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"TO HIS BELOVED WIFE ANDREW JACKSON NICKELL (1828-1863)  Regimental Colors of the 114th O.V.I. Courtesy Ohio History Connection - State Archives 4605 AV You must tell the world the story; When the boys in Blue are gone.” ―John Hendricks, Last Surviving Veteran of the 89th Indiana Volunteer Infantry  Best viewed in Full Screen. ― Please click on any image or link to learn more! ― Updated 04 Apr 2015  ↓ ↓ Jump to: Andrew's Scanned Handwritten Letters! ↓ ↓ IN LOVING TRIBUTE
My dear father, Thomas Andrew Nickell, passed 23 Sep 2009. Tom was the great-grandson of Civil War Andrew, and previous custodian of Andrew's Civil War Letters. Tom enjoyed a full and successful life of 88 years. During World War Two, he served in the 182nd Cannon Company of the Americal Division, known as the "Jungle Fighters." Tom was a decorated combat veteran, earning two Bronze Stars, one in the Philippines and the other while serving in Korea. Yet his military service was something he never discussed. He served a long and distinguished career as a human resources professional and labor negotiator. Tom was respected for his fairness and patience. Most importantly he lived his strong Christian faith, and was a wonderful father, husband and friend. He was truly a great man, and I miss him very much.
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WHO WAS ANDREW JACKSON NICKELL?
Andrew Jackson Nickell (1828-1863) was a husband, father and farmer, who proudly served with the
114th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.), Company E during the Civil War. In his service for the Federal cause, Andrew participated in the Battle of Arkansas Post/Fort Hindman, the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, the Vicksburg Campaign and the Siege of Vicksburg. Andrew is my 2x-great-grandfather.
Andrew "put off this mortal life" aboard the Federal hospital ship U.S.S. D.A. January on 16 Jun 1863 just eighteen days before the fall of Vicksburg on 4 Jul 1863. Andrew left a widow, Isabelle Ramey Nickell, "Bell," and three (soon to be four) young children. Their oldest child, Elias Dolison "Doc" Nickell (1857-1935), is my great-grandfather.
Bell saved roughly thirty of Andrew's Letters written during his service as a Union soldier. For 152 years, the Nickell Family has preserved Andrew's Letters, now in my custodianship. These priceless Letters represent a Federal soldier's first person account or Civil War Journal. This web site is created to honor Andrew, as well as Civil War veterans both Union and Confederate. These letters are also available in a comb-bound interpretive and narrative book available for distribution.
Andrew was the fifth generation of his Scots-Irish Nickell Family in America. Andrew's first American ancestor was "Papa John" Nickell (1720-1774) who emigrated from County Tyrone, Ulster, (Northern) Ireland (near Gortin) in the 1740's. John Nickell settled in the rugged western frontier of Augusta County, VA. John's children and descendants moved on to settle Monroe and Greenbrier Counties of (West) Virginia prior to continuing their journey. The ancestors of Andrew's wife, Bell, made a similar pilgrimage from Virginia to Ohio, but their ancestry is French Huguenot (Ramey/Remy).
Three of "Papa Johm's" sons and Andrew's ancestors served in Lord Dunmore's War and at the Battle of Point Pleasant. This Battle served to end Native American resistance along the colonial frontier and in southern Ohio. Andrew's great-grandfather, Thomas Nickell/Nicholas and Andrew's 2x-great uncle, Joseph Nickell/Nicholas, served as boatmen and guides in the Battle. Another of Andrew's 2x-great-uncles, younger brother Isaac Nickell/Nichol, is recorded in Captain John Lewis' roster as an active combatant in the Battle of Point Pleasant. In 1908, Congress officially recognized this Battle as the first Battle of the American Revolution. This Thomas Nickell is my proven Revolutionary Patriot for the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution.
In the summer of 1755, the same Thomas Nickell/Nicholas, Andrew's great-grandfather, appears on the roster of a Virginia militia, serving under British General Edward Braddock and a 23-year-old George Washington. This unfortunate expedition against the French and Native Americans led to the Battle of Monongahela, and the death of General Braddock.
Andrew's letters to Bell have been divided into seven chronological themes. These are presented below as seven chapters. Three additional chapters are included with supplemental interpretive information.
* Andrew's older brother Robert Calvary Nickle/Nickell settled in Madison County, Iowa about 1850 and prior to the Civil War. Robert served with the 39th Iowa Infantry, Company F, with the rank of Sergeant. Andrew and Bell must have thought well of Robert Calvary, as they gave that name to their second son (younger brother of my great-grandfather, Elias "Doc" Nickell).
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN
