John
Bailey Nicklin
Mr.
Nicklin was born in 1845. He was descended from that sturdy German stock that
has ever been characterized by honesty of purpose and devotion to our country's
best interests. He was a Philadelphia schoolboy. His ancestry, having served in
the Continental army and ever being ready to take up arms for our country's
cause, made him only the more anxious to follow their example, and in 1861 he
volunteered in the Federal army, when only sixteen years of age. For four years
he served as a Federal soldier, and was mustered out in 1865. His regiment was
the One Hundredth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers. He came to Chattanooga, in
1866, and went into the drug business, which has ever since been his occupation.
For
fourteen years, he was a member of the Chattanooga Board of Education; two years
of that time he was president of the board. His broad fraternal nature caused
him, when only twenty-two years of age, to seek admission into the Ancient and
Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons; receiving all the degrees from
Entered Apprentice to the Holy Royal Arch in 1867, and the Orders of the
Commandery in 1872. In all those bodies he filled the various offices, and in
1885, was elected right eminent grand commander of the Grand Commandery of
Tennessee. He received the Scottish Rite degrees up to and including the
thirty-second in 1892, and in October, 1903, he was crowned an
inspector-general, honorary, of the thirty-third and last degree. He has an
unbroken record of forty-three years as secretary of Hamilton Chapter No. 49, R.
A. M., and for eighteen years has been the recorder of Lookout Commandery No.
14, Knights Templar. During all these years
his attendance has been regular, and his devotion to the order supreme.
September
6th, 1871, he married Miss Lizzie Kaylor, of this city, and to that union four
sons were born, viz.: V. P., S. S., D. P., and J. B., Jr. All these have grown
to manhood and form a group of brothers seldom equaled. In yellow fever time, in
1878, Mr. Nicklin remained at his post, kept his drug store open, and was in
close touch with the relief committee, whose members had a warm feeling for
their associate in those trying times.
In
1871 he was elected mayor of the city of Chattanooga, and served for two years
in a manner to reflect much credit on himself and honor on the city. Had he
asked for re-election it is doubtful if any man could have defeated him.
It
has been truly said that the brave soldier never fights after his enemies lay
down their arms, such was the case with J. B. Nicklin. As soon as the South laid
down her arms, he was ready not only to treat them as honest citizens and
brothers of this great republic, but was ready to cast his lot with the South
and help rebuild her shattered homes. From that day to this, no one has ever
heard him utter one word of censure for any man who espoused the cause of the
Southern Confederacy. Nor has he any patience with the man who would, in the
slightest degree, perpetuate the feeling that existed between the North and
South during those unfortunate times. This same broad, liberal spirit has
characterized his business and social life, and on this basis more than any
other rests his universal popularity.
He has always been interested in athletics, and gave his moral and financial support to all matters for the innocent entertainment or sport of young men. He is an ardent admirer of the great American game of baseball, and was for years president of the Southern League of Baseball Clubs. Even to this day, he will attend a game at any time his business demands will permit.
In
politics, he has always been Democratic, but of him it might well be said:
"'We
join ourselves to no party that does not carry the flag, and keep step to the
music of the Union. "
You
will travel far before you will find a better friend, a better neighbor, a
better citizen, than John Bailey Nicklin.
Standard
History of Chattanooga, Tennessee,
Chas. D. McGuffey, 1911