Butte County
Biographies
ARTHUR L. NICHOLS
ARTHUR L. NICHOLS. In the mercantile life of Chico, Arthur L. Nichols has occupied an important place, it being now about twenty years since he first entered upon the hardware business here. Born in Augusta, Me., August 9, 1849, he is the son of Dr. H. L. and Sarah (Evans) Nichols, both of whom were natives of the same state. The father was a practicing physician and as such came to California in 1856, locating with his family in Sacramento, where he combined with the practice of his profession many duties which brought him into prominence in both city and state. Elected to the state legislature in 1867 as a candidate on the Democratic ticket, whose principles he espouses, he served for four years, ably maintaining the interests of his constituents. A popular man in the city of Sacramento he was elected mayor in the ‘60s and gave efficient service as such. He is now acting as health officer and is also engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of his first adoption. His wife is deceased, having passed away in Sacramento. They became the parents of two sons and two daughters, of whom the eldest is Arthur L. Nichols, the personal subject of this review.
But seven years old when he came to California Mr. Nichols scarcely remembers any other home that that he has known in the state of his adoption. He was reared in his father’s home in Sacramento, where he attended the public schools, after completing the course in the common schools entering the high school, where he continued his studies for two years. At twenty-one years of age he entered the office of the secretary of state, where he acted as deputy. In 1872 he entered the employ of Huntington, Hopkins & Co., a hardware firm of Sacramento, acting as clerk for a number of years, afterward becoming their traveling salesman, and for seven years visited various parts of California and Nevada. In 1885 he inaugurated his present lucrative business in Chico, purchasing the modest hardware establishment of C. L. Stilson. Since that time he has given the business his most earnest and undivided efforts, increasing his stock and improving in quality and prices, the latter being effected largely by his method of buying stock, his leading articles, such as plows, barbed wire, wagons, nails, blacksmith coal, etc., being purchased in carload lots, thus enabling him to make prices which compete successfully with those of the wholesale houses of Sacramento and elsewhere. He is also the agent for the celebrated Oliver plow, Cassiday gang plow, and others, and the best make generally of tools and implements, handling also sewer pipe, terra cotta work and similar articles.
In Sacramento Mr. Nichols was united in marriage with Addie B. Sewall, a native of Augusta, Me. Politically Mr. Nichols is a Democrat, and fraternally is identified with the Red Men, Odd Fellows, Elks and Masons. He was one of the organizers of Lodge No. 423, B.P.O.E., of Chico, in which he served as first ruler; and is a member of Blue Lodge