George Benson Nicholson was born in 1840 to John and Elizabeth Nicholson. In 1842 he immigrated to America, settling in Cincinnati, Ohio where he grew up. His father was a brewer in Ireland. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, George Nicholson enlisted in Company K of the 6th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He eventually was promoted to Sergeant of his company, and was discharged on June 23, 1864. In 1865 he was employed by the U. S. Government as an engineer to assist in the constuction of the fortifications around Louisville, Kentucky.

His work on the Lewis and Clark expedition was centered around his resurveying of the wagon roads to Bitterroot Mountains. The data which he collected was to be used by the author, Elliot Coues in his book on Lewis and Clark written in 1893.

During the 1880's he also supervised the construction of the St. Charles bridge over the Missisisippi River. As well as the consturction of lighthouses on the East coast and along the Gulf coast. In 1884 he accepted the position of Division Engineer for the Cincinnati Southern Railway Company, an occuption he held for the rest of his life.

I addition to these many traits, he was a frequent contributor to the Literary Club of Cincinnati. Many of his essays, read before the club are found among his records. His founding of the Engineering Society of Cincinnati brought prominence to his work as a civil engineer.

The final years of his life was spent with his sister Ada in Covington, Kentucky. Having never married, he left no descendants.
 
  Introduction

The note worthy items in this collection includes;

 In Memoria, includes information about George Nicholson.

 Correspondence files, contain letters describing his work and travels

during the Civil War, 1862-1864. Information related to his re-charting of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1805 is incorporated into some of the letters from 1866. Especially note the letters from the author, Elliot Coues, 1898.

Civil War, contains G.B. Nicholson discharge papers, the Muster report

for the 6 th O.V.I., map of Cripple Creek drawn in 1863, a diary of 1863.

Lewis-Clark, contains 4 diaries concerning his travel and surveying of the

Lewis and Clark area, tracings of the maps drawn by Lewis and Clark

dating from 1805.

The paper of George Benson Nicholson were presented to the Ashland University Archives on September 17, 1993 by Dr. Glenn Clayton, Ashland University president. Dr. Clayton had acquired them as a gift 15 years earlier from Orrin B. Werntz, former member of the Ashland University Board of Trustees and a descendent of George B. Nicholson.

Mr. Werntz was executive vice-president and general counsel of the National Screw Machine Products Associations until his retirement in 1966.  He also served as Managing Director of the Pressed Metal Institute (1949-54), as vice President/Director of the American Society of Association Executives and served on the Presidents Advisory Council to the Board of Trustees for Ashland University from 1965 to 1970. Mr. Werntz died December 17, 1986.

Box 1- Files on the life of George Benson Nicholson, 1860-1914.

In memoria, 2 envelopes with markings, obituary from Cincinnati Enquirer dated December 3, 1906, citation from the N.O. Texas and Pacific Railway Company dated 1906.

Last will of George Benson Nicholson 1914.

Correspondence files
1862
1864
1865
1866
1867
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1882
1883
1889
1895
1897
1898
1904
1914
Civil war documents-10 items, map of the seat of war in Virginia dated 1860.
Diary 1863. [see online exhibit]
Coues, Elliot printed information.
Drawings by George Benson Nichols (36).
Mormon church printed information.
Photographs on the Nicholson house (8).
Engineers Club of Cincinnati, constitution, essay.

Literary Club of Cincinnati, includes:
Schedule, newsclippings, book: The Literary Club. Dated 1890, minute adopted By the Literary Club of Cincinnati in memory of G.B.N.
Anniversary address.
The coming change of gauge of the southern railway.
The experiences of Griffith Williams in a battle.
A glance at the Panama Canal.
In the streets of Vera Cruz.
Our monumental Library.
An Irish governess in America.
Irish literature.
A Kentucky mountain woman.
Lighthouses.
The Mississippi River in its allurial regions.
The Nicaragua Canal.
The old slave days in Northern Kentucky
Our Northwest boundary.
A reminiscence of Abraham Lincoln.
A sketch of the wild west.
Some curiosities of our state boundaries.
Some incidents of a government exploration.
Why does the Tower of Pisa lean?

Lewis-Clark files, includes:
Four diaries
Missouri River, Volume 1 & Volume 2.
Survey Virginia City and Lewiston Wagon Road 1866.
Reconnaissances of Virginia City 1866.
Two tracings
Profile of the Lo-Lo Trail 1866
File of notes, tracings, newspaper 1865 and journal brief.
One diary 1906, last year of George Benson Nicholson.
One pin cushion.
One chess set dated 1859.
Duplicate items from the Lewis-Clark survey.
Folder with five maps and two blue prints of the Lewis-Clark survey.
One article on the Lewis-Clark journal dated November 1893.

Box 2-Materials related to John Nicholson, father of George Benson Nicholson.

Bound book of correspondence to John Nicholson, 1825-1852.

Expense notebook dated 1825.

Diary, left dated 1838.

Diary, left dated 1840.

Will of Elizabeth Williams dated 1827.

Box 3- Geneology materials compiled by George Benson Nicholson. Includes many charts, tracings, outlines, and research materials.