1908 Nicholas Family (Front L-R) Warren, Robert,
Arch, Rachael, Arizona, and Simon (Back L-R)
Gay, Belle, Alice, Coe, Abe, Jane, and Dora
(Photo Victor Summers)
The Nicholas family were newcomers to the Bear Fork wilderness likely about 1815. Likely between 60-80 families came to the remote woods to make a life with subsistence farming and hunting. They exercised their "squatters" rights given to them by Weston's Bennett family, some living there for three generations. The wilderness area once encompassed 35,000 to 50,000 acres, being purchased by Bennett for a few cents an acre with defaulted taxes.
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