THE NICOLL FAMILY—Within the corporate limits of Washingtonville, N. Y., lies a farm of one hundred and forty-five acres which bears evidence of the supervision of an energetic and capable family. This place is known as the Nicoll homestead, and was occupied for over a quarter of a century by John Nicoll, who died in 1874. As the name indicates he was of Scotch descent. The progenitor of this family in America was Dr. John Nicoll, who emigrated to this country in 1711 and settled in New York. He became one of the leading men of the colony and acquired the ownership of a large amount of property, having among his possessions fourteen thousand, five hundred acres of land in the Minisink Patent. He died in 1743 at the age of sixty-four.
John Nicoll was born in Hackensack, N. J., in 1799, and in early life was engaged in the mercantile business in New York City, whence he removed to Orange County in 1844. By his first marriage to Juliana Thompson, one son, William, was born, who died at the age of twenty-six. The second wife of Mr. Nicoll bore the maiden name of Elizabeth H. White and was born in Blagg's Cove in 1808. She died in 1855. To this union eight children were born, of whom Charles and Elizabeth White (now the wife of Andrew S. Glover) reside in Washingtonville. Another son, Isaac, met death while leading his company in the battle of Gettysburg in 1863. On the soldiers' monument at Salisbury Mills is this inscription: "To the memory of Captain Isaac Nicoll, Company G, 124th N. Y. S. V., and the men of Blooming Grove who fought in the war for the unity of the Republic, 1861-1865."
REV. STANISLAUS J. NOWAK, rector of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Florida, N. Y. In the year 1893 our Polish neighbors at Florida, N. Y., after mature deliberation and consultation, concluded to have their own church, and the necessary steps were taken to secure the approval of the church authorities for their project. Having demonstrated the feasibility of the idea, and the necessary approval having been obtained, Messrs. John and Anton Dulski, Joseph Andryszak, Joseph Wozniak, Ignatius Brink and John Majorowski were appointed as collectors, and succeeded so well that within two years over two thousand dollars were subscribed.
On July 2, 1895, Rev. Stanislaus J. Nowak was appointed and entered on his work as rector of the new church. Father Nowak is a native of Posen—Germany-Poland—studied at Germany and at Rome and came to this country at the express wish of Archbishop M. A. Corrigan, and finished his theological studies and was ordained priest at the Provincial Seminary at Troy, N. Y., by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Tierney, of Hartford. After spending a short while at Shokan, Ulster County, Father Nowak was appointed as assistant to the Very Rev. Dean Sweeny, of St. Joseph's Church, Kingston, N. Y., and while there Father Nowak received his appointment as rector of the Polish Church. Since coming to Florida, N. Y., Father Nowak has been a successful as well as an indefatigable worker, and under his supervision the church was ready for the dedication in November.
With all the pomp and ceremonial of the Catholic ritual, the new church of the Polish congregation at Florida was dedicated on Sunday, November 10, 1895, by Archbishop Corrigan, to the service of God under the patronage of St. Joseph. The solemn high mass on that date was celebrated by the Very Rev. E. M. Sweeny, of Kingston, N. Y. (with whom Father Nowak lived as assistant before coming to Florida). Father McCorry, of Goshen, acted as deacon, and Father Nowak as sub-deacon, and Father Connolly, the archbishop's secretary, acted as master of ceremonies.
After the gospel had been chanted by the deacon, his grace, the archbishop ascended the steps of the altar and after a few very well chosen words of congratulation to the pastor and people on the happy culmination of their work in offering a church free of debt for the purposes of divine worship, preached an able and scholarly sermon on the holiness of the church, and during his remarks he was listened to with rapt attention, showing that his words had made a very deep impression. The Polish sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. M. Barabasz, of Baltimore, Md.
The rectory was built the same year and occupied in December. St. Joseph's congregation owns its own cemetery, which was blessed in October, 1896, and is located at Union Corner.
In July, 1892, Father Nowak was transferred to New York City, where he organized a new Polish congregation, and established St. Joseph's Home for the Polish Immigrants on Broad street.
Father Michael Slupek was in charge of St. Joseph's Church at Florida for nearly two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Kloss, who was pastor of St. Joseph's until October, 1902. At that time Father Nowak returned to St. Joseph's, and under his management the church is freed from debt again.
The church will be enlarged this year, as it is too small for the congregation. There are thirteen hundred Polish people in Florida and vicinity. The Poles of Florida are showing a desire and aptness to develop into a most industrious and desirable class of citizens.