Francis Eugene Nipher, physicist
Francis Eugene Nipher, physicist of world-wide reputation, educator and author in the field of his chosen science, was born at Port Byron, New York, December 10, 1847, his parents being Peter and Roxalana P. (Tilden) Nipher. In the paternal line he is descended from Michael Niver, who came from the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1756 and settled on Livingston Manor in New York. On his mother's side he traces his ancestry to Nathaniel Tilden, who came from Truterden, Kent, England, in 1634 and settled in Plymouth colony. His collegiate course
was pursued in the State University of Iowa, from which he was graduated with the Ph. B. degree in 1870. Three years later his alma mater conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree and in 1905 he received from Washington University of St. Louis the degree of Doctor of Laws. Three years after his graduation from the State University of Iowa he was married on the 1st of July, 1873, to Miss Matilda Aikins, of Atalissa, Iowa, and they have become parents of a son and four daughters, the family home being maintained in Kirkwood.
Dr. Nipher has devoted his entire life to physics -- the second state weather service, that of Missouri, was organized by him in 187'7, from 1878 until 1882 he made a magnetic survey of Missouri, in 1903 he deduced the equation for the gravitational contraction of a gaseous nebula, in 1904. in a paper entitled "Present Problems in Physics,"he outlined a field of study of the nature of the electric current, he also came into prominence in another connection during the two national campaigns involving the silver question, and his 1916 gravity experiments are still getting current mention on the internet.
I believe most of this material is from a 2002 'Centennial History of Missouri'.
His daughter, Edith Pollard, is described as a prominent Boulder, CO resident who was active in civic affairs.
Dr. Nipher's wife, Matilda, is my first cousin, thrice removed. She is the daughter of William Robert Aikins and Grace Cope. My Aikins line is outlined on GenForum at http://genforum.genealogy.com/aikins/messages/151.htmlhttp://genforum.genealogy.com/aikins/messages/151.html
Thank you,
Bill Strickland
Oregon City, OR