Howard E. Nichols

The Drummond Times Drummond, Garfield Co., OK

August 8, 1924 Page 1, column 3

Submitted by: Emily Jordan

© Glenn

MAN FATALLY SCALDED

Howard Nichols, aged about 40 years, was fatally burned when the boiler of the threshing machine which he was operating with the Fred Hollingsworth outfit exploded at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The outfit was threshing at the M.J. Graf farm near Lahoma and was just cleaning up a setting when the explosion occurred.

The unfortunate man, who weighed about 200 pounds, was hurled a distance of 68 feet back of the engine by the force of the explosion. He struck on listed ground and got to his feet with a coal shovel still in his hands. He was burned frightfully by the steam of the explosion. As quickly as aid could reach him, Dr. Harris of Lahoma was called. He was then brought to Lahoma and taken to University hospital at Enid, where he died at 6 o'clock Sunday morning.

In spite of his terrible burns and consequently agony, Nichols was fully conscious and conversed with those who were taking care of him, expressing a desire to go to the University hospital where his first wife had died following fatal burns a few years ago.

The engine which proved an instrument of death had been standing back of the Lahoma Garage for over a year and had been fixed up by Mr. Nichols and Mr. Hollingsworth for use when the other engine failed and had been used by E.L. Semke for the same purpose. In fact, Hollingsworth had found no need to use it until the fatal day as the tractor with his outfit hadn't failed until then, when the driving gear was broken and the old engine was pressed into service.

It was being operated without a water glass and it is said with a hard plug, inspite of the fact that Mr. Nichols was an experienced engineer. Luckily no one was near the engine except Mr. Nichols. The water hauler was just approaching and M.J. Graf had just left the engine.

It is thought that the water running low and perhaps defective flues caused the accident.

The force of the explosion threw fire into the straw stack which spread to the separator and two stacks of wheat and all were destroyed nothing but the steel frame of the separator being left.

Mr. Nichols had been remarried and leaves a wife and four children, the youngest about six weeks old. He resided on a farm owned by Mr. Sargent between Imo and Enid.

The accident happened at a fortunate time inspite of its tragedy as up to about 15 minutes before a group of men had been standing about the engine continuously.

Since writing the above, we find that Mr. Nichols was about 35 years old and left his wife, two children, three step-children, father and mother, five sisters and two brothers.

The funeral was held at the Christian church at Waukomis, Tuesday at 3 p.m. and was attended by the largest crowd ever seen at a funeral here.

Howard E. Nichols

The Drummond Times Drummond, Garfield Co., OK

August 22, 1924 Page 1, Column 3

Submitted by: Emily Jordan

OBITUARY

Howard E. Nichols, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W.N. Nichols, was born in Stafford county, Kan., September 12, 1889, and died in Enid, August 3, 1924, age 34 years, 10 months, 21 days.

At the age of 3 years, he moved with his parents to Dover, where they lived until the fall of 1893, when they moved to a homestead near Waukomis. There he grew to manhood. At the age of eighteen, he united with the "Church of Christ in Christian Union" at Mt. Zion, near Waukomis, where he served as superintendent of the Sunday school for nine years.

On September 14, 1909, he was united in marriage to Miss Cecel Light. To this union was born one daughter, Doris, who survives him. Cecel passed away August 13, 1915, following accidental burns, also.

On August 6, 1918, Howard enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the World war as sergeant first class, in the Mechanical division, until April 1919, when he received his honorable discharge.

On June 9, 1920, he was united in marriage to Lucy P. Bailey. To this union was born one son, Robert William, who also survives him.

At 5:30 Saturday evening, August 2, he met with his fatal accident, two and one half miles southwest of Lahoma, when the steam engine that he was running exploded, throwing him a hundred feet and burning him severely. He was rushed to the University Hospital at Enid, where he died at 6 o'clock Sunday morning, having lived just twelve hours after the accident occurred.

He leaves to mourn his loss, a wife, two children, Doris, age 12, and Robert William, age three weeks, three step children, a mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. W.N. Nichols of Waukomis, five sisters, Mrs. R.E. Brink of Covington, Mrs. Carl Matthews of Griggs, Miss Rose Nichols of Douglas, Misses Ruby and Myrtle Nichols of Waukomis; two brothers, Ray Nichols of Deer Creek and Lester Nichols of Waukomis and a host of relatives and friends.