Ransom Nichols

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1. Ransom Nichols by Donald Nichols – July 11, 1990
2. Current address: Heaven
3. DOB: Dec. 18, 1879 at Adamsville, NY
4. DOD: July 8, 1949; killed in automobile accident. Buried at Sandy Hill/Fort Edward Union Cemetery.
5. Education:
   • he attended Adamsville District School but received no high school education. Sometime later, he attended sandy
     Hill Business School, but we do not know whether he received a degree. (He did like to use shorthand occasionally.)
6. Happenings:
   • Married June 15, 1904. Sept 12, 1899, he set up an exhibit of his wire fencing (Aided by Dell and Grandpa) at
     Washington County Fair. Still have exhibit of such fence west from top of lane-home place- and pasture. Still some
     staves around farm yet. (Excerpt from 1899 Diary.)
   • Farming: Worked on the farm (Scott and Martha Jane’s farm) until he began business “school”
     November 13, 1899. He says (Diary again) “Commenced learn shorthand today. Studied until half past nine
     tonight.” Worked on farm when home, while in school. Incidentally, Diary game and exhibit of his shorthand
     following Dell’s marriage, Dec. 27, 1899. (Wish I could read his shorthand.)
   • I am not sure of the date he bought farm (present home farm) house where D. Scott lives. (now occupied by
     Merle, Doris, Rhue, and James) No doubt it was about the time he married Mary Calista Whittemore (6/15/04). He
     considered himself a farmer until his death, 7/8/49.
   • Almost immediately he started having children-in addition to farming. Can’t tell you too much about that. I wasn’t
     there at the beginning.
7. just realized I should have read the instructions before starting this. Here goes:–
8. Occupational History
   • 7-8-49 Manager of Adirondack Farmers Exchange (A.F.E. or Exchange). Started as manager, 1924 and farming.
     Before manager, he was one of the prime movers in forming A.F.E. Canvassed in addition to farming and lived it
     at home. Following A.F.E. formation as Coop. become director. Following unhappy manager experience, he
     became manager. Roy became active farmer at home (with help of some kids that happened to be available).
   • This occupation continued until his death. A few of his outside activities that I know about, as I remember
     them, are as follows:
     1. Clerk of District 12 Argyle
     2. Mason
     3. Grange
     4. Plowed snot C. Holmes Road, Ridge Road form town line to district school
     5. Repaired above roads as needed
     6. Draft Board (county) WWII
     7. Gee! I can’t remember what else – Dairymen’s League, etc.
9. The beginning got there first-apologies.

Mary Calista Nichols (Minnie)

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1. Mary Calista Nichols (Minnie) maiden name – “Whittemore”, by Donald Nichols – July 12, 1990
2. Current address: Heaven
3. DOB: March 9, 1885
4. DOD: Dec 3, 1952; Uremia. Buried at Sandy Hill/Fort Edward Union Cemetery Union Cemetery.
5. Education:
   • Adamsville District School
   • Sandy Hill Academy-Graduated 1903
   • Sandy Hill Training Class
6. Happenings:
   • Married June 15, 1904
   • Taught school Hines District, 103
   • Bore 10 children. Helen Luella died age 18 mos. Grange, Red Cross.
   • She kept her kids clean.
7. Occupational History For: Mother, Mama, Minnie, Min (her husband) (This is going to be easier.)
   • Following receiving teacher certificate, taught school in the Hines District-the corner of Town Line road and Hines
     Road-one year. She lived with the Hines family (I believe Mr.Hines was trustee for above mentioned school district).
     The above coincident together with the fact that Ransoms grandfather’s land cornered on the aforesaid Hines road
     might have led to the happening of June 15, 1904. One might conclude that maybe Ransom was a pretty fast worker
     both on the farm and off since it was just over the hill to the lower place, out the cornier on the Hines Road. And it
     was only a short piece up the road to the school (Hines) and Hines home.

     From there it was all downhill – marriage – the Will Robertson farm, house and children and children and children,
     ten.

     Of course, there is more to it than that. Referring back to the other party in the “Nichols” family, starting at a—–g
     (you didn’t think that Ransom did all those things by himself, did you? He had a party with him every step of the
     way. I don’t mean to infer that it was all roses. There were hills and valleys, as you may guess. May I say your
     inference would be definitely correct. But I guess “Min” would not have had it any other way.

     Yes, author drops a tear here.

Ruth Jennie Tilford

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1. Ruth Jennie Tilford -maiden name, “Nichols” by ? -May 11, 1990
2. Current address: Deceased
3. DOB: June 1, 1905 at Argyle, New York
4. DOD: August 10, 1966; congestive heart failure. Buried at North Argyle Church Cemetery
5. Education:
   • Ridge District School #12
   • Argyle Academy, graduated 1925
   • Teaching Training Class, Hudson Falls, N.Y. 1926. No degree necessary
6. Happenings:
   • Married June 29, 1927 to Lester N. Tilford
   • Raised five “wonderful” children; Helen Louise Cameron, Barbara Cobb; Martha Sumner, L. Nelson and Charles R.
   • Active in 4-H, Home Dem Bureau, Church and Grange
7. Occupational History
   • Housewife, Mother and Farmer’s helper, when necessary
   • Teacher at Hook School House, Argyle, two years 1926-28

Lester Nelson Tilford

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1. Lester Nelson Tilford, Sr. by ?-May 11, 1990
2. Current address: Deceased
3. DOB: Dec 9, 1895 at Argyle, New York
4. DOD:Jan 23, 1970; Heart attack. Buried at North Argyle Church Cemetery
5. Education:
   • Argyle Hook School House through 8th grade
6. Happenings:
   • Married Ruth Nichols 6/29/27
   • Active in Farm Bureau, Grange
   • GLF, Dairyman’s league, North Argyle
   • U.P. Church Elder
   • Part in Argyle Community Play, “Path Across The Hill.”
   • Fathered five children (see names under Ruth’s Bio)
7. Occupational History
   • Farmer in Argyle, New York (mailing address at the time was Smith’s Basin) Born and raised on the family
     homestead. Worked as a farmer till the farm was sold in the early 1960’s. Lived on the farm till his death.

