Name/Title
Print, photographicEntry/Object ID
2014.011.0119Description
Photo of a house with people sitting on the porch and a small child on the lawn by a tree. The back says:
"This is Nate Nichol's house on the 30,000 acre ranch owned by his father near Benicia. The ranch was known as the Nichol's Rancho and was a reward for some favor or deed of valour shown the Govenor of the State of California."
This is probably the ranch owned by W.H. Nichols in the Sulfur Springs Valley. Kristin Delaplane mentions it in her article dated 05/19/1996 called "Wintry ailments treated with many cure-alls".
The 1860 Federal census shows W.H. Nichols in Benicia age 41 (DOB abt 1819) born in Massachusetts. His wife is Elizabeth D (age 43) and they have the following children:
Josephine B age 16 (This is probably Joseph B not Josephine)
Wm D 14
Abby A 12
Nathan D 5
Mary L 1
as well as other staff and household members.
The 'History of Solano County' has a short bio of him (see attached scan in images). It talks of farm of 167 acres not 30,000. It doesn't memtion any valours deed done in exchange for the rancho.
There is a deed recorded in Fairfield showing the transfer from Vallejo, M.G. and wife to Nicholls, William H. dated 11/07/1851 (book F page 213). Not sure what it shows. There are also several other deed transfers in the early 1850's and late 1860's involving William Nichols. More research needs to be done on the land tramnsfers.Collection
Benicia Historical Museum Collection
