Marian Elizabeth Caldwell (McIntosh) Nickerson (1897 - 1980)

Born 8 Apr 1897 in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Henry Guy Nickerson — married 26 Jul 1920 in Lakeland, Polk, Florida, United States

Died 5 Oct 1980 at age 83 in Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fred Prisley [send private message]

Biography

Marian Elizabeth was born in 1897, the daughter of Frances Bernard McIntosh and Nina Elizabeth Tradewell. ^{[1] [2] [3]} She married on 26 Jul 1920 at Tampa, Florida to Henry Guy Nickerson, ^{[4] [5]} passed away in 1980, ^{[6] [7]} and was buried with her husband at Woodlawn Cemetery in Tampa. ^[8]

Narrative by her niece Jouett (Taylor) Prisley

Named Marian Elizabeth at birth, Lehr changed her name to Elizabeth Caldwell at her teenage baptism. ^{[2] [3]} She had the brightest intellect of the sisters. If personal finances had permitted or student aid programs been available in her day, she would almost surely have become an attorney. In a 1914 letter to his uncle David Gregg McIntosh, Elizabeth's father asked guidance in setting her on such a course. He stated that she finished a 12 year public school program in seven years. Her Hillsborough High School year book says "she read Cicero and Virgil in last summer's vacation, thereby finishing in three years…" Some of her earlier years may have been lost to moving and to illness to keep her out of school to the extent her father indicated.

After her father died in 1916, she was working as a teacher in 1917, but had insufficient credentials to enter the profession, and her mother discouraged her from choosing that career. Her father's letter had noted too that "she would not make a successful teacher because she could never put up with dullness in her pupils." So in 1918, Lehr became an accountant, and in 1919 became a stenographer for Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACLRR), then in 1920 she worked for Bonacker Brothers, a food brokerage company. ^[3]

She married Henry Guy Nickerson, ^[4] an older bachelor. Guy was considered very well to do and pursued a social life that included "Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla." Guy soon left his business and social memberships, parties, and activities behind him and settled into a devoted home life.

From family records, Lehr's residences in Tampa were: ^{[3] [5] [9] [10]}

• 1920-34: 104 West Cardy Street in Hyde Park with Guy (now a Publix shopping center)
• 1934-43: 2904 West Aquilla Street in Palma Ciea with Polly
• 1943-77: 913 South Packwood Avenue in Hyde Park

Guy suffered several years from heart trouble and died in 1934 of coronary thrombosis after 14 years of marriage. Lehr's only chance at childbearing had been lost in miscarriage, and Guy's investments had been lost from a combination of the Great Depression and numerous doctor and hospital bills. Lehr moved from their Cardy Street home to a house in Palma Ceia with her sister Polly, and started working in 1934 for the Florida Citrus Exchange ^[9] until her retirement early in the 1960s.

Lehr was such a lady in every sense of the word. She dressed with sophistication but not with extravagance, and for work or shopping always wore hat and gloves. Look at the opening scene of "Driving Miss Daisy" and there is Elizabeth Nickerson. Yet, always capable of making adjustments, in World War II her choice of civilian participation was to join the American Red Cross Motor Corps. Slender and impeccable in her uniform, with gloves, she could chauffeur or she could change oil, spark plugs, replace belts and do regular maintenance jobs with the greatest satisfaction and pleasure.

She enjoyed hosting family gatherings; and during and after World War II, her house was home to her mother Nina, her sister Polly and her husband Frank, and her niece Jouett.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3TV-Z1Q : accessed 23 January 2021), Marion E McIntosh in household of Francis B McIntosh, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 88, sheet 2B, family 42, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,539.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVKC-QZD : accessed 23 January 2021), C McItosh in household of F B McItosh, Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 48, sheet 6B, family 15, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 162; FHL microfilm 1,374,175.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNYG-VP7 : accessed 4 November 2018), Elizabeth C Mcintosh in household of Nina E Mcintosh, Tampa Ward 2, Hillsborough, Florida, United States; citing ED 38, sheet 18A, line 12, family 431, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 222; FHL microfilm 1,820,222.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWQ4-3J7 : accessed 4 November 2018), H. Guy Nickerson and Elizabeth C. Mcintosh, 26 Jul 1920; citing Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, United States, State Archive, Tallahassee and clerk of courts, various counties; FHL microfilm 979,679.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:STS3-SZM : accessed 4 November 2018), Elizabeth C Nickerson in household of H Guy Nickerson, Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 17, sheet 15B, line 68, family 421, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 318; FHL microfilm 2,340,053.
6. ↑ "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VV43-5KP : 25 December 2014), Elizabeth Caldwell Nickerson, 05 Oct 1980; from "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," index, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 2004); citing vol. , certificate number 83628, Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, Jacksonville.
7. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JR6P-QM8 : 20 May 2014), Elizabeth Nickerson, Oct 1980; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #35829863 for Elizabeth Caldwell “Lehr” McIntosh Nickerson (8 Apr 1897–15 Oct 1980), citing Woodlawn Cemetery, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA ; Maintained by Joan Mcdonald (contributor 46946792) .
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTZK-MP2 : 13 March 2018), Elizabeth Nickerson, Area D, Tampa, Election Precinct 6, Hillsborough, Florida, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 70-23, sheet 3B, line 49, family 70, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 633.
10. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X23-HL5G : Wed Dec 06 21:43:04 UTC 2023), Entry for Elizabeth C Nickerson and Nina McIntosh, 10 April 1950.

See also:

• Memoirs of Sarah McIntosh Taylor, Bradenton, Florida, Feb 1979, transcribed 1995 by Jouett Taylor Prisley with footnotes and illustrations in 2019 by Frederic Arnett Prisley