Florence Minnie Stanley

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1. Florence Minnie Stanley maiden name Nichols, by Sharlene Reynolds – July 14, 1990
2. Current address: Deceased
3. DOB:: April 22, 1908 at Home (Argyle, N.Y.)
4. DOD: cancer. Buried at Albany Rural Cemetery
5. Education:
   • North Ridge School
   • Argyle High School, graduated 1925
   • Training Class, 1927, Teacher
   • Canton/St. Lawrence, 1929 Dietician
   • Oneonta, 1931, Grade School Teacher
6. Happenings:
   • Married Theodore L. Stanley Oct 23, 1937 at Zion Episcopal Church, Hudson Falls, N.Y. by Rev. Hugh Hooper.
     Witnesses were Louise E. Nichols Danforth and Carol Stanley.
7. Occupational History
   • Teaching grade school in Hartford, N.Y. 1 year, $17/mo. It was decided that she was making too much money, so
     she had to give back $3.00.
   • Teaching at North Ridge Grade School, $20-$25/mo.
   • Substitute teacher in Greenwich, N.Y. Can’t remember the pay

Theodore Lewis Stanley

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1. Theodore Lewis Stanley by Sharlene Reynolds (?)-July 14, 19900
2. Current address: Deceased
3. DOB: Jan 31, 1911
4. DOD:Mar 6, 1978 cancer. Buried at Albany Rural Cemetery
5. Education:
   • Elementary & high school: Greenwich Central
6. Happenings:
   • Military Service – entered 1945. After basic training, went to California, then Philippines.
   • From there went to Tokyo as mail person. (One time a package came in with cocoa butter. They thought it was
     chocolate. They ate some. To their surprise, it didn’t taste like candy!
7. Occupational History
   • Mark Pettys, auto mechanic, Greenwich, N.Y. – 6 months
   • Gas attendant, Fort Edward, N.Y.
   • Metropolitan Life Insurance, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Donald Charles Nichols

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1. Donald Charles Nichols – May 21, 1990; maiden name, None (that I know of)
2. Current address:R.D. #1, Box 1701, Fort Edward, N.Y. 12828 (Since deceased)
3. DOB::May 2, 1910 at (the usual) home
4. OD:: Not applicable (I think); cause of death “not applicable”, location of remains (not much left)
5. Education:
   • Ridge School District #12
   • Argyle High School, graduated 1928
   • Cornell University, 1932, BS (No remarks, please)
6. Happenings:
   • Marriage, Yep, July 24, 1936
   • Military Service, No
   • Community Service, yes – Extension Service, Agriculture Conservation, Farm Bureau, Zion Church Vestry, Argyle
     Planning Board, Emergency Squad. Recognition, Yeah – some people recognized me, occasionally
   • [Ed. Note: For explanation of yeses and no’s see item 6 at the beginning of
     the biographies section.]
7. Occupational History
   • FARMER. ’37 – (Let you know when the time comes.) Retirement – 1975 (active that is). I call myself “Farmer
     Retired” (you may disagree – don’t care). Having (mostly) a long mane, too. Had a little help on the way. If I didn’t
     say so, I might hear some rapping on the ceiling and sidewalls. “Hoeing” was pretty tiring, now that I think
     about it. – I might add gardening, housework, mowing lawns. Did I mention being cared for by wife and kids?

     If you have made it this far, I’ll go on.

   • Before farming – GLF assistant store manager and manager, Nov. 1932-Sept 1934 (Albany, Latham(?), Coxsackie,
     Albany (got let out (dispensed with)).
   • After GLF “Griffin Lumber Company” yard salesman – one year, I guess.
   • After Griffin Lumber Co. – Armour & Co., delivery trucking (route) “They are Swift, be we are Armour!”
   • After Armour – Extension Service and manager of Soil Conservation Service, ’35, ’36, ’37, part-time farm, part-time
     Soil Conservation Service. In this period, introduced HON [Harold] to Soil Conservation Service, and did he ever
     take it from there.
   • Now we are back to Forest Ridge Farm

Jean Marian Nichols

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1. Jean Marian Nichols maiden name, Rosbrook, by Donald Nichols – May 21, 1990
2. Current address:Heaven (mailing address unknown)
3. DOB::Nov. 17, 1910 at Long Island – Northport, N.Y.
4. DOD:: Nov. 23, 1988; heart. Buried at Albany Rural Cemetery – College Plot
5. Education:
   • Rochester Elementary School
   • East High, Rochester, Graduated 1927
   • Cornell University, 1931, BS degree
6. Happenings:
   • Married 1936
   • Floriculture – definitely one of her better interests.
   • Other interests – everything in the book
7. Occupational History
   • 1 ¹/₂ Adirondack Credit
   • 1 ¹/₂ years house work
   • 1 ¹/₂ law library Rochester
   • After Griffin Lumber Co. – Armour & Co., delivery trucking (route) “They are Swift, be we are Armour!”
   • Recognized as housewife, framer and mother (to six, no less)

   Jean took an extra year at Cornell (5 years). If she had not, the story might have been altogether different. Our last
   year at CU, we both took a course in “Business Law”, I think. It was an 8 o’clock class. Waiting table in the fraternity
   house, I was usually a little late (Jean was too, occasionally). That’s why she noticed me – I had noticed her before.

