Pvt. Samuel Nicola, Co. C

Samuel A. Nicola was born around 1827 in Pennsylvania to Samuel and Margaret (Jennings) Nicola.  He was married to Margaret Firestone in her parents' home in Draketown. The couple had four children: William, Elisha, Sabina, and Mary.

Samuel was mustered into Company C of the 142nd PVI on Aug 25, 1862 at Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, PA. He was absent and in the hospital at the time that his company was mustered out.

According to one of Pvt. Nicola's descendents, Samuel had a lot of pain in one of his eyes. The pain was so severe that during his time in the service, he had to wear a kerchief over that eye, and eventually he lost sight in it. The poor vision also led an accident that hospitalized him. One night, Samuel was pouring himself some coffee, and the combination of poor eye sight and night time led him to spill it down into his shoe, severely burning his foot. This accident led to his walking with a limp for the rest of his life.

After the war, Samuel, Margaret, and their family lived in Lower Turkeyfoot Twp, Somerset County, PA, near the town of Ursina. The 1870 Census lists the family's surname as "Nicklow", a change that most of their descendents would later make.

Samuel passed away on Oct 24, 1893 and is buried in the Ursina Cemetery in Lower Turkeyfoot Twp.

A very special THANK YOU to Florence (Nicklow) Elliott, great-granddaughter of Pvt. Nicola.