An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA. 1905, page 310-311. CHARLES J. NICHOLSON is one of the industrious and up-to-date farmers of Wasco county and his residence is four miles east from Boyd. He owns a choice farm there and so handles it that it is one of the productive ones and brings in annually a fine dividend. It is a place of neatness and thrift, and good taste and wisdom are everywhere evident in the premises. Charles J. Nicholson was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on June 22, 1859. His father, John Nicholson, was also born in that county and came from Scotch-Irish ancestry. His ancestors followed farming and were prominent and substantial people. He was well educated, settled in the county where he was born, took a prominent part in affairs there, was school director for twenty-seven years, often was appointed administrator for estates, and was very prominent in the Methodist church there. He was a respected and influential man and died in the county where he was born, in 1891. He had married Miss Nancy Frew, a native of the same county, and descended from parents who were born in Pennsylvania. They, too, were Scotch-Irish people and the family was one of prominence. Her father was influential in church circles and was a member of the Methodist denomination. He rode the circuit for years and preached the gospel. He opened his house and later his large brick barn, when it was new, for gospel services. His stone house was erected in 1799, and the services held there in the early days were, so far as is known, the only ones held regular west of the Allegheny mountains. Our subject was reared and educated in Washington county and there remained until 1896, when he came to Wasco county, bought a farm and homesteaded eighty acres adjoining. Here he has bestowed his labors since and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. On July, 5, 1889, Mr. Nicholson married Miss. Lizzie Johnston, who was born in Ireland, on December 8, 1869. Her father, Thomas Johnston, was born in Ireland of Scotch-Irish ancestors and lived near Dublin. For many years he was an enthusiastic Orange-man. He married Miss Mary Allen, a Scotch-Irish maiden born and reared near Dublin. They were both members of the Episcopal church, came to the United States in 1875, and settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where the father bought a farm. He died there in 1901, and his widow followed the way of all the earth on April 24, 1904. Our subject and his wife were both educated in the public schools there. He has two brothers, James A., and Homer J., who died in November, 1904, and four sisters, Sarah D., Mrs. Nellie J. Gregg, Mrs. Annie Carroll, and Mrs. Mary R. Sprowls. Mrs. Nicholson has one brother, Robert A. and two sisters, Mrs. Emily F. Baker, and Mrs. Margaret Holmes, who died March 4, 1899. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson, Mary B., John C., Russell W., and Romaine, aged fourteen, nine, six, and two, respectively. Mrs. Nicholson is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Nicholson is a good Republican, is school director and a progressive man. ******************* 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.