   After graduation, went back to Rochester, where her father (Fred) was Law Librarian. She worked for some time
   there. After GLF, Don had time to take Les (of the Les and Es combo) to Cornell and got he established temporarily.
   Then he, Don, went to Rochester, following some correspondence and visited Jean. Don went back to Argyle and
   Jean came back to Ballston Spa to a housekeeping job – to a job with Glens Falls Credit Co. Then married in 1936. Set
   up housekeeping in Grandpa Scott’s. From Grandpa Scott’s to Roy and Elsie’s back at Forest Ridge Farm.

Louise Elizabeth Danforth

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1. Louise Elizabeth Danforth maiden name, Nichols – Jan. 21, 1990
2. Current address:R.D. #1, Box 1677, Forth Edward, N.Y. 12828
3. DOB::Dec. 5, 1914, at Argyle, N.Y.
4. DOD::
5. Education:
   • District #12, Town of Argyle
   • Argyle High School, graduated 1932
   • Albany Hospital Training School, 1936, R.N.
6. Happenings:
   • Married Oct. 25, 1941
   • 4-H Leader 1947-1990, still going
   • Hartford Youth Commission, Chairman, about 8 years
   • Took care of my mother 15 months after I finished Training
7. Occupational History
   • My first real job after finishing Nurses Training was at Glens Falls Hospital form December 1937 until October
     1941. I worked as a general duty nurse (floor nurse) on the surgical floor, semi-private doing bedside care. I
     usually worked 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with hours off during the middle of the day when
     things were quieter. Sometimes we had to work 3-11 to relieve the nurses who worked that shift for their day
     off. We worked six days a week but we were paid on the basis of a 30-day month. We received $75 per month, I
     believe, including meals and laundry (uniforms). After a year we got one week of paid vacation. If we were sick
     we were docked a day’s pay. We were supposed to work an 8-hour day but we had to stay until our work was
     done. (An 8-hour day was an improvement on our training days when we worked 9 ½ hours a day with two days
     off a week. A half day meant we worked from 7:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and had the rest of the day to ourselves
     if we didn’t have classes.)
   • After I was married I quit work but I went back to work after my husband went in the army in December 1942. I
     did just about the same work on the same floor as I had done before I was married. The work was harder
     because nurses were in short supply. I quit work when Red came home in March of 1946. We did get some pay
     increase during the war. I finally made $135 a month plus 3 meals a day and laundry. I got a little more than
     some because I had been there longer. I had to do a little charge (?) work because there were so few who knew
     the floor. I hated charge work. The charge nurse made only $10 per month more than the regular duty nurse.
   • In 1974 I went to work part-time in a nursery school and day care for $2 an hour. I worked four hours a week at
     first, bringing home $7.50. Later I got more work and made $1800-$2000 a year. I worked there about five years. I
     liked the work even though I often was black and blue from being kicked; kids shoes hurt. Finally the nursery
     school closed because the state regulations became too strict to make the school profitable.
   • I didn’t go back to work again until after Red died and then only part-time. I never went back to nursing.
   • A year later I took a baby (3 months old) into my home to care for. I had him until he went to kindergarten. I only
     had him school days; his folks were both school teachers and they left him when they went to work and picked
     him up on their way home. I used to get $11 a day to take care of him. I also had a little girl some for a couple
     years when her mother taught at Skidmore College. She came only three days a week.
   • After that I had a small nursery school (5-6 preschoolers for two hours twice a week) for a couple years.
   • Now I am retired

