At the age of twelve years his parents moved from Mayfield, Connecticut to Summer Hill, Cayuga, New York.  He remained here until he had obtained a liberal education and on 16 March 1832, about the age of 19 - just fifteen days before his 20th birthday, he married Roxenia Webb. They went on to create a family of five sons and two daughters. One son and both daughters died in infancy.

        In the year, 1845 when the youngest son was three months old, they moved on to Illinois. Grandma taking a rocking chair in the covered wagon to care for the baby. An old trail was the route in which they traveled by the way of Lake Erie, up through southern Michigan, on to Chicago, which was only a village at the time.

        William was offered large sections of Chicago swamp land at a small price.  Although as far as he could see there was little value in the investment. He moved sixty miles further west and settled in Dekalb County, Illinois on simple prairie land.  This is where he built a home for his family. After four years his father and family decided to make their home in DeKalb as well.

        At the time the locality was organized into a township it was named Mayfield, for the place of his nativity and his father, Mulford Nickerson was the first supervisor. William became a minister of the Gospel, riding many years as a circuit rider and preaching for the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was adamantly opposed to the institution of slavery and freely expressed his views from then on and tried to lead his congregation to is of it's injustice.

        The church of that day upheld the slavery question, and he was asked to resign. We (who is we?) wept as the Sad Intelligence was conveyed to him.  But yet he persisted in giving aid to runaway slaves and with the aid of the underground railway assisted to freedom many slaves. As he could not conscientiously remain in the Methodist Episcopal Church, he joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church and was ordained in 1850, and remained a member until death.  He assisted in the founding of the Wesleyan College at Adrian, Michigan and remained a trustee for years.  

        As his health failed him, he moved to Grand Traverse county (MI) for a year, then liking the area, he induced his son, George (Nickerson) and family to take up homestead near Monroe Center, Michigan. They moved to Monroe in August of 1862.

        William's son, Albert and family arrived the next year. Later the other two sons. Then in 1865 he himself and wife went to live in a log mansion on Nickerson Creek, their homestead, now the beautiful farm "Idlewild", nearly surrounding the lake "Brewster". He set up the first sawmill south of Traverse City in the county. With this sawmill, he sawed out and donated the lumber to build the first church in the neighborhood, near northwest of the farm.

        Settled on their homestead, they were living on the frontier of an unbroken forest. If anyone were seen coming down the trail, they knew their home was the objective point as no other settlers were beyond him.  Many times the Indians were seen coming along the trail and was sure to get a meal from Grandma Nickerson's generous hand.

        Many settlers came to the township that was organized and named Mayfield, for the now obvious reasons, by William Nickerson with him being the first supervisor. The township included at it's organization, those which are now East Bay, Paradise, and one other unknown at this time.  

        William was always a Republican with prohibition tendencies and he was heard to remark after the 1908 vote on the option question that he cast his vote on the side of the liquor question. He was active in spiritual work and one of his pleasures was to read bible stories to the Sunday School children and some would say Grandpa's love of children was exceptional.  Many great-grandchildren will always have a pleasant memory of him as there was a cheery word for all of them.

        William was an extreme reader and a writer of some merit. His productions being mainly for religious periodicals.  Later in life, his eye sight took a turn with his sight failing and not being able to read. He still took a keen interest in the affairs of the state, as well as the nation. It was a pleasure visiting with him to his last days as his mind remained unimpaired.  He would recall and relate during many interesting reminiscence times. With his family, he lived on their homestead until November 1899.Then William and his aged wife, Roxenia, went to live with their son, George Nickerson, where they remained until 15 May 1901. At the age of 86, Roxenia (Webb) Nickerson passed on, having been married 69 years.

        When William was over the age of 80, he planted an extensive apple orchard on his farm. When asked, why he did it when he would reap no benefits from it, he said, "If he didn't someone else would". He went on to live several years of benefiting from his labor.  Always generous to the poor, kind to the afflicted and of a sensitive nature. He enjoyed that which was beautiful in poetry, art and nature. Active to the last, although feeble, it was his constant prayer that he be spared the discomfort of another long, cold winter.  On a Tuesday morning he complained of chest pains, then became easier.  At evening time his granddaughter assisted him to retire and made him comfortable for the night. In the morning, 1 December 1909, he passed away. Ninety-seven years of age and leaving left to mourn, George C. Nickerson of Monroe Center, Michigan, William and Dewey S. Nickerson both of California.    

        Albert Nickerson, his son, died 21 November 1907. Surviving also, were 21 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Episcopal Church, Kingsley on 3rd December by Revs. Watkins and Thurston. The funeral was attended by a large concourse of old friends, settlers and neighbors. An unusual feature being that six great-grandsons Millard, Clayton, St. Claire, D'Volney (Nickerson), and Harold Stinson and Harry Taylor were the pall-bearers, who laid him to rest beside his wife at the foot of the beautiful Scotch Granite Shaft which they prepared to mark his last resting place in Evergreen Cemetery, Kingsley, Michigan. The floral offerings were many and beautiful.

        William A. Nickerson came to the Grand Traverse region when the only time of entry was during the summer season by the way of the Great Lakes. The country was wilderness, inhabited by Indians with very few white settlers. He related many hardships of pioneers and what they had to endure. William lived to help the country become one of Michigan's rich counties with railroads, good highways, thrifty towns, fine farms and prosperous and happy people.

        He was a great man.  (end)