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John Whitley
Nicolson
 John
W. Nicolson, 61, internationally known seedsman, died Friday (22 May
1953) at his home in Shenandoah, Iowa while watching a television
show. He had been in ill health more than a year.
Nicolson was president of United
Seeds, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska; vice president of
Gurney Seed
Company, Yankton, South Dakota; vice president and part owner
of Henry Field Seed Company,
Shenandoah, Iowa; vice president of Minnesota Seed Company,
Faribault, Minnesota; and president of United Hybrid Growers
Association, Des Moines, Iowa.
In recent years his chief interest
was in making use of hybrid corn in Europe, where he made frequent
trips. He also brought European agronomists here for study of
seeds.
Nicolson is survived by his widow;
two sons, Dan of Shenandoah, a student at Grinnell College, and
Jack of Billings, Montana; one daughter, Mrs. Thomas Smeall of
Tacoma, Washington; and five grandchildren.
Born at Marlette, Michigan, (on 8
April 1892) he was educated at Michigan State College. An
officer in national seed and nursery organizations, Nicolson was a
Shriner, Kiwanian, Country Club member and Congregationalist. He
also developed the Maple Hill Addition in Shenandoah.
Sources:
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American Bee Journal,
Volumes 83-84, 1943.
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The Record, Michigan State College, April, 1944, page 8.
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Obituary, Council Bluffs Nonpareil,
Council Bluffs, Iowa, May 23, 1953, page 11.
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Obituary, New York Times, May 24, 1953.
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The Story of Iowa: The
Progress of an American State, Volume 3, 1953.
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David Nicolson, Grandson,
email conversation dated 19 Nov 2013.
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