Lawrence “Red” Danforth

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1. Lawrence “Red” Danforth -by Louise Danforth, Feb. 1990
2. Current address: Heaven
3. DOB:September 19, 1913, at Hopkinton, N.Y.
4. DOD:May 28, 1973; cardiac embolism. Buried at Morningside, Hartford, N.Y.
5. Education:
   • Hopkinton Grade School
   • Potsdam & St. Regis Falls, graduated 1931
   • College-none
6. Happenings:
   • Married October 25, 1941
   • U.S. Engineers, Dec 1942- Mar 1946
   • Staff Sergeant
7. Occupational History
   • Lawrence (known by his family as Red because of his red hair and freckles when he was a little boy) graduated
     from high school during the Depression when there were not many jobs. He worked for farmers milking cows
     and did some construction work on roads. I believe he worked on the road up Whiteface Mountain. His father
     died in March of 1937. They were in debt for the home farm and the farm across the road. Milk prices were not
     that good and the boys couldn’t see their way out of the mortgages so they lost all of it to the bank, even the life
     insurance. The boys and their mother moved into a house in Nicholville.
   • Because the boys didn’t have much work, Red came to work at Union Bag in Hudson Falls; his uncle was
     superintendent of the Fenimore mill. This must have been in 1939 or 1940. He worked in the heater room (the
     part of the mill where the pulp was prepared for the papermaking process). I don’t know what he made, but
     when we were married, it seems as though he was making $1400 to $1500 a year.
   • When Red was in school, he played a lot of basketball and some semi-pro basketball. He tore a cartilage in his
     knee. It bothered him off and on., but it was so bad that the doctor operated on it in May 1941 in the Glens Falls
     Hospital. That is where I met him and we were married five months later-just about 6 weeks before Pearl Harbor.
   • Red worked a t Union Bag until it closed late in the summer of 1942. He went to work for Scott Paper in South
     Glens Falls but only for a few weeks.
   • Because his mother had died in July, the reason he had been deferred for military service, he was drafted and
     entered the U.S. Army, December 1942. We had been married 13 months. He went to Fort Belvoir and was in the
     Engineering Corps. He stayed there all during the war. He expected that he would be shipped out with each
     group he trained, but he never was. When the war was almost over, he discovered that his record showed his
     bad knee made him ineligible for overseas duty. If we had know that, I would have joined him down there; but as
     it was I stayed and worked in Glens Falls Hospital and met him in New York when he had a weekend pass. He got a furlough to come home a couple of times a year. Red
     LouiseIn March 1946 he was discharged and came home. We were living in this house (at least our things were
     here and we came home when he got a furlough). We had to dig through snow drifts to get into the house but we
     built a fire, got the electricity turned on and we were home at last. April 1, 1946 he went back to work for Scott
     Paper but this time in the Fort Edward mill (Scott had bought that mill during the war and was just beginning to
     get it well underway). When the war broke out in 1941 rubber suddenly became very scarce, so Red had a chance
     to by an old Terraplane with fairly good tires for $25. ($45?) He bought it. During the war, when cars were so
     scarce, we sold our better car and kept the Terraplane. It still ran and we drove it for a year or two – the floor
     boards were gone, the windshield had no defroster on it. He did get a ride to work part of the time with a man
     who lived in Hebron. Eventually we got a car, a new Ford. Someone had his name on tow waiting lists and tow
     came through at the same time. We got one of them.
   • Red worked for Scott Paper for over 30 years. I didn’t work. We planned to raise a family but Beth wasn’t born
     until 1950. Red went on the paper machine as back tender, then paper maker. They asked him to take the
     foreman’s job but he refused it because he could make more money with his overtime that he could as foreman.
     Besides, the foreman did not have union protection and was often made the scapegoat when things went wrong.
     He had to work tower work (7-3, 3-11, 11-7) with 2 days off between shifts. The pay was good and the benefits
     pretty good. The union came in and organized the plant, but there never was a strike. Red was union president
     for a number of years-too many. People used to call him day or night whenever they had an argument with the
     boss. One girl called him at 2 a.m. one night. Even after he gave up the presidency he worked on the negotiating
     committee for years until the day he died.
   • His hobbies were sports and gardening. He did bowl some and he followed baseball, basketball and football.
   • He always had a nice garden. He raised strawberries and raspberries. He even had a few purple raspberries,
     yellow sweet raspberries and black caps. He also grew grapes-mostly blue Concords, but some sweet green
     grapes. He used to make a lot of grape juice. Some people bought them to make wine. He sold a lot of
     raspberries and strawberries.
   • He died when he was 59. At that, he was older than any other member of his immediate family.

Esther Margaret Nichols

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1. Esther Margaret Nichols maiden name Smith – July 1994
2. Current address:Current address: 6109 63rd Ave., Riverdale, MD 20737-1991
3. DOB:September 19, 1913, at Hopkinton, N.Y.
4. DOD::
5. Father was a mining engineer. Before the twins were 2 years old, the family moved to Massapequa, Long Island, NY where seven children of Katherine Kaufman Smith and Warren Slocum Smith were raised. Attended Massapequa Elementary School, Baldwin High School, and Cornell University – EstherBS Home Economics. Mother was the 4-H club Leader – 4-H club work and 4-H camp were truly enjoyed. First job was dietitian for one summer at 4-H camp. Swimming at Jones Beach, backpacking in the Adirondacks were recreation of youth. Spent a year as dietitian of the cafeteria at Plattsburg (then) Normal School. Met Les at Outdoor Cooking 4-H Training Camp June 1941 near Cornell. Letter-writing, visiting – engaged Pearl Harbor Day 1941 – married Easter, 5 April 1942. Lived in Fonda for a few months at McDuffy Boarding House til Les was conscripted to serve WW II fall 1942. Went to Farmingdale Tuberculosis Sanitarium – dietitian for 3 ½ years til Les returned from England, France, went by RR to San Bernardino before Les was to ship overseas – we had a couple of weeks. He finally shipped out of NY. Les had week’s leave that we spent at the folks cottage on Lake Cosayuna.
6. We spent a month on the farm with Mother and Dad Nichols while Les interviewed for a 4-H Agent. We went to Orange County where we lived some 5 years. Four sons were born – Warren Slocum 2 Feb 1947, Merle Ransom and Malcom Roy 24 Feb 1949, and Ralph Corwin 9 June 1950.
7. His experiences in the war convinced Les he wanted to work to promote peace. 1951 we went to Maryland where he directed the International Farm Youth Exchange for the National 4-H Club Foundation. The boys grew up in Riverdale, Maryland. Years of PTA, scouting, and entertaining hundreds of young people for U.S. farms and some 52 countries around the world. The boys all attended University of Maryland. Shawn (Warren/Buddy) went to Star King Seminary to be a Unitarian minister. He has one daughter, Sonamara, born 19 Dec 1971. Merle is a letter-carrier, U.S. Post Office. He married Doris Nichols and they have a son, Rhue, and have adopted James Daniel. Mak’s degree is performing arts. He stage-managed at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Ralph has PhD in Microbiology from George Washington University and works in the lab at NIH (National Institutes of Health). He married Mary Jan Mulligan. Their daughter, Kelsey was born 20 July 1991. Mary Jane graduated cum laude, Law School, University of Baltimore.
8. At age 70 Esther retired from sub-teaching at Bladensburg High School for some 20 years. 1992-93 Es’ mother has been living with us – she was 100 years old 2 April 1992.

