I have been researching John Nichols Jr., son of John Nichols and Catherine? and husband of Sarah Monticue Nichols. He was supposed to have served and died in the Civil War according to family records, but I could never find any death or burial information until recently. There were many John Nichols from PA units serving in the Civil War and much of the information is confusing, if not contradictory.

What I believe happened is this: John Nichols served in Co. K 11th PA Infantry, enlisted in Mar 1864 and died on or about 25 Sep 1864 in Lincoln General Hospital in Washington D.C. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery under the name J. Mickles Co. K 11th PA Inf.

I have a pension application from his wife Sarah which is dated Dec 20 1864 and lists her two minor children. The Adjutant General's office could not find a death recorded for John, but muster rolls said he was in hospital in Jan & Feb 1865. The Surgeon of the Army's reported the death as stated above, that is Sep 25, 1864. Their report stated his name as "John Nickles" a common spelling of the name at that time. If you don't look closely, the name could be read as "John Mickles".

On the roster for that unit as compiled by Samuel Bates, it shows a J. Mickles, no enlistment or muster-in date and the death date of Sep 25, 1864, the same death date as John Nichols in his pension record. Bates, in his book on Pennsylvania Civil War units, compiled his records from many sources, because the U.S. government would not supply the official records. It is my belief that there was a list of deaths which included the misread "J. Mickles" and Co. K 11th PA and so he added this person to the roster.

Bates shows John Nichols died in Mar 1865 in hospital in Washington D.C. I have no idea where this date came from. Only that there were mistakes in record-keeping during the war. But obviously Sarah Monticue Nichols was notified that her husband died for her to apply for a pension. And that pension was granted. It's been my experience with other family members' Civil War pensions that the burden of proof was pretty high. So I believe that the pension office was convinced that John Nichols died on Sep 25, 1864.

What's left to do at this point, to eliminate all doubt, is to search for a John Mickles record at the National Archives to see if this person really existed in Co. K 11th PA. And then if no record can be find, to see if a new tombstone can be erected at Arlington National Cemetery. I imagine this will be a bureaucratic nightmare, but for his descendants will be worthwhile.

I'm posting this for any other researchers of John Nichols who are interested in his Civil War service, death and burial place. Also I would be interested if any one else has any more information than I do. Perhaps someone has his service record from the Archives? I only have the pension record, so far.

Barbara McDonald

I have been doing research on my great uncle Dr John Haben of Mckeesport. Dr Haben was said to be in charge of all Civil War Pensions both North and South and the Pension Board was located in Pittsburgh.

I am not sure this was true or not. I am not even sure if this helps to know the Civil War Pension Board might have been headquartered in Pittsburgh.

John Nichols family may have known the Haben's of Mckeesport. I have heard of the name Monticue before but I am sure it's just a coincidence.

Hi,

I was cleaning out my emailbox and found your message. Sorry it has taken me so long to reply. And thanks for writing.

My husband and I have solved the mystery of his 4ggrandfather John Nichols' death, finally.

It took going to the National Archives and looking through his service and medical records to find that he actually died Sept 25, 1864 and that he was mistakenly buried under the name of John Mickles in Arlington National Cemetery. We found there was no John Mickles in Co.K 11th Pa Inf. and that someone had misread Nickles for Mickles.

The paperwork on his death did not catch up to his company until March of 1865 when someone caught the mistake and corrected it. But somehow the date of the paperwork in March became John Nichol's death date in the Bates book on Pennsylvania units in the Civil War.

We've applied to have a new headstone for John, but haven't heard anything yet.

Thanks again for your reply.

I have traced my Haben family to Civil War Major James F Ryan of Mckeesport. His commanding officer was General Alexander Hays. Ft Hays in Kansas was named after General Hays after he was killed in the Civil War. Major James Ryan took over for a short time.

The Haben's and Ryan's are buried together at St Josephs in Mckeesport. Major James Ryans brother was Bishop Stephen V Ryan of Buffalo NY.

I still don't know if the Civil War Pension Board was really headquartered in Pittsburgh or not. I am glad you found your records.