Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 3. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 308.
 
WILLIAM L. NICHOLS

     is one of the well known and highly esteemed farmers of Douglas county
where he is active in the cultivation of six hundred acres of improved ranch
land. He makes a specialty of stock-raising and has also in the last ten years
built up a flourishing butcher business in Riddles, which is an outgrowth in his
activities in the buying and selling of cattle. He was born in Douglas county,
November 26, 1856, and is the son of Israel B. and Isabella (Riddle) Nichols,
the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Illinois. The father left his
native state in 1847 and came overland to California with ox teams. He remained
in that state until 1850 when he traveled north to Oregon and settled in Douglas
county. He and his wife were pioneer settlers of this district and both died in
Oregon.
     William L. Nichols is one of a family of twelve children. He received a
common-school education in Douglas county and remained at home until he was
twenty-one years of age. When he had attained his majority he went into the
stock-raising business for himself and was extremely successful along this line.
In 1890 he married Miss Ada Fullerton and he and his wife removed to Washington
where they remained for four years. At the end of that time he returned to
Douglas county and bought the ranch of six hundred acres upon which he is now
living, two hundred acres of which belonged to the family estate. He has
improved and developed his large holdings, has added many new barns and
outbuildings and has operated his farm along modern and scientific lines. He
makes a specialty of cattle-raising and is the owner of many head of fine-grade
stock. About ten years ago he opened a small butcher shop in the town of Riddles
and has built up a flourishing business along this line. He buys and sells
cattle of all kinds and is known throughout Douglas county as an expert judge of
stock.
     In his political affiliations Mr. Nichols is a stanch republican and has
always taken an active part in local affairs. He is now serving as chairman of
the election board at Riddles and has made an efficient and honorable record in
this office. He is a prominent Mason and has served as junior warden in that
organization. All during his life Mr. Nichols has been prominent in the
agricultural development of Douglas county and has done much toward the progress
and development of this section of the country. He is one of the many active,
intelligent and broad-minded men who bring to the cultivation of the soil a
degree of efficiency along modern and active lines which is rapidly making
modern agriculture a progressive science.


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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.