Harold Osborne Nichols

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1. Harold Osborne Nichols – July 4, 1994
2. Current address:15 Kathern St, Cleveland, NY 13042
3. DOB:May 25, 1919 at home farm, Ridge Road, Argyle, NY
4. DOD:May 28, 1973; cardiac embolism. Buried at Morningside, Hartford, N.Y.
5. Education:
   • Graduated from Argyle High School in 1939; also job related courses
6. Happenings:
   • Married Jane Louise Burch 9/30/1939
   • was classified 4-F in World War 2 draft because of heart murmur
   • 5 children – Sandra Jane, Karren Louise, Ransom Charles, Doris Jean, and Denise Ann.
   • 1949 was a sad year. Karren died at Easter in the recovery room after a tonsillectomy; Dad was killed in the car
     accident in July’ we moved from Argyle to Kirkville in early fall (thats a story in itself); Jane had a miscarriage a
     couple of weeks after we got “settled” in Kirkville; then to complete the year (though it was 1/9/50) the story and a
     half garage just back of the house burned to the ground.
   • Other significant happenings might be over 50 years a Granger and a free and Accepted Mason.
7. Occupational History
   • March 1937-December 1938; Car salesman for Warren Auto in Glens Falls, Olds dealer. No salary but had the use
     of a used car with gas furnished. Commission was $15.00 for a new car and 10% of the selling price of a used car,
     not to exceed $10. Hours were long, pickings were slim but 5 cents bought a cup of coffee, 10 cents would get you
     a mug of beer with plenty of peanuts, popcorn, cheese and crackers, etc., 25 cents would buy a lunch of Hamburg
     or hotdog, pie and coffee. My important accomplishments-taught Florence to drive and sold her a car (tried to
     teach Louise but failed that one). But the real “big one” was when I introduced Florence to Ted Stanley (My only
     success in the Cupid business).
   • December 1938-November 1942; Ran a gas station in Argyle (north end of village, by the bridge) profit was
     $800-$1000 per annum. I planned to open by 7:00 a.m. and stay open until 9:00 p.m. seven days a week. Closing
     would be later if there were any customers around or any work to finish. Gas sold 6 gallons for $1.00, oil 15 cents
     a quart. To make ends meet (Jane and I were married in ’39 and good pork chops cost 15 cents a pound) we had
     to moonlight. While Jane tended station, I ran a wholesale small tanker truck; drove school bus; worked for the
     undertaker, Morrie Kilmer; and drove snow plow for the town. In 1940 I started part time work for AAA (see next
     segment). Closed station in ’42 due to rationing.
   • April 1940-October 1942; Farm Checker for Agricultural Adjustment Agency (AAA), a New Deal agency in the US
     Dept. of Agriculture. Pay ranged from $3.50 to $5.00 per day, furnish my own car, no mileage. The job was to visit
     farms to see that they properly carried out the conservation practices that they received payment for. In some
     cases we had to actually measure fields. I had to drive 17 miles to start work in the territory assigned to me. It
     may be interesting to note that the car I drove (1933) Dodge cost me $35. I bought used tires for it at 25 cents a
     piece. Of course the gas came out of my own pump.
   • February 1842-November 1943; Farm Placement Representative, War Manpower Comm., US Employment
     Service. Pay range $2178-$2448 per annum.
   • I was to find help to work on farms. Because of the war, most able-bodied people were either in the military, in
     war plants or in a critical occupation. I recruited school kids, housewives and anyone else who was still alive and
     breathing. I recruited prostitutes from Saratoga for a vegetable farm in Easton. For general farm work I had
     three New Zealand Air Force officers who were on R&R in NYC; there was the NYC Fireman on vacation; and
     many other interesting men and women. I think most all crops in Washington and Warren Counties got
     harvested that fall. I was let go when the funding ran out.
   • November 1943-October 1945; County Assistant in Conservation (Washington County), the Agency was still AAA
     at this time Salary range $7.70-$*.80 per day + 3 cents per mile.
   • I worked 6 days a week and averaged 3 to 4 night meetings. There was a war on and everyone was expected to
     “give”. I worked under a 3-man County Committee of farmers. Dad served as Chairman of this committee for
     years. He resigned when I took this job. Our agency was the only straight-line line from Washington to farmers
     on the land. Because farm products were so vital to the war effort, we got many and varied assignments. We
     made recommendations to draft boards re farm deferments; to rationing boards re gas, building materials, tires,
     fertilizer, etc. We made subsidy payments to dairymen. We helped promote increased production and carried out
     many other war-related activities.
   • October 1945-August 1956; Fieldman, NY State Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation (ASCS). This is the
     same Agency as the last segment, just a name change. Salary range $2980-$6250 per annum plus travel.
   • I served as liaison between the State Office and from 7 to 12 county offices. During my tenure in this position, at
     different times, I served 39 of the 56 agricultural counties in the State. This was during the post WW-2 period.
     Our mission was to slow down an agricultural plant that was geared up to supply the food chain for ourselves
     and our allies while at war and immediately after. We certainly found that it was easier to get American farmers
     to go for “more” than it was to coax them to produce less.
   • August 1956-September 1961; Program Specialist for New York State ASCS Office. Salary range $6390-$9475 per
     annum.
   • My job was to adapt National programs and procedures to State operations. I would supplement or expand the
     overall instructions to make them apply to New York State. I was responsible to review the accuracy and
     effectiveness of the operation of my assigned programs.
   • September 1961-July 1967; During this period I held titles of: Program Specialist; Section Head; and Assistant
     Branch Chief. This was all in the field of Price Support Programs in ASCS Agency of USDA, National
     Headquarters. Salary range $10,635-$16,675.
   • Our work was to transform legislation into regulations and working instructions to implement the will of
     Congress. We would take part in the training at all levels, review the operations in State and County offices,
     study the effectiveness and report our findings to the Secretary of Agriculture.
   • As you can see from the job titles, I progressed from the “specialist” level to “supervisory” positions. I would
     point out that I felt pretty good about eh promotions since they came in a Democratic administration and I
     have always registered Republican.
   • I will mention two “highlights” that occurred during this segment. The most important would be receiving a
     “Superior Service Award” in 1966. Since I was one of 83 that year, out of thousands of USDA employees, I
     considered it quite an honor (no money). But I can show you a medal and a certificate signed by Orville
     Freeman, Secretary of Agriculture (a Democrat).
   • The other deals with a letter I composed to a Minnesota farm couple. One of our functions was to prepare
     answers to mail dealing with our area of responsibility. None of them were signed at my lowly level but were
     passed up through the various bureaucratic channels for initials and finally signature. So a letter could be
     stopped at any level and returned for rewrite. Since Sec. Freeman was from Minnesota, he insisted that all
     correspondence going to Minnesota be personally signed by him.
   • So I had this 2-page letter of complaint that was my “baby” to answer. I considered it a tough one and so
     procrastinated until it couldn’t wait any longer. I called my secretary in and dictated a reply. She brought me a
     rough draft and it sounded pretty good to me so I said “finalize it”. I wasn’t surprised when the Deputy Division
     Director (the second stop) called for me to come to discuss the letter. He told me he was going to initial it by
     wanted me to know that it would never be signed – the reason being that is was just not of Secretary caliber,
     the language was just too plain.
   • The upshot was that not only did the Secretary sign it, but he had copies made and sent to the heads of all the
     Department agencies. His handwritten note said – “Congrats should be passed on to the writer.” I heard later
     that he got a response from the farmer saying “we didn’t mean to complain, we think you are doing a great
     job.”
   • July 1967-July 1969; Assistant to the Director, Farmers Program Division, ASCS, Washington, D.C. Salary
     $16,675-$20,170.
   • At this point I switched from program operations to personnel work in the area of employee development and
     training. This Division had a very large staff. The work was such that most of our new employees come in from
     field offices. My job was to help them get oriented, trained and adjusted to working at the national level.
   • July 1969 —- ; Chief, Employee and Development Staff (Farmer Program Division). Salary $22,239- per annum. I
     supervised six professional and two clerical employees. Our work was to develop and implement training
     programs for ASCS personnel in Washington and in the field. At that time there were approximately 18,000
     full-time employees plus another 80,000 committeemen who worked part time.
   • Deputy Director, Operations Evaluation and Improvement Division; Salary ??? I consulted with and assisted
     the Director and served as Acting Director in his absence. Our Division was responsible for examining and
     evaluating all operating functions of the Agency both in Washington and in the field. We would then develop
     improvements and recommend needed changes.
   • Retired from USDA June 1973 – Age 54 with 31 years of service.
   • After 1 ½ years of retirement (during which I completed a project that I had started about 40 years before –
     namely, to teach Louise to drive), I took a part time consulting job with the National 4-H Council. My work
     was with the International Farm Training Program. They paid me $55 per day and expenses.
   • The program was to bring young agricultural folks from the Philippines and Poland to this country to live and
     work on farms to learn about our methods of production. The highlight for me was when I had a chance to
     spend a week in Warsaw, Poland to meet and talk with potential candidates and program leaders. I worked
     in this until 1980.
   • My work history since 1980 has been purely volunteer. This has proved the most challenging, time
     consuming and difficult of any segment of my whole career. It is good that I learned a little on the way to
     this stage or I’m afraid I couldn’t survive.

