Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Nichols, John L. 1856 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 11, 2007, 5:36 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

JOHN L. NICHOLS, who carries on the double vocation of dentist and farmer, has
his residence upon his fine farm of eighty-five acres on section 7, Mt. Morris
Township, Genesee County. He was born June 21, 1856, in Clayton Township, and is
a son of Willis Nichols, a native of Madison County, N. Y. He was born in 1824
and came to Michigan at the age of thirty, settling in Oakland County. In 1856
he removed to the farm where he now lives in Clayton Township. When he came
hither the land, both on his farm and all about was still a wilderness and be
was a long distance from the base of supplies. He used to make maple sugar and
on some occasions has carried a load of it on his back to Flint, ten miles
distant, and traded it for beans which he brought home in the same manner for
family use. His life companion bore the maiden name of Jane M. Benjamin, and was
born in De Ruyter, N. Y., in 1826. They are both still living and are very
prominent people throughout the social circles of the county, and the father has
been quite a public man and a leader in the Democratic ranks.

  John Nichols lived at home until he reached the age of seventeen and during
his boyhood and youth worked upon the farm and attended to his studies in the
old log schoolhouse. He still cherishes among the mementoes of his childhood
prizes which he received for maintaining his place at the head of his class.
Upon first leaving home he attended the Flushing schools for about six months,
working meanwhile for his board at Mr. John Patten's. Later he went to
Westfield, N. J., and was in the public schools there for about a year and a
half and so improved his opportunities as to be able to get a teacher's
certificate and taught there for about four months, after which he engaged as
shipping clerk for Carrolton, Ayers & Co., Broadway, N. Y., remaining with them
for a year and a half.

  The young man attended the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876 and
after that came West and was in the employ at Flushing of Niles & Cotcher, for
one year, and then entered a dental office, where, after six months, he bought
out the business and carried it on for six months independently. After this he
entered the employ again of Niles & Cotcher and was with them for five years and
then entered the dry-goods firm of Smith, Bridgeman & Co., of Flint, and served
them for nearly two years.

  Mr. Nichols had previously purchased forty acres of his present farm, which
purchase he made in 1878, and two years later he bought an additional forty and
in 1883 he removed onto the farm which has since been his home. He has cleared
ail but twenty acres of this land and has erected upon it excellent buildings
and done much in the line of tiling, as the farm now has over five hundred rods
of tile drainage, besides other valuable improvements.

  Our subject was married in 1879 to Miss Jenny A., daughter of Joseph and
Philinda Brown, of Flushing. This lady was born in the township of Flint and she
is the mother of one child-Winifred, who was born May 19, 1883, and is now a
bright and interesting child and has begun her school life. Mr. Nichols has a
fine dental practice and is exceptionally successful therein. He has an office
in Flushing, where he spends one day each week. and thus accommodates his
patients and at the same time carries on his farming operations. In politics he
is a Republican.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892

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