The Federal
Census was recorded by the Enumerator as he
understood the registrant who oft time could neither
read nor write which led to numerous errors in dates
and names. I have tried to copy as recorded. Where
errors occur, I apologize. Click Glendale Community Cemetery
to read grave marker dates.
William R. “Willie” Nichols, born May 24, 1901 in
Clyde, North Carolina, was the son of John Patrick
and Margaret Rhinehart Nichols. Census and obituary
records show that he had 8 or more siblings. Willie
married Susan Nina Byars, daughter of John Benjamin
and Rilla Mae Biggerstaff. They had no children.
The
1940 Spartanburg/ Glendale Census listed
the household as;
William R. Nichols 38, husband/cloth room
Wife; Nina 28
Margaret Nichols 79, mother/widow
From early 1900 until 1935, mail was transported
by trolley car from
Spartanburg to the Glendale
Post Office.
(Also see More about the
Trolley).When the passenger bus replaced the trolley in 1935, mail was
transported by the bus. Starting somewhere in the
early to mid - forties, mail was transported by a
“Star Route Contract” mail carrier. To my knowledge,
William R. “Willie” Nichols from Glendale was the first
“Star Route” contractor. He was the carrier when
this writer started serving as Postmaster in the
mid-forties. He was a soft spoken, easy going,
congenial person and carried the mail for a number
of years.
An instance with
Willie that I shall never forget; It was a hot dry
summer day. Red clay would flash burn on the road
banks. When Willie came in early that morning, I
commented to him about the heat and dry weather and
said, boy, I sure hope it rains today! No! No!
Willie quickly replied. The roofers decided it would
be a good day to replace the roof on my house.
Everything was torn off yesterday and if it rains
today, everything in my house will be ruined. My
answer, Willie, here’s a good lesson for both of us;
leave the weather to One who knows what’s best.
Excerpts
from the obituary of William R. Nichols
published Wednesday, May 1, 1968; “William Ralph
Nichols, 66, husband of Mrs. Nina Byars Nichols died
in the Spartanburg General Hospital Tuesday
following a long illness. Son of the late John and
Margaret Rhinehart Nichols, member of the Glendale Methodist Church,
former employee of Glendale
Mills and a retired mail carrier.
Survivors were his wife; brother, Walter Nichols;
sisters, Mrs. Etta Burnett and Mrs. Annie Jackson.
Services at Glendale
Methodist Church with interment in the Glendale Community Cemetery”
Excerpts
from the obituary of Susan Nina Byars Nichols
published June 24, 1996; “Nina Byars Nichols died at
the age of 85, June 23, 1996 in the Mary Black
Hospital. She was the daughter of the late John
Benjamin and Rilla Mae Biggerstaff and a member of
the Bethesda Baptist Church. She was survived by one
sister, Maggie Ina Byars of the home. Funeral
services and interment to be in the Glendale Community
Cemetery.”
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The Family of
John Patrick and Margaret (Maggie) Nichols, parents
of Willie Nichols;
The
1910 Spartanburg/Glendale Census listed the
household as;
Maggie (Margaret) Nichols 49, widow/head of
household, mother of 9 children, 7 living.
Children; Walter 21 illegible 17
Homer 14 Etta
11 Willie 9
R. Hayes 30, boarder
The
1920 Spartanburg/Glendale Census listed the
household as;
Margaret Nichols 58, widow/head of household
Children; Holman 25, cotton mill
Willie 18, cloth room
John Patrick Nichols died February 21, 1904 and is
buried in the Glendale
Community Cemetery. No obituary found.
Excerpts from
the obituary of Margaret Rhinehart Nichols
published Tuesday, April 10, 1945; “Mrs. Margaret
Rhinehart Nichols, 84, died Monday night at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. Etta Burnett in Glendale. Born in
Clyde N. C., she was the daughter of Liaac (?) and
Mary Rhinehart. She had been a resident of Glendale for a number
of years and was a member of the Glendale Methodist Church.
She is survived by four sons; J.R. Nichols of
Chandler, N. C., Walter, Homer and William Nichols
of Glendale; two
daughters, Mrs. Etta Burnett, Glendale and Mrs.
Nannie Jackson of Leister, N. C.; a number of grand
and great grand-children. Funeral arrangements to be
announced.” She was buried in the Glendale Community
Cemetery.
--------------------
--------------------
No records of J. R. Nichols were found.
--------------------
Homer Nichols
married Alta Riddle and had two children, Charles
and Vaudie Mae.
Homer
Nichols died October 24, 1956.
Alta
Nichols died August 25, 1987.
Both are buried in the Glendale
Community Cemetery.
--------------------
Etta Nichols
married Jefferson S. Burnett and had three children,
Bobby, Frances and unnamed infant. Jefferson S.
Burnett died February 11, 1948.
Etta
Nichols Burnett died November 12, 1897.
Both are buried in the Glendale
Community Cemetery.
--------------------
According to her
mother’s obituary, Nannie Nichols married a Mr.
Jackson. No other records found.
--------------------
All census records and obituaries, courtesy of The
Spartanburg County Library. Researched and written
July, 2013 by Clarence
E. Crocker,
