Orval Laroy Nicholson

Orval's parents, Joseph P. Nicholson and Mary Elizabeth Wood, were married February 2, 1878 in Hamilton County, Indiana.

1887

Orval was born in Noblesville, Indiana on June 2, 1887, the third of four children born to Joseph and Mary. Following Mary's death in October 1892, Joseph married Dora Frances Nibarger in 1900 and together they had one child.

Orval Nicholson, childhood photo, date unknown

1900

June 1900, Federal Census for Brandywine Township, Hancock County, Indiana shows Orval living with his father Joseph, step-mother Dora, and brother Ora.

1902

October 1902, Orval attends wedding of brother Ora Nicholson and sister-in-law Maude Duncan in Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana

1906

February 1906, Orval believes horse and buggy are stolen.

May 21, 1906, Orval Laroy Nicholson and Ida Belle Kingery are married in Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana.

Orval and Ida would file for divorce three months later, in August 1906.

By December 1906, Orval had moved to Napoleon, Ripley County, Indiana.

1907

Orval attends dance with Harry Halberstadt, Lois Risk, and Myrtle Hess in Versailles, Ripley County, Indiana in January 1907.

Orval attends dance with Harry Halberstadt in Milan, Ripley County, Indiana in January 1907.

Orval visits Indianapolis, Indiana in March 1907.

1908

By January 1908, Orval had moved back to Greenfield, Indiana.

March 1908, Orval goes to Indianapolis with Harry Halberstadt to join the navy.

October 1908, Orval departs the Puget Sound Navy Yard aboard the U.S.S. Charleston, in passage to the Asiatic Squadron.

Orval on upper right, photo date unknown.

By December 1908, Orval's father Joseph and step-mother Dora had moved back to Greenfield, Indiana.

1909

Orval served on the U.S.S. Charleston flagship as it cruised throughout the Far East.

1910

Orval does not appear in the 1910 Federal Census.

Orval returns to Bremerton, Washington aboard the U.S.S. Charleston, where the ship was decommissioned on October 8, 1910 at Puget Sound.

July 1910, Orval tends as groomsman and Effie Jane Gilliland tends as bridesmaid at the wedding of Effie's sister Iva Gilliland in Osgood, Ripley County, Indiana.

Portrait of Orval Nicholson, date unknown

1911

December 1911, Orval attends Christmas dinner at home of James Matthew Newman and wife Iva Mae Wood Newman in Greenfield, Indiana. Iva Mae was Orval's cousin (daughter of George Wood; niece of Orval's mother Mary Wood).

1913

March 1913, Orval attends dinner hosted by brother Ora Nicholson in Morristown area near Greenfield, Indiana.

1914

March 7, 1914, Orval Laroy Nicholson and Effie Jane Gilliland are married in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

1916

Orval and Effie's first child, Carl Joseph Nicholson, is born in Blue River Township, Hancock County, Indiana on January 16, 1916.

1917

Orval's draft registration card, living with wife Effie and their son Carl at 704 South State Street, Greenfield, Indiana

1918

Orval and Effie's second child, Mildred Virginia Lee Nicholson, is born in Brandywine Township, Hancock County, Indiana on July 11, 1918

1920

January 1920, Federal Census for Brandywine Township, Hancock County, Indiana, shows Orval and Effie living with children Carl and Virginia.

1923

Orval and Effie's third child, Valeeta Mae Lee Nicholson, is born in Brandywine Township, Hancock County, Indiana on August 23, 1923

1930

April 1930, Federal Census for Brandywine Township, Hancock County, Indiana, shows Orval and Effie living with children Carl, Virginia, and Valeeta on Mount Lebanon Road.

1931

October 1931, Orval and Effie host masquerade social

1932

June 1932, Orval and Effie host Sunday School reunion picnic.

1933

June 1933, Orval and Effie host ice cream social

1936

April 1936, Orval and Effie host bible classes in Greenfield, Indiana

1937

Following a brief illness, Orval died on December 16, 1937, in Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana.