Obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer Oct 2, 1897, Saturday, pg 6.

"Mowry Nichols, a well-known citizen of Pottstown and who for the past 27 years was the master mechanic for the Pottstown Iron Company and who died last Sunday, was an elder brother of Edward Nichols, the assistant clerk of the Orphan's Court in this city."

Mowry Nichols was born in 1827 to Mathias, and Sarah Nichols was born in 1827 in PA. His elder brother was Thomas Ackley, and his three younger brothers were Mahlon Ransloe, William H.W., and Edward.

Mowry is listed as a machinist in the 1850 census for Harrisburg, PA. He married Anne M. Groff on 11 May 1852 in Harrisburg, PA; the minister was Rev W. Urie, pastor of the Locust St. Methodist Episcopal Church (obtained from pension record). Their first child, a girl, was born in 1855 and died at age 14 of typhoid in 1869. The Nichols lost two children in 1860 and 1861. All three children are buried in the Harrisburg Cemetery.

Sarah "Sadie" 1855-1869 - cause of death typhoid

Ella M 1859- unknown

unnamed child - died 1860

unnamed child - died 1861

Harry Lewis 1866-1936

Wesley Groff 1868-1938

Charlotte Margaret "Lottie" 1876-1974

Mowry's parents, Mathias and Sarah Nichols moved to Harrisburg sometime after 1851 and lived near Mowry and his family. Mathias died in 1858 at age 63 in Harrisburg, PA. Sarah is listed in the 1860 census, living with her son Mowry and his wife Annie, and their two daughters Sarah "Sadie" and Ella. Sarah Ackley Nichols died in 1861 and is buried in Mt. Zion cemetery in the same plot as her husband Mathias Nichols. A phone call to the cemetery mentioned there are no longer any headstones for the Nichols family. (I pursued obtaining a military headstone for Mowry, but the cemetery cost to mount the stone was too expensive.)

Mowry's profession was as a pattern maker and master mechanic for the Iron Works (Pattern Maker made patterns, replicas of objects cast from molten metal.) Here is a link to a description of pattern makers .https://www.newspapers.com/image/85540575/?terms=%22pattern%20maker%22&match=1

Mowry advertised in the Harrisburg, PA, paper for his services as a pattern maker. An example of an ad from 1867 states:

"Pattern and Model Manufactory - Having secured room and power in the building of the Industrial works, I am prepared to make PATTERNS AND MODELS of every description. Particular attention was given to the manufacturing of Mill Gearing Patterns. Experimental machinery made to order. Scroll sawing and woodturning.

Mowry Nichols 4th Street, between Market and Chestnut Sts. Harrisburg"

In the Reading, PA newspaper for 1869, a pattern maker for the West Reading Rolling Mill earned $2.50/day.

Mowry Nichols served in the Civil War as a private and Corporal in Company A, 201 PA Volunteer Infantry. He served as a Sergeant in the same company from Aug 15, 1864, to June 21, 1865. His brothers Thomas, Mahlon, and William also served in the Civil War.

Newspaper articles mentioned that Mowry was a member of the Republican party, served as a pattern maker for the industrial works, and was the First Assistant Engineer on the Hope Fire Company.

In 1883 Mowry traveled to Galion, Ohio, where he met his younger brother, (William) whom he hadn't seen for 30 years.

Lewisburg Chronicle, June 7, 1883, page 1. "Mowry Nichols, of Pottstown, while on a visit to Galion, O., came across a brother whom he had not seen for thirty years, and who supposed to have died from wounds received late in the war."

About 1873, Mowry and his wife Annie moved from Harrisburg to Pottstown with their children Ella M., Harry Lewis, Wesley, and Charlotte "Lottie."

In the 1870 census, Mowry is listed as an engine builder. However, in the 1880 census, he is listed again as a machinist.

Based on his CW pension records: Mowry's physician noted that during the last 12 years, Mowry suffered severely from a rupture on the left side and was under treatment for rheumatism and general disability. He was noted as a sober peaceable man of good habits and was respected by all who knew him. His pension noted his burial location as Mt. Zion Cemetery.

Mowry Nichols Civil War Veteran