Contra Costa County CA Archives Biographies.....Nichols, Howard 1799 - 
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Author: W. A. Slocum & Co., Publishers (1882)

HOWARD NICHOLS. — This old and respected pioneer was born in Plymouth,
Massachusetts, February 11, 1799, where he resided for the first eighteen years
of his life. In the year 1819 he moved to New Bedford, in the same State, there
opened one of the best appointed blacksmith shops then extant in the country,
afterwards opened a brass foundry, and there resided until he came to the
Pacific Coast. In September, 1849, he sailed, via Cape Horn, for California, in
the ship Oscar, of which he was part owner, and on arrival, first, in the Spring
of 1850, settled in the then thriving little town of New York of the Pacific.
Here he found a considerable business, and several hotels. He here purchased the
ship Mount Vernon, turned her into a receiving ship, alongside of which the
steamers took on board and discharged freight and passengers. Having purchased
the contents of the Kennebec House, Captain Nichols fitted up the Mount Vernon
as a boarding-house, in 1851, when, by putting too much wood on one side, the
hulk heeled over, but she was afterwards righted, and continued as a place to
dwell in for some time. Having purchased some damaged barley and dried it, with
the proceeds from this, and the increase of some hogs he had bought, he acquired
his present ranch at the foot of Mount Diablo, in 1852, where he has resided
ever since, being engaged in farming and grape culture. His wife arrived here in
1855. In his house was the first Congregational church in the district
established. The Captain, now in his eighty-fourth year, is in the enjoyment of
good health, with his memory unimpaired, and with every promise of many years
before him. He married, firstly, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the year 1821,
Susan Clarke, a native of that place, who died August 1, 1837. By this union
there were five children; only two of them are now living, Seth (now dwelling
with his father) and Susan (now Mrs. Ruggles, of New Bedford). Married,
secondly, Sarah Clarke, a sister of his first wife, by whom he had one son, who
is now dead.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.


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