John Nichols (politician)
Encyclopedia
John Nichols was a U.S. Congressman
from the state of North Carolina
between 1887 and 1889.
in Wake County, North Carolina
. After attending the common schools and working for six years in the printing trade, Nichols, at the age of twenty-one, attended Lovejoy Academy in Raleigh
for one year, after which he engaged in the book and job printing business and newspaper publishing.
In 1873, Nichols became principal of the North Carolina Institute for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, holding that post until 1877. He was a revenue-stamp agent in Durham
from 1879 to 1881, Raleigh postmaster from 1881 to 1885, and then secretary and treasurer of the State Fair
association.
In 1886, Nichols was elected as an Independent to the 50th United States Congress
; he was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1888 and so only served one term of two years (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). On July 22, 1889, he was appointed chief of the division of mail and files, Treasury Department. He transferred to become a private secretary to the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury on April 1, 1893, and resigned on June 30, 1893.
John Nichols returned to Raleigh, and served in the office of the collector of internal revenue from November 26 to December 17, 1893. He was later appointed United States commissioner for the eastern district of North Carolina on July 1, 1897, and served until his death in Raleigh in 1917. He is buried in Raleigh's Oakwood Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1887 and 1889.
Biography
Nichols was born near Eagle RockEagle Rock, North Carolina
Eagle Rock is an unincorporated community in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. It is located at 35°47'28N 78°24'31W, and is approximately east of Knightdale, and northwest of Wendell. The Hood-Anderson Farm is located in Eagle Rock and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
in Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...
. After attending the common schools and working for six years in the printing trade, Nichols, at the age of twenty-one, attended Lovejoy Academy in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
for one year, after which he engaged in the book and job printing business and newspaper publishing.
In 1873, Nichols became principal of the North Carolina Institute for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, holding that post until 1877. He was a revenue-stamp agent in Durham
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
from 1879 to 1881, Raleigh postmaster from 1881 to 1885, and then secretary and treasurer of the State Fair
North Carolina State Fair
The North Carolina State Fair is an annual fair and agricultural exposition held in Raleigh, North Carolina, and organized by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services....
association.
In 1886, Nichols was elected as an Independent to the 50th United States Congress
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
; he was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1888 and so only served one term of two years (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). On July 22, 1889, he was appointed chief of the division of mail and files, Treasury Department. He transferred to become a private secretary to the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury on April 1, 1893, and resigned on June 30, 1893.
John Nichols returned to Raleigh, and served in the office of the collector of internal revenue from November 26 to December 17, 1893. He was later appointed United States commissioner for the eastern district of North Carolina on July 1, 1897, and served until his death in Raleigh in 1917. He is buried in Raleigh's Oakwood Cemetery.