Ranching History

FRONTIER TIMES:  A.J. Nichols (at the age of 83) wrote in to the editor: From a Real Pioneer. A.J. Nichols, whose home is now in Runnells County, writes us from Gonzales, Texas, as follows:

 "Having got hold of your magazine by chance I am writing to say that I am delighted with it. I think you are deserving great credit for the work you are doing. I am a native of Texas, born when she was a Republic. Such reading as your magazine contains appeals to me greatly. My parents came to Gonzalez in 1836, and helped to found the town of Seguin in 1838. I was born in Seguin in 1844. I saw something in your magazine about Arch Gipson being wounded in the Woll Campaign on the Hondo. My father was with him at the time he was wounded; he was an old and tried friend of my father's. I also read about the Dawson Massacre. Alsee Miller, my father-in-law, and Gonzales Wood were the two men who got away. My father and Alsee Miller and two uncles, Milford Day and Jim Nichols, were in the Plum Creek fight with the Indians who burned Linnville, our only seaport at that time. Alsee Miller and Jim Nichols were both wounded in that fight. I was raised a cowboy in Guadalupe County, and now belong to the Cow Puncher's Association of Runnells County. We have a big rally and barbecue every August. I would like for you to drop in on us some time. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Texas left Col.McCord one regiment to keep the Indians from raiding the frontier. He cut his company in two, McCord taking one half, and strung them across Texas to the Rio Grande. In 1862, I hauled with ox teams for the most Western camps in Nueces Canyon at what was known as Chalk Bluff. It was sure a wild country at that time; the Indians were in somewhere every light moon. Milford Day was a noted man on the frontier. He died a cripple from a Mexican ball in his hip, a wound he received at Plum Ridge, five miles above Seguin. My father was with him when he was shot. I find very few men living today who were born in the Republic of Texas. There are three in Runnells County. Two years ago I attended a trail drivers barbecue at Seguin and found only two men there that I knew when I was a boy. Ben Terrell and Joe Dibrell. If I ever happen to be in your section, I will hunt you up for a good old talk."

In her book, Grand Hattie wrote about her father, A.J. Nichols:

Andrew Jackson Nichols was born January 10, 1844 in Guadalupe County, Texas, the son of John Walker Nichols who was born about 1817 in Franklin County, Tennessee and Polly Day Nichols.  John Walker Nichols parents were George Washington Nichols and Mary Ann Walker.  They had four sons, Solomon G., Thomas R., and John W.   In the winter of 1836 George and Mary Nichols and their four sons decided to move to Texas and San Antonio was their destination.  About a week before they set out on their trip a man came by their place in Arkansas to buy some corn and feed.  John found out they were also on the move and went out to their camp to visit.  He found out the family was the Johnson Day family and they were also moving to Texas.  The two families decided to travel together.  Both decided to settle in Guadalupe County where John W. married Polly Day.  John’s brother George Wilson Nichols was a soldier and a ranger in the service of Texas before it joined the union.  Andrew Jackson Nichols married Mary Frances Miller born March 1 1843, a daughter of William Alsee and Pamela (King) Miller from Gonzales County Texas.  A.J. Nichols and his family moved to Runnels County Texas in 1879 and bought six sections of land about 10 miles southeast of what would later become the city of Ballinger on the Colorado river.  After buying the land A.J. drove a herd of horses from Guadalupe County to Runnels County Texas and traded them for sheep.  When the railroad was constructed at Ballinger, A.J. helped move what could be salvaged from Runnels City, including the general merchandise store of Joseph Samuel Cotten.  A.J. was able to hire experienced Mexican sheepherders to help with the ranch as he spoke fluent Spanish.  At first A.J. built a log cabin near the Colorado River.  All the materials needed for the ranch had to be hauled from Abilene.  He and his wife Mary Frances lived in the log cabin until their first child was born.  He then built a home in Runnels city for his wife so that their daughter could go to school.  When Runnels city moved to Ballinger, A.J. salvaged the materials from the house in Runnels city and built a two story house on Hutchins Avenue in Ballinger with the front room facing the street to serve as a Millinery shop for Mary Frances to run.  In 1901, A.J. built a new house on the ranch with materials salvaged from the house in Ballinger as well as some new lumber he purchased.  He moved his family to the ranch, and along with three other families in the community, a new country school was started.  A.J. ranched and raised his family until the age of 86.  A.J. Nichols was a strong and healthy man until he fell from his horse and broke his hip from which he never recovered in 1930. He died Dec. 22, 1930.