General Notes

In a handsome, farm-like residence, overshadowed with the spreading
>branches of a somber pine, standing near a much-traveled highway and
>with a few minutes walk of the business section of Nickleville, there
>resides Daniel D. Nickle, who, if he lives until April 15, 1910, will
>have reached the age of 92. More than a century has been added to time
>since his parents, William and Hannah Nickle, from their log cabin in
>Centre County, witnessed the departure of their neighbors for the
>sparsely settled regions of western Pennsylvania. But it was not until
>the year 1819, a year after the birth of Daniel, that they took up the
>trail over the Allegheny Mountains which finally led them to the land
>where many of their friends had gone, built log cabins and begun
>wresting from a mighty wilderness of the beautiful farms that are now
>seen throughout Venango County. As the region round and about
>Nickleville is a rolling plateau, William Nickle, upon arriving at this
>point, selected a heavily-timbered tract, now the site of Nickleville,
>and began the home-building in the wilderness.  Here these worthy
>pioneers lived and died, the old homestead falling to their son, Daniel,
>the last survivor of the twelve children born to them. When grown to
>manhood, Daniel was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Myers, daughter
>of George  and Eleanor (Burns) Myers.  Eight children were the fruits of
>this union. Those living are: Oliver and Solomon, ordained ministers of
>the M.E. Faith, and Mrs. John Donaldson and Mrs. Lovel Pryor, of
>Richland Township.
>
>Respected by both old and young for the many qualifications essential to
>the making of a true man, Daniel D. Nickle, in the evening of his life,
>can look back over the pathway trodden during his long pilgrimage here,
>with its sunshine and shadows, and say: I have wronged no man. With
>child-like faith, he, in his early youth, chose the right way, his name
>being enrolled in the membership book of the Nickleville Presbyterian
>Church, he taking great interest in the affairs of the church,
>especially in the Sunday School, where until compelled by a partial
>infirmity to resign, he was the teacher of the Bible Class for twenty
>years.
>
>Though of a retiring nature, Mr. Nickle keeps thoroughly posted on
>national, as well as county affairs, believing it is every voters duty
>to go to the polls and vote according to the dictates of his conscience.
>
>In conversation with his aged brother, it was learned that he was the
>oldest resident of the county to sit in the Jurors box. I was 83 years
>old at the time, said Mr. Nickle, and it came about in this manner: I
>was visiting at the home of Hon. George S. Criswell; Judge Criswell
>asked me if I would serve if drawn. Answering in the affirmative, he had
>my name placed in the wheel, and that is how I came to serve.