Gustav Nickel
| Date of Interment or Death | 10/10/1932 |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Fairview |
| Section | C |
| Block-Lot-Grave | 5-6-1n |
Obituary
G.A.R. Nickel Dies at Wahpeton Home from Heart Attack
Pioneer Blacksmith in Richland County Since 1889 Passes Away
Born in Germany On April 19, 1863.
Funeral Services to Be Conducted Monday from Emanuel Lutheran Church Gustav Adolph Robert Nickel, well known retired and highly esteemed citizen of Wahpeton, passed away at his home at 627 South First Street at 5:15 Friday morning following a brief illness of a few hours’ duration.
Born in Breslau Oberschlasin, Germany, April 19, 1863, he came to America with his parents. Ernest and Pauline P. (Hering) Nickel; also natives of Germany. The family settled in Chippewa Falls, Wis., where the father died at the age of fifty-five years, the mother at the age of thirty-eight.
Mr. Nickel made his home in Chippewa Falls for fifteen years and was educated in the city schools of that place. In his father’s shop under the direction of that gentleman, he learned the trade of blacksmith to which occupation he gave the greater part of his time and attention until a year ago when he retired and had since spent his life at ease and enjoying his favorite pastime, that of fishing. Leaving his home at Chippewa Falls, Mr. Nickel went to St. Paul where he worked at his horse shoeing trade for two summers and spent five months in Montana. Returning to Wisconsin he worked in the lumber woods of that state for eight seasons and in 1889 came to Dakota.
Shortly after his arrival here in the pioneer days he located in Farmington where he successfully engaged in the blacksmithing trade for several years. He was an expert in his trade and the success that came to him through the years was certainly well merited.
In Center township, Mr. Nickel was married October 9th, 1890, to Miss Alice Erdman. To this happy union five children were on to them during their residence at Farmington. Ernest, Wahpeton, the late Alice Cartrite, Helen Anderson, Wyoming, Minn., Minnie Knutsen of Gilby, Laura Phillips of Seattle, Wash. Two sons, Gustav, Jr. and Herbert were born in Wahpeton.
Mr. and Mrs. G. A. R. Nickel moved to Wahpeton November 1st, 1902, and purchased their present home located on the south side. Mr. Nickel had already sold his blacksmithing shop in Farmington and had for some time been employed in the Heine factory in Wahpeton located near the Northwestern Sheet & Iron Works.
Mr. Nickel continued in the employment of that firm a few years and later entered into a partnership with James Sansborn, Breckenridge in the blacksmithing business. He continued in the partnership for a few years and then purchased his partner’s interest in the business.
He later sold his interest in Breckenridge and bought the blacksmith shop located near the New Star Roller Mills which he operated many years and which is now recognized as one of the old landmarks in the city. This property was sold by Mr. Nickel to Alex Stockman a year ago.
Since the sale of his business, Mr. Nickel has been taking a well deserved rest. During the past year he has not been very well but was not considered seriously ill until a few hours before his death. During the day he made several trips uptown and had attended the services in his church Sunday morning. During the night he became ill and the family physician ws called. Death result from the effects of a heart attack.
G.A.R. Nickel was known over the entire community. During his life time with the assistance of his good wife they accumulated considerable property as a result of careful management and hard work. He was recognized as a building of this community. At one time he served as justice of peace and for many years was an official in the Emanuel Lutheran church.
Headstone photograph(s)
Location
Old Fairview is located on the southern half of the cemetery grounds.