Dorothy Harriet Alberding

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1. Dorothy Harriet Alberding maiden name Nichols – Mar 16, 1990
2. Current address:5106 Wood Street, Zephyrhills, FL 33541
3. DOB:Feb 25, 1921, at Argyle, N.Y. at home
4. DOD:
5. Education:
   • 8 Grades
   • 4 years high school, graduated 1937
   • Oneonta State Normal School, 1949, certified to teach elementary grades K-8. Had to get 30 more hours for
     permanent certification within 10 years.
6. Happenings:
   • Married Derwin Alberding May 30, 1941 in Argyle, N.Y.
   • Had 2 children:
     • Johann June 23, 1942
     • Myron, March 28, 1944.
       (Myron killed in boating accident July 10, 1973)
   • Johann married Feb 22, 1964.
     She had 2 children, Stephen and Sherry.
     Stephen drowned May 20, 1979.
7. Occupational History
   • Only job was 1 year as 1st grade teacher at Argyle, N.Y. at the salary of $800 per year – the minimum salary for
     elementary teachers in N.Y. State at that time. I almost took a job in Vermont for $625 – a one-room school and 8
     grades. It would have paid my board and room. Teaching jobs were hard to find then and they didn’t hire
     married women teachers. My class was the last class of the 3-yr. Normal School. After that you went 4 years
     and got a Degree of BE. In both cases 30 more hours of education was required within 10 years of graduation
     to keep your teaching certificate.
   • After marriage my only job was helping Derwin with the farm work. We retired in 1978. Our farm was dairy. First
     we went to Clayville, N.Y. in partnership with Dewin’s Dad for 8 years. We moved to our own farm in Red Creek,
     N.Y. in 1950 after Derwin’s Dad died. Derwin wanted land with less stones than the home farm. In Clayville we
     also raised certified seed potatoes as well as having a dairy. We sold our dairy when Myron died in 1973. He was
     in partnership with us then. We raised calves for veal for a while as well as corn to sell. The last 3 years, just corn.
   • After Derwin retired in 1978 we sold our farm (but not the tenant house) and bought a home in Zephyrhills, Fla.
     We had built a camp in Canada about 35 miles north of Kingston, Ont., on Devil Lake in 1975. We lived in 3 places
     for a while; Florida, tenant house in Red Creek and our camp in Canada. Three places were too much, so we sold
     the Red Creek tenant house and now spend 7 months in Florida and 5 months in Canada – fishing.
   • I have done a lot of sewing, crocheting, knitting and making tied quilts. Mother would call them comforters.
     Most of the quilts have been made to raise money for the Red Creek Presbyterian Church in which I have
     served as organist, choir director, elder, trustee, and treasurer. Sometimes janitor, too.

