* A portrait has been posted on-line at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~westklic/wcportrait.html
INGWERT C. NICKELSEN, a leading business man of The Dalles, is located at 315 East Second street, where he handles a fine art, music and stationery store. He is skilled in his business and does a large and profitable trade. His goods are the best and up-to-date in every particular and Mr. Nickelsen is well known as a man of integrity and good principles, thus having gained the confidence of the public.
In giving a detailed account of his life, we would note first that he was born in the island of Fohr, which belongs to the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on January 20, 1842. His parents, Peter and Christina (Petersen) Nickelsen, were natives of the same place and are mentioned more fully elsewhere in this work. The first seventeen years of his life were spent in his native land and there he gained a good education. In the year 1859 we find him in New York city engaged in the restaurant business and for eight years he followed it faithfully. Then he came to San Francisco via the Nicaragua route and two weeks later shipped on the steamer California, for Portland. After a rough passage and just escaping a total wreck at the Columbia bar, he landed in safety and came on to The Dalles. Here he wrought in the Umatilla house for two and one-half years and then opened his present business. He was burned out in the big fire, hut started from the ashes a better business than he had before and is now located in a fine store, twenty-five by seventy-five feet, where he has a choice stock of about seven thousand dollars worth of the best goods, well selected. He carries Kranich & Bach pianos, is agent for the Hamburg-American steamship line and has a fine stock of music instruments and stationery, as well as books. Mr. Nickelsen has, also, a full line of art supplies and goods.
On August 30, 1872, in Germany. Mr. Nickelsen married Miss Josine Fredden, a native of that country and the daughter of Jorgen and Gardina (Nagel) Fredden. also natives of Germany. The father was a seafaring man and was lost on the ocean in 1857. To this union three children have been born Christina, the wife of Harry Grubb, with the O.R. & N., in The Dalles: Julia, at home: Clara T., a graduate of the Holmes Business College in Portland and now stenographer for Bennett & Sinnot, in The Dalles. On October 18, 1883. Mrs. Nickelsen was called from the duties of life and her family to enter upon the realities of another world. She was an active and prominent member of the German Lutheran church and a devoted Christian. She was deeply mourned and was known as a good Christian woman. Mr. Nickelsen has one brother, Martin H., and three sisters, Mrs. Dorethea Brothersen, Mrs. Catherine Salzer and Mrs. Maria Wyss. Mr. Nickelsen is a member of the I.O.O.F. and has been for thirty-four years, and is past grand. He has represented his lodge in the grand lodge several times. Politically, he is a Republican and was county treasurer from 1882 to 1888. He was water commissioner one term, and in 1870 was a member of the fire department. He is frequently a delegate to the county conventions but does not take the part in politics he sustained in years past, preferring to devote more time to his business. Mr. Nickelsen is an active member of the English Lutheran church and is a man of excellent standing in the community.
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.