This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: NICKELSEN, FROHN, NEALEIGH, BULLARD, WYSS Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nZB.2ACE/355 Message Board Post: The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., December 25, 1924, page 1 M.H. NICKELSEN’S FUNERAL YESTERDAY Pioneer families of Hood River crowded Riverside church yesterday afternoon at to pay their last respects to Martin H. Nickelsen, who figured prominently in the civic and industrial upbuilding of the community. Aged 76, Mr. Nickelsen that was a native of the isle of Fohr. In young manhood he married Miss Inga Rorden, who passed away early in 1922. At the time of the Franco-Prussian war Mr. Nickelsen came to America, leaving his family to follow later. He settled in San Francisco. Mrs. Nickelsen crossed the Atlantic and the continent with her two small sons, one seven and the other five. The latter the father had not seen until his arrival in California. The family came north to Oregon. They settled at The Dalles, where Mr. Nickelsen was chief blacksmith for the O.R. & N. Co. for 10 years. They then moved to a homestead near Mosier, remaining there for a time until they came to Hood River Valley 42 years ago. In 1885 Mr. Nickelsen built the first house in the Barrett district. H.M. Isenberg now lives there. In 1891 he established a general store in Hood River on the site where the Kresse Drug Co. is now located. The city of Hood River was incorporated and Mr. Nickelsen became its first treasurer. A library was established and he was made the first librarian. Sturdy in character, honest in transaction, careful and business, he was sought by the people for positions of trust. That was why he was school clerk for 10 years in the Frankton district and 17 years in Hood River. That was why he was for many years secretary of the Farmers’ Irrigating Co. Indeed, in his days of his store-keeping, before the city had banks, he was given the savings of townspeople and intrusted with the special funds of organizations. Mr. Nickelsen is survived by the following children: Senator J.R. Nickelsen, C.D. Nickelsen, Mrs. A.G. Frohn, all of Hood River; Mrs. Rose Nealeigh, of Oregon City, and Mrs. William Bullard, of Ione. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. W.N. Byars. Interment followed at Idlewilde cemetery. Mr. Nickelsen was a member of the Knights of Pythias and A.O.U.W. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Mary Wyss, of The Dalles. ------------------------------------ The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., December 25, 1924, page 2 MARTIN H. NICKELSEN Another of the Hood River valley pioneers has gone -- Martin H. Nickelsen. For more than a year now we have missed Mr. Nickelsen. Annually it was his custom to take the school census of District No. 3. He was always on hand at school elections. For some 25 years Mr. Nickelsen had been school clerk. He was meticulous in the keeping of his records. Mr. Nickelsen in the early days of Hood River, before banks were established here, was made the treasurer of various civic and public organizations. Indeed, the early day settlers formed the habit of making him their banker in a way. He was a kind of public trustee. His habits of scrupulously keeping his records and his inherent honesty gave all those who came in contact with him an abiding faith in him. A quiet man, not given to self-praised, Mr. Nickelsen had passed from the days of his prime on into the evening time of life and the people around him did not realize the service he had been to the community. He was for many years secretary of the Farmers’ Irrigating Co. In many ways he was associated with the upbuilding of the Hood River community. Godfearing and honest, Mr. Nickelsen was, naturally, at his best in the atmosphere of home life. He loved his garden. The loving companionship that existed between him and his wife was an inspiration to those who knew them. Mrs. Nickelsen passed on some three years ago. Wintertime chores and the garden work of summer months and his clerical duties were never the same day after her going, and we cannot help but feel that Mr. Nickelsen was ready for the great adevnture. -------------------------------------- The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., December 26, 1924, page 1 FAMILIAR SCHOOL FIGURE PASSES Death on Monday removed from local school circles one of its oldest and most familiar figures, M.H. Nickelsen who, until illness forced his retirement last summer, had successfully held the post of school clerk more years than any man in Oregon. Funeral services were read over the body on Wednesday at the M.E. church, by Rev. W.N. Byars and before a large number of the many friends of the kindly old man who had so faithfully carried out his duties for the long term of 27 years. Interment was at Idlewilde, C.C. Anderson having charge of the funeral arrangements. Martin H. Nickelsen was born on the Island of Fohr, on March 8, 1848, and was therefore of Danish origin. In young manhood he married Miss Inge Rorden. At the time of the Franco-Prussian struggle, he came to the United States and settled at San Francisco, where he was later joined by his wife and two boys, John and Chris, both of whom are now heads of families in this county. Later the family moved to The Dalles and, after living at Mosier, took up residence at Hood River. Their first home here was the house at the Barrett now occupied by Marsh Isenberg. In 1891, he established a general store on the corner where Kresse’s drug store now stands. Following the incorporation of Hood River as a city, Mr. Nickelsen was first treasurer, and he was also the first librarian in this town. Of an extremely fine disposition he made a friend of practically every man and woman with whom he came into contact and there are many men and women, long since gone from Hood River, who will read of his passing in the sense that they have lost an old valued friend. Following the death of his wife more than two years ago, Mr. Nickelsen began to show the burden of his years and heart trouble added to his cares and forced him to give up the post he had held so long. His record in Hood River is one that will long survive him, for it was one of honesty dealing and fine character. In addition to his two sons, C.D. and John R. Nickelsen, three daughters survive: Mrs. Rose Nealeigh, of Oregon City, Mrs. Ida Frohn, of Hood River and Mrs. Margaret Bullard, of Ione. This was posted for reference only. I am not related to, nor am I researching this family. If you have additional information about the person or event listed above, please post it as reply to this message.