John Nichols (politician)

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John Nichols (14 November 1834 – September 22, 1917) was a U.S. Congressman from the state of North Carolina between 1887 and 1889.

Nichols was born near Eagle Rock 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.

This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Preceded by William R. Cox

U.S. Congressman from North Carolina's 4th District 1887–1889

Succeeded by Benjamin H. Bunn