Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 3. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 551.
 
JAMES H. NICHOLS

     was born in Lima, LaGrange, county, Indiana, on the 12th day of July, 1883,
his parents being Drusus B. and Jane Louise (Shipman) Nichols. Drusus B. Nichols
was born in English Prairie, Indiana, in 1859, and the mother in Lima, in that
state. Drusus B. Nichols, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the
grandson of Samuel Burnell, one of the pioneer bankers of northern Indiana, and
the organizer of the Indiana National Bank in 1859. Drusus B. Nichols was, for a
number of years the owner of a merchandising establishment in Lima, Indiana, and
later engaged in the same business in Chicago. Illinois, where he died in 1890.
Mrs. Nichols survives her husband and makes her home with our subject in Baker,
Oregon. She is the mother of three children, as follows: James H., of this
review; Drusus H., who lives in Chicago; and Marian Williams, the wife of
Charles H. Evenson, of St. Paul. Minnesota.
     James H. Nichols was educated in the public schools of Lima, Indiana, and
also in the Howe Military School of the same place.  After his graduation from
high school he entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he spent
the first year in the academic department. The following year he entered the law
department of the same institution from which he was graduated in the class of
1905. Upon his graduation Mr. Nichols came west in search of a location and
selected Baker City, where he at once opened an office for the practice of law.
In 1906 he entered the offices of Hart & Smith. Shortly after this, the senior
member of the firm, Mr. Smith, was elected to the circuit bench, and the firm
became Hart & Nichols. In 1911 the firm of Hart & Nichols dissolved and Mr.
Nichols opened his present offices for the practice of law in the Citizens
National Bank building. He was appointed city auditor of Baker City in 1908 and
was elected for a two-year term to succeed himself in 1909.
     In politics Mr. Nichols is a democrat and during his early years as a
student he was elected president of the University of Michigan Democratic Club
in the campaign of 1904. He is a member of the Masonic blue lodge, the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. His
religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Protestant Episcopal
church. Mr., Nichols has already attained a place of high standing among the
members of the bar, notwithstanding the fact that he is a comparatively young
man and he enjoys an extensive and substantial clientage. He is interested in
all of the social issues of his adopted city and can always be relied upon to
bring his influence to bear toward the advancement of any enterprise favoring
the improvement of his county and state.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.