Christopher Columbus Nicar

NICAR, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (1831~1911) Christopher Columbus Nicar, Confederate veteran, was born in Alabama in 1831, but eventually moved to Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, where he married Mary Elizabeth Harper on July 22, 1848. Together, they had 11 children: Drucilla, Elender V., Samuel B., Christopher C., John S., Martha J., James Ira, Levi Wesley, Sarah Catherine, George Henry, and Mary Isabell.

Following the outbreak of the Civil War, Nicar enlisted in the Confederate Army and was mustered into Company C of the Consolidated Crescent Regiment of the Louisiana Infantry, as a private. The Crescent Regiment, which was also known as the 24th Infantry Regiment, was organized on November 2, 1863, and, under the command of General Alfred Mouton, performed perfunctory duties within Louisiana until the beginning of the Red River Campaign. During this time, the regiment took part in the battles at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou and Atchafalaya.

After the War, Nicar returned to his family in Natchitoches, but moved to Texas in 1869, where he settled in Cherokee County, near the city of Alto. Working as a farmer, he and Mary continued to live in and work in Cherokee County, until June 1900, when they moved to Farmersville, Collin County. There, he successfully applied for a Confederate Pension from the State of Texas. However, shortly thereafter, he and Mary moved to Shelby County to live with their son, George Henry, and his family. Sometime between 1900 and 1910, Mary died and Nicar, once again, moved with his son, this time settling in Houston County, near the community of Ratliff.

On April 20, 1911, Nicar moved one last time, this time to Austin, to live in the Texas Confederate Home. Suffering from cancer, he remained there until his death on December 17, 1911. He was buried that same day in the Texas State Cemetery.

Information taken from: 1850 U.S. Census, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana; 1860 U.S. Census, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana; Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System website, http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss; Compiled Military Service Record; Consolidated Crescent Regiment Volunteer Infantry website, http://www.acadiansingray.com/CCR.htm; 1870 U.S. Census, Cherokee County, Texas; 1880 U.S. Census, Cherokee County, Texas; Confederate Pension Application; 1900 U.S. Census, Shelby County, Texas; 1910 U.S. Census, Houston County, Texas; Confederate Home Roster; Death Certificate; and information taken from http://www.familysearch.org.