Veteran Spotlight-Don Nicholson His Service to our Nation, Burton Connection & A Legacy of Kindness

ROGER GLENN & MICHAEL MAFFETT

“Everyone has a story belonging to the chronology of an era. Some of those stories will be told, many will not. Some are about success and failure, while others are about suffering and pain. Each story is performed before the mirror of life; that is our reflective allusion. We can step neither through this mirror nor around it or leave the dais of this perfor mance. Finally, we will be permitted to take the ultimate step into infinity. There even the vague reflections of those who have been unheard in the past will sound out for all eternity.” Don Nich olson from “Moonshine Makes Corn Grow”.

From the moment you meet Don Nicholson, you know that you are meeting someone with an enor mous spirit, a rich history, and a tremendous intel lect. But you also feel an almost immediate sense of warmth that seems to emanate from him. His eyes still twinkle, especially in the presence of the lady to whom I can only refer to as his sweetheart (aka his wife Linda). His voice cracks a little, but for a man of his age, he remains sturdy. And when you start to hear his story, you realize how truly remarkable he is and what an amazing life he’s had.

Don’s grandparents were from the town of Burton, but when they were forced to relocate in order to create Georgia Power’s Lake Burton, they moved to Clarkesville (where he still lives with Linda) and became sharecroppers. In 2013, Don wrote and published the book referenced above and it is a stirring, poignant, and retrospective narrative history of his family, and much of North Georgia. It is no longer being printed, but the Nicholsons were kind enough to share a digital version with me in order to help understand his story, and I shall always consider myself honored to receive such a wonderful

Mister Nicholson is also United States Air Force Staff Sergeant (retired) Nicholson, a veteran of the Korean War. He was drafted into the USAF in 1952, the infancy of the new branch established by the NDAA in 1947. He served on active duty from 1953-1957, beginning as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (bomb tech), but later became a chemical warfare trainer, and spent time in Korea, Lowry AFB (near Denver, Colorado), Lackland AFB (San Antonio, Texas), and Portugal. Given the nature of his work, he was given a Top-Secret security clearance, something that he remains proud of to this day. Don’s family has a rich history of military service, including three of his uncles, all of whom were World War II veterans. His uncle Lonnie (LB) Nicholson served with General Patton and saw extensive combat action on the European continent. Roscoe Nicholson is a distant cousin of Don’s and was a surveyor and conservationist as well as the first forest ranger from Georgia (born in Pine Mountain).

Don separated from the USAF in 1957 and began a series of adventures that included what he refers to as ‘roaming’ around the western United States, and time spent in the field of being a pipefitter (at the behest of a Colonel he had served with in the Air Force), and later a police officer in Clarkesville and an Administrator with Habersham County. Don’s stories are priceless. He is sometimes frustrated that his vocabulary isn’t as readily at his disposal as in his younger years, but he is the consummate storyteller, and undoubtedly a living North Georgia treasure. Coincidentally, the nexus of the Nicholsons to Rabun County isn’t limited to Don’s family. It turns out that Linda’s great, great, great grandfather was none other than William Gillespie, so her roots in Rabun are strong as well, but being the graceful and dedicated lady she is, would not comment further, as she preferred to talk about Don and his life.

One of Don’s favorite stories is to tell of Jeremiah Burton, from one of the founding families, and a man of many talents and roles. As Mike Maffett and I sat in their living room several weeks ago, we were awestruck with his recollections which exemplify oral history.

Don Nicholson passed over at 4 AM on Memorial Day with Linda by his side. She read him a draft of this article a few days in advance as he had been recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. His legacy will endure.

Mike’ had this to say after our visit: “Although Don was born in Clarkesville, his ancestors, grandfather, and great grandfather were from the lost town of Burton, now submerged under Lake Burton. When the first land lots were distributed via the land lottery of 1821, the junction of Timpson and Dick’s Creeks and the Tallulah River were quickly taken, in that the agrarian economy of those distant times focused on flat, well-watered, and tillable land. The community that was there for a century before the lake filled in 1920 was never incorporated, but at the time of its demise had a population of about 200. In 1880, the community was called Powellville after a founding family, but the Powells moved on to Alabama, and around 1890 the name changed to Burton on existing maps.

The second name came from Jeremiah Burton (1814?-1902), the settlement’s first postmaster. Like many who settled here, he moved up from South Carolina. No pictures remain of Jeremiah, but there is one of his son, John M. Burton, a Civil War veteran. The Burton family at one time owned 1,000 acres in the valley of the Tallulah.

In speaking to Don Nicholson, he recalled that his grandfather remembered Jeremiah! He related with a chuckle that Jeremiah was an eccentric sort of fellow, and dressed in overalls, a Fedora, and went barefooted. Don was the only person I have met that had any lore concerning the town’s namesake.

Starting in 1912, the 65 families in the valley sold their land to the Georgia Railroad and Power Company (later the Georgia Power Company) for what was said to be top dollar. Most of the families moved south to Habersham County. It is said John Burton never got over selling his land.” Michael Maffett has written extensively on the history of Lake Burton in his book Our Southern Eden*.

Don is in the twilight of his life now, and he has met that eventuality with the same class, determination, and spirit that he has every other harsh reality in his life; with dignity, a warm smile, and a desire to build relationships with people. While it may be near his time to report to St. Peter for his next assignment and transition to storytelling with the angels, I hope you’ll take a moment to consider that the most amazing thing in our lives are the people we meet, and joining in their stories. Don’s story is one that spans time, distance, and circumstance, but remains constant with his charm, humility, and morality. In my humble opinion, someone ought to award his family a key to Burton City. Instead of being bitter, he is sweet, and you can sense that from the moment you shake that firm hand.

*Our Southern Eden is available for purchase at Butler Galleries or The Farmhouse Market at Lake Burton. The book, written by Michael Maffett is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Lake Burton or Rabun County History.