Alvin Nichols

Brigham City Historic Citizens

Alvin Nichols was born in 1819 in Leeds, Ontario Canada. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October of 1834. According to family history, Alvin emigrated to New York on foot in 1837. He went on to Missouri and then to Nauvoo by 1842. In 1847, while at Council Bluffs, Alvin married Lucy Anna Olney, a girl who also was born in Leeds, Ontario Canada. Alvin, Lucy Anna, and their two daughters eventually joined a company and came via wagon to Salt Lake City and arrived in October of 1852. The family added more children and lived in a few locations in Utah prior to settling in Brigham City in 1856.

Alvin purchased a lot on the corner of 100 West and Forest Street and built an adobe home. By 1857, Alvin was called to be the bishop of the Brigham City Ward (encompassing all of the city) and married Mary Johnson and then Charlotte Wright. Initially, they all lived in the large adobe home but, as the families grew larger, Charlotte had a home built on the northwest portion of the lot and Mary’s son, Leslie, built a home for his mother on the south portion of the lot. All three homes were noted to be within 300 yards of each other.

As Alvin was the bishop, it was natural that the tithing yard would be close to his home and was located just south of Mary’s home on 100 West. Alvin and his children managed the tithing responsibilities in addition to their family duties. Lucy Anna also used rooms in her home to board others and had “an eating house” in it.

Alvin was noted to be around 5’ 6” tall and weighed about 130 lbs. He was known to be a very hard worker and, in addition to being a husband of 3 wives, father of 28 children, and bishop of the entire city, he also was the government Native American agent. The local Native Americans referred to him as “Ankabaumby” meaning “Red Head.”

After a life full of work and service, Alvin died on September 18, 1899 and was buried in the Brigham City cemetery. Charlotte preceded him in death by 3 months, Lucy Anna passed away in 1909, and Mary in 1918.

Most of the photos are from the Compton Collection at the USU Merrill-Cazier Library and all photos are used for nonprofit educational and noncommercial uses only.

Alvin Sheldon Nichols (1819-1899)

Alvin Nichols in a civic responsibility. (L-R Abraham Hunsaker, Alvin Nichols, Hans Peter Jensen, William Box)

Alvin's property in 1900, shortly after his death. Young Street is now 100 West and Fanning (should be Farming) is 200 West. The red and brown home in the top near middle is the home of Charlotte Wright Nichols, the brown home on right of the home but just left of Young Street is the adobe home of Lucy Anna, and the brown home further south with the yellow "pop out" was the home of Mary.

Adobe home of Lucy Anna Nichols.

Current photo of where the adobe home stood.

Home of Charlotte Wright Nichols on the south east corner of the intersection of Forest and 200 West

1937 after Charlotte's daughter and son-in-law, R. A. Pearse, turned the home into a hospital. *Note the small office to the east where Dr. Pearse saw clients.

Recent photo of the home with the doctor's office peeking out to the east.

Home of Mary Johnson Nichols.

Mary Johnson Nichol's home in later years, before it was destroyed.

Recent photo where Mary Nichol's home stood.