A native son of the Golden West, Kelcy Grant Nichols was born near, Vina, Tehama County, Cal., April 11, 1865. His father, William Pinkney Nichols, a native of Salem, Marion County, Ill., was left an orphan when a lad. He learned the backsmith’s trade, and followed it until the discovery of gold, when he was inspired by a desire to try his luck at seeking the yellow dust. I was in 1852 that his desire to come to California was satisfied. That spring he started across the plains, driving an ox team. He engaged in mining in Shasta, Trinity and Siskiyou Counties, making some good stakes, but losing them again in seeking for larger ones; so in the end he had no more than when he began. He then followed blacksmithing and stationary engineering in the vicinity of Vina until about 1879, when he came to what is now known as the Cohasset region, locating a homestead of one hundred sixty acres, which he improved. The old Nichols Ranch, at the Y on the Cohasset road, was known as one of the old-time ranches; here he died. Kelcy’s mother was Rebecca Bible, who was born in Missouri, and who migrated with her parents across the plains in the same train as the Hicks party. She died in 1868, when Kelcy was but three years of age. Of this union there were born three children, our subject being the only one now living. His father married a second time and the result of that union was two children, both living.

Kelcy Grant Nichols was reared at Vina and on Pine Creek until fourteen years of age, when he came to Cohasset. After finishing the North Point School, he began lumbering, working in the old Keefer saw-mill on Alder Creek, then becoming woodsman, felling timber for the Sierra Lumber Company, and doing cross-cutting for them for eleven years. After that he filled a similar place with the Diamond Match Company at Stirling for a period of three years. During these years he had homesteaded one hundred sixty acres five miles above the old home, on which he proved up. However, he sold it when he began farming the present place.

Mrs. Nichols was in maidenhood Susan Iowa Busard. She was born at Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa, and was the daughter of Hugh and Mary (Wilson) Busard, natives of Virginia and Iowa, respectively, who became successful farmers in Lee County, where the spent their last days. To this worthy couple were born eleven children, of whom Mrs. Nichols is the fifth oldest. She was married the first time at Williamsville, Know County, Ill., to Hiram Walker, who was born there and served in Company G, Thirty-eighth Illinois Regiment, during the Civil War. He was a painter in Illinois until they removed to Northport, Stevens County, Wash., where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they farmed for thirteen years, and then sold, and in 1909 came to Butte County, purchasing the present place, and here Mr. Walker died, September 22, 1912. Their only child, Margaret, had preceded him, her death occurring in 1911. Mrs. Walker continued to reside on the ranch, and after two years was married to Kelcy Nichols, the ceremony taking place in Oroville, October 3, 1914.

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols’ ranch is located in the Cohasset region, being watered by Alder Creek, which is used to irrigate their gardens and small fruit. They have a fifteen-acre apple orchard, with different varieties, among them being Ben Davis, Winter Bananas, Baldwin and Arkansas Black, and at the Oroville Fruit Show they took the prize on their display of the latter.

Mr. Nichols has been a trustee of North Point school district, where is located the same schoolhouse in which he attended school when a boy. He is a Baptist in religion, and is independent in politics; while Mrs. Nichols is a Methodist and a Democrat. Mr. Nichols is now one of the oldest settlers remaining in the Cohasset region. Both he and his estimable wife are liberal and kind-hearted, and ready to help all worthy enterprises.

Source: ”History of Butte County, California: With Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the County who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present.” George C. Mansfield, Historic record Company, 1918 - Butte County (Calif.) - 1331 pages.