Patti McGarvey
Special to the Sun

On Sunday, the place to be was the Odd Fellows Lodge in Kernville where more than 100 people gathered to celebrate the upcoming 99th birthday of longtime valley rancher, John Nicoll. Born and raised in Weldon on the Nicoll Ranch, the family roots run deep—dating back to 1859, when his father, John W. “Willie” Nicoll, and his mother, Clara Powers, raised three sons and one daughter on their ranch on the South Fork.

John Nicoll born July 19, 1910, the second of four children. Living the life of rancher appealled to him, so much so that he has lived in the valley his entire life. Currently, he and Rita, his wife of 19 years, live on the Nicoll ranch.

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Members from the families of lifelong valley residents such as the Alexander, Joughin, Powers, Mallory, Hanning, Hand, Kissack, Barrett, Gobler, Hearn, Huckleberry, Woods, Weldon, Collins, Burkhart, Rudnick, Henderson, Creighton, Wermuth, Robinson, Babb, Crowder, Hafenfeld, Meachum, Deems, Shook, Tipton, Ramay, Apalata-Dunning were on hand for this grand gala, several are families that have been embedded to the valley for quite a few years.

A number of these families have deep roots in the valley; with their last names being around for more than 100 years. Their pioneer families helped create this valley, just as the Nicoll family did. Nicoll’s Peak in Weldon is named after his family.

Nicoll’s granddaughter, Tammy Coots, 29, of Weldon, was on hand to join the crowd celebrate her grandfather’s special day. However, Coots’ mother—Nicoll’s daughter Marilee Coots—lives in northern California and her work, caring for disabled children, prevented her from making the trip. Granddaughter April, 33, of Portland Ore., was unable to attend and Nicoll’s sister, Alice, of Willows, Calif., is in poor health and wasn’t up to the trip. Nicoll’s brothers, Earl and Ed, have passed.

Nicoll laughingly attributes his longevity to, “A large bottle of scotch everyday and smoking.” In reality, his secret is hard work, a tenacious “don’t give up” attitude, not allowing himself to “waste away” as many of his contemporaries do, and having a sense of humor and a mind like a steel trap.

Dale Creighton of Weldon shared a memorable story of Halloween night high jinks. Creighton and a few other young boys decided to pay a visit to the Nicoll ranch. It seems the boys who were out to trick more than treat, but Nicoll had a fire truck prepared for prankster-prone boys like them and he doused the boys with a fire hose that evening. 

Nicoll remarked that one of drawbacks his age and said, “I can no longer ride wild broncs.” He said the last time he rode a wild bronc was in 1982 at the age of 72. But Nicoll continues to ride horses. He went on a cattle drive in June and took honors riding a horse in the Whiskey Flat Days celebration in February. He also continues to drive and run his dozer on the ranch, the same D8H 46A dozer he has owned for 30 years. Tammy said she remembers climbing on the tractor to get on a horse when she was a little girl.

“In my younger days I was wild, and at my age there has been a lot of water that has gone under the bridge, but for the most, I feel pretty good,” Nicoll said with a laugh. “I feel no different today at 99 than when I turn 29.”

Nicoll enjoys a reputation of being one of the most respected cowboys in the Kern River Valley and is well known for his ranching and cowboy way of life. He spent years breaking horses, and in the 1970s he spent time in Hawaii breaking mules. At the age of 99, Nicoll, with the support of his wife and granddaughter, are staying busy running a cattle operation on the family ranch in Weldon.

Some joke that Nicoll seems to have a life like the Energizer Bunny; he just keeps going and going. His greatest birthday gift was the friends and family that were able to share this special moment with him.

The birthday shindig was supported by the Kernville Chamber of Commerce and many local businesses supplied trays of snacks, chicken, beef, cold cuts, cake, vegetable tray, fruit platter,. The meal and story-telling from several lifelong friends made way for a great party.

Nicoll was pleased to receive a plaque, presented to him by Jeanette Rogers, in appreciation for Nicoll’s lifelong contribution of service, strong work ethic, and maintaining the rich Western heritage of the Kern River Valley.

On display at the party were several tack items that are meaningful to Nicoll.  Among the items was a bell Nicoll said he placed on a horse and rang to keep the mountain lions at bay when they camped in the high country. There was a bridle that once belonged to his father, and a mule bit that he has had since WW I. One of his most prized possessions on display was the saddle his family presented to him on Christmas day in 1925.

“The saddle took nine months to make, made by N-Porter Saddle Company in Phoenix, Ariz., and it cost $74.50,” Nicoll said. His initials “JN” are engraved in the seat of this one-of-a-kind saddle—made for a one-of-a-kind man.