, a wagon maker residing in East Bend Township; born in Hamilton County, Ohio. He was 5 feet, 8 inches, with dark hair, light eyes, and a sandy complexion. Private Nicholson on 3 September 1862 in Danville, Illinois, mustered in Company F, 125th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. (The company was composed almost entirely of men from Champaign County.)† During Private Nichelson's service, the 125th Illinois first fought in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, in October 1862, and was later stationed in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1863, the 125th fought in: the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia; and the Chattanooga, Tennessee, Campaign. Private Charles Nichelson died from smallpox on 3 December 1863 at General Hospital No. 13, Nashville. He was survived by his widow and their two children. His widow remarried in 1868 to George W. Oates. Burial Illinois soldiers, #415, "Nicholson," Charles, Private, Co. F, 125th Infantry, died 3 Dec 1863, interred originally in Nashville. (U. S. Quartermaster General's Office, Roll of Honor. Names of Soldiers Who Died in Defense of the American Union, Interred in the National Cemetery at Nashville, Tennessee , vol. 22 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1867), p. 409.) • According to the National Cemetery Administration's website, the Nashville National Cemetery's "original interments were the remains of soldiers removed from temporary burial grounds around Nashville's general hospitals [...]" Notes Used the "Nichelson," "Nicholson," and "Nickelson" spellings. * Charles Nicholson's maternal grandparents, Sarah Jane (née Morgan) and Benjamin D. Higdon, Sr., were enumerated in 1850, 1860, and 1870 in Decatur Co., Indiana. The dates and places of birth of the Nicholson children in the 1860 U.S. Census indicate that the family moved from Ohio to Indiana between 1851 and 1855. 1850 U.S. Census, Dist. 18, Greene and Delhi Twps., Hamilton Co., Ohio; dwelling 1002, family 1008, lines 13-22, p. 503 (printed), p. 1005 (written), 7 Oct 1850. 13. James Nicholson, 42, B. Smith ($200), Ohio. 14. Susan, 38, Ky. 15. Charles , 19, laborer, Ohio. 16. John, 17, B. Smith, Ohio. 17. William, 16, B. Smith, Ohio. 18. George, 14, Ohio. 19. Benj. 12, Ohio. 20. Sarah, 7, Ohio. 21. Isaac, 5, Ohio. 22. Margt, 1, Ohio. • James Nicholson was enumerated in Delhi Twp. in the 1850 U.S. Agricultural Schedule. 1855 Illinois state census, Township 20N, Range 6E, Piatt Co., pp. 44-45 (written). [17.] Richard Abbott. [18.] Charles Nicholson . [22.] S C Abbott. • Nicholson household of three persons: male aged 20-30, female aged 10-20, female aged under 10. • This survey township now divided between Blue Ridge and Sangamon civil townships. "S C Abbott" likely Stephen C. Abbott. In 1860, Richard Abbott and Stephen C. Abbott were both enumerated in what is now Mahomet Twp., Champaign Co., Illinois. The Pennsylvania-born Richard and New Jersey-born Stephen, however, are not known to be related. Stephen C. Abbot served in the 125th Illinois as a sergeant in Company H. 1860 U.S. Census, Sangamon Twp., Piatt Co., Illinois; dwelling 404, family 404, lines 28-32, p. 65 (written), 10 Jul 1860. (Post Office: Monticello) 28. Charles Nicholson , 28, wagon maker ($100; $100), O [Ohio]. 29. Frances Nicholson, 26, Ind. 30. Lewella Nicholson, 6, Ind. 31. Wm A Nicholson, 4, Ill. 32. Charlotte Abbott, 13, Ind. • Frances' sister, Charlotte, also enumerated in their father's household in Township 20N, Range 7E, Champaign Co., Illinois. This survey township is now Mahomet civil township. † Illinois State Archives, Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Detail Report. • Newcomb Twp. then comprised what are now Condit and Newcomb Twps. The Newcomb Post Office was in what is now Condit Twp. The 125th Illinois lost 204 officers and enlisted men: 97 killed and mortally wounded, 107 by disease. Frances Nicholson filed on 21 May 1864 for a widow's pension; a pension card showing the service of "Nicholson," Charles, in F 125, Ill Inf." An application for minors' pensions was filed on 8 Jan 1870 (Oats, F., guardian). Wm and Lew E Nickelson were enumerated in 1870 with their mother and step-father in Mahomet Twp., Champaign Co. As of 30 May 2025, there are no FAG memorials for Charles's father or son. Reviewed 30 May 2025, the traditional Decoration Day.

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