Farmer, Constable, Bootlegger, and Wagon-master
On March 4, 1856, Nicholas sold his Pella, Iowa, farm to Aquillin Waters Noe (who resold it on the same day to Hiram Zenas Webster) and the family returned to Monmouth, Illinois, where Nicholas found that nobody wanted his services as cooper or farmer. Faced with unemployment, Nicholas chose to become a municipal constable, a post he served for about three years. He reportedly had a second source of income from the selling of alcoholic beverages which made him the target of the local women's temperance group. In 1859, he was tried for bootlegging, subsequently convicted and suffered public humiliation. Nicholas was unable to pay his court-imposed fines following his trial, and, on November 11, 1859, Nicholas's property was sold at an auction. Two days later, the Earps left Monmouth for a return to Pella. Nicholas apparently made frequent travels to Monmouth throughout 1860 to confirm and conclude the sale of his properties and to face several lawsuits for debt and accusations of tax evasion. On May 12, 1864, the Earp family joined a wagon train heading to California. According to the diaries of Utah immigrants in the wagon train, Nicholas was one of the wagon-masters on their overland trek.
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