Derwin Charles Alberding

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1. Derwin Charles Alberding – by Dorothy Alberding, Mar. 17, 1990
2. Current address:5106 Wood Street, Zephyrhills, FL 33541
3. OB:July 28, 1916 at Clayville
4. DOD::
5. Education:
   • 8 Grades
   • 4 years high school, graduated 1934
   • Cornell University, 1931, BS degree
   • Cornell College of Agriculture, 1940 BS. Certified to teach Agriculture and Science in high schools. Had to get 30 more
     hours within 10 years to keep certification.
6. Happenings:
   • Married Dorothy in 1941-May 30th.
   • Won many honors for a high-producing dairy herd
7. Occupational History
   • Taught 2 years in Argyle Central School-Agriculture, Science, and Industrial Arts. Farmed 8 years in partnership
     with his father in Clayville, N.Y.- dairy and potatoes. The potatoes were seed potatoes. After his dad died, moved
     to Red Creek, N.Y. in 1950 where he had a dairy farm until Myron died in 1973. For 5 years raised corn for sale and
     for 2 years bought calves to raise for veal. The dairy herd was sold in 1973.
   • He earned $1900 in his teaching position – the highest teaching salary in his class because he also taught science.
     There were 8 periods in a school day in those days and he had a class every period. Saturdays he visited the
     homes of his Ag class to check on their projects. His job was a year round job with 2 weeks of vacation. Summers
     he visited his Ag boys and helped with their projects. He also was Boy Scout leader. It was expected of teachers
     in those days to enter community activities. Also acting as chaperones at school affairs was expected with no
     extra pay.
   • He retired from farming in 1978. His favorite sport since he was about 7 years old has been fishing, which he has
     done much of at our camp on Devil Lake near Westport, Ont. Canada. When we’re in Florida, he occasionally
     goes deep sea fishing from a party boat in the Gulf out of Tarpon Springs.
   • He served as trustee and elder and sometimes janitor in the Red Creek Presbyterian Church.

Roland Whittemore Nichols

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1. Roland Whittemore Nichols by Barbara Roberts – Jan.15, 1990
2. Current address:
3. DOB:July 28, 1916 at Clayville
4. DOD:May 26, 1986, lung cancer. Remains at Memorial Garden at Thornfield Conference Center, West Lake Rd., Cazenovia, NY 13035
5. Education:
   • Ridge Road School, graduated 1940
   • Cornell University, graduated June 1950, BS in Agriculture
   • Virginia Theological Seminary, June 1964, Masters in Religion.
6. Happenings:
   • Married to Barbara R. Foss, Dec 7, 1947
   • military service from Spring of 1946 to October of 1947, part of Military Police in Philippines.
7. Occupational History
   • Following graduation from High School, he attended college at Cornell University at Ithaca, NY for 1 ½ years until
     World War II broke out, then he came home to work for his brother, Donald, on the Nichols Farm in Argyle, NY.
   • In 1946 he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Philippines for a year. Probably received $150 per month as a
     Corporal.
   • He married Barbara Foss on December 7, 1947. In January of 1948 he went back to Cornell University to finish
     studies for a degree in Agriculture and graduated in June of 1950.
   • He went to work for Eastern States Farmer’ Exchange in Pittsfield, Mass. In June of 1950; was transferred to the
     Eastern States store in Great Barrington, Mass. in January of 1951. In the summer of 1951 he promoted to being
     a field man, took training for this, and we moved to West Brattleboro, Vermont, where he served territory in
     Vermont and Keene, N.H. Ken was born in Brattleboro, Feb. 12, 1952. In June of 1952 he was promoted to the
     Executive Branch of Eastern States, and he worked in the mill office in Buffalo, N.Y. for a little over a year. In
     1953 he was promoted to Asst. manager of the mill in Huron, Ohio, and we moved there in the summer of 1953.
   • We remained there six years, bought property, and built a home. And Kathie was born Sept. 23, 1955.
   • He became disillusioned with Eastern States in 1959, and changed jobs. Went to work for a small feed
     company, I L Richer, in New Berlin, N.Y., and we moved there early in 1959, and Michael, our youngest son, was
     born there in 1960.
   • During our years in Huron, Ohio, and the move to New Berlin, N.Y., Roland became very involved in the
     Episcopal Church, and his Christian Faith grew, and he struggled with a knowing desire to become a
     clergyman, but kept dismissing any such idea because of a wife and four children, and his age of 38.
   • He finally shared this desire with me, and we felt it was a “call,” and with God’s help we could do it. This was
     January of 1961.
   • Between that time and Sept. of 1961, we had conferred with Bishop Walter M. Higby of the Diocese of Central
     N.Y. and Roland was accepted as a postulant, and to study at Virginia Seminary in Alexandria, VA. We had no
     trouble selling our house in New Berlin and found appropriate housing to meet our needs in Alexandria, Va.
     Kathie was six years old at that time and when she learned we would have to five up the luxury of soda pop
     each week, she was disillusioned, she thought about it awhile, and came to her father and said: “Daddy, why
     can’t we buy up all the soda we’ll need right here, now, and take it with us?”
   • The three years in Virginia went well. The children adjusted to their new schools, we all stayed in good health,
     and between Roland and me we found enough part-time work to get through without borrowing money, and
     we didn’t have to cash some stocks that we had.
   • Roland’s first assignment was at Port Leyden, N.Y. as an assistant priest in the Mission Field of Boonville, Port
     Leyden, Constableville, and Forestport, N.Y. He was there 1964-1966.
   • From there he became Priest-in-Charge of the Tompkins-Seneca County Mission Field, and we lived in
     Trumansburg, N.Y. He also served as a Dean of that District for two years.

1Both Kathie and Ken graduated from High School there, and Mike went through sixth grade.

We left there in 1972 (?) where Roland served as Priest-in-Charge of trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, N.Y. for 13 years. Michael graduated from High School there.

In June of 1982 Roland as told that he had chronic lymphatic leukemia. He responded well to oral chemotherapy, but in 1986 developed lung cancer, from which he never recovered.

He was held in high esteem by his parishioners, and people in the community. He was instrumental in getting a Senior center started and low-cost housing for the elderly.

I know that his salary in Fayetteville was around $27,000 in 1986. The other jobs I have no idea what they were, or I’ve forgotten.

I did forget to mention that in August 1981 Roland went on a clergy exchange with a priest in Girton, Cambridge, England for five weeks. Following those five weeks we rented car and toured England, Wales and Scotland for 21 days. A beautiful experience.

Barbara Nichols Roberts

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1. Barbara Nichols Roberts – maiden name, Foss Jan 7, 1990
2. Current address:505 E. Franklin St., Fayetteville, N.Y. 13066
3. DOB:Dec. 7, 1924 at Laconia, New Hampshire
4. DOD::
5. Education:
   • Moultonboro, New Hampshire
   • 4 years high school, graduated 1934
   • Laconia High School, graduated June 1941
   • New England Conservatory of Music, June 1945, Bachelor of Music Education
6. Happenings:
   • Married to Roland W. Nichols, December 7, 1947
   • Married to Royal N. Roberts July 25, 1988
7. Occupational History
   • First full-time job – Supervisor of Music, Argyle, new York, September 1945-June 1947. Salary 1945-46 $1800 per
     year; 1946-47 $1900 per year. Responsibilities – To supervise music in grades 1-8, 7th and 8th grade chorus, high
     school chorus, high school regents course–elective. I had six students in that. I’m sure that I had Pat, Claire,
     Sheila, and Kalista Nichols in music classes. Also Nelson, Martha and Charles Tilford. Barb Tilford Cobb was a
     junior or senior and Helen Louise Tilford Cameron was in a post graduate course. Joyce Nichols Ritter must have
     been a senior {Ed. Note: No, not with Barb Cobb. In 1946-47 I was in 8th Grade.} because she played piano for a
     small square dance band we had. Other members were Bobbie Sharpe on drums, Roy McQuain, Harmonica,
     Ervin Fowler, Violin, myself, trumpet, and a young Social Studies teach, Teresa McGinnis on guitar. We did have
     fun.

     I boarded with two other teachers at the home of Cora Smith in Argyle. Paid $10 a week room and board in 1945-
     46 and $12 a week in 1946-47.

     One of the teachers, Barbara Marshland, and myself used to attend some of the local dances and social activities.
     That’s where I met Roland, and in August of 1946 he gave me my engagement ring.

     He was spending 18 months in the Army at that point and was stationed in the Philippines. We were married on
     December 7, 1947, and then went to live in Ithaca, N.Y. for 2 ½ years while he finished his undergraduate work at
     Cornell U. Judy was born September 30, 1949. She wasn’t planned until after June 1950, but surprise!! However, we
     were happy to have her, and that increased our G.I. check each month.

     I forgot to say that during my second year of teaching in Argyle, and Roland was in the Army, I spent many lovely
     weekends with Louise and Red, Florence and Ted, and at Mother and Dad Nichols’, and other times with Harold
     and Jane.

Helen Luella Nichols

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1. Helen Luella Nichols – by Louise Danforth
2. Current address: Heaven
3. DOB:June 5, 1925, at Argyle, N.Y.
4. DOD:Jan 29, 1927, scarlet fever. Buried at Union Cemetery, Nichols lot.

As the records show, Helen Luella was born in June 1925. She was name Luella after Dad’s aunt, Luella Winn Barber. Dad wanted her named after Aunt Ella, but Aunt Ella never had anything to do with her. For some reason, she was in one of her spiteful moods and was not speaking to any of us at that time. My folks wondered if she thought they named her after her because they thought she would leave her some of her money. Of course, they never thought of such a thing.

Anyway, Helen was a cute blond baby but she did not do at all well on mother’s milk. She was the only one of the ten of us to be raised on cow’s milk. It was a good thing because Mom had her usual asthma that fall. I guess it went into pneumonia and she was in bed all winter. She didn’t show any improvement until spring, when she gradually began to pick up. Helen was cared for by one housekeeper after another. Dad took care of her as well as Mom nights. He helped with chores mornings and then drove a horse to Fort Edward to work all day. He wouldn’t get home until after dark at night.

Helen didn’t get much attention, but she was the happiest little tyke and a ray of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy house.

The next winter we all had scarlet fever. We were quarantined – no one went to school. Donald and Dad moved up here (Danforth house) to stay with Grandpa and Grandma so they could do the milking. Otherwise, the board of health would not allow us to ship milk. When Helen got the disease, she took it very hard. One night Florence, and Mom took care of her all night. Toward morning Mom called for Dad to come home and sent Roy for the doctor. I believe they couldn’t do anything for her and she died the next morning.

Helen’s sojourn with us was short, but we all remember and cherish her happy face and the joy she brought us.