Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Marshal Thomas Nicholson was shot and killed by a young man he had attempted to take into custody earlier in the day. Town Marshal Nicholson had witnessed the youth having an altercation with a stranger who had just disembarked from a Rock Island train and had placed him under arrest. However, the youth was able to break away from Town Marshal Nicholson and flee back to his home, where he retrieved a Winchester rifle. He then sought out Town Marshal Nicholson and opened fire on him, fatally wounding him.
The 22-year-old suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on December 2, 1908. On March 18, 1920, his sentence was commuted to 40 years.
Town Mashal Nicholson was survived by his wife and five children.
Survivors
Town Mashal Nicholson was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-081E9854- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Town Marshal Nicholson gave the Gowrie Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gowrie community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Nicholson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal Thomas Nicholson is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 57.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Nicholson's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Nicholson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Nicholson is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Nicholson was killed by rifle; winchester.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Gowrie Police Department are honored on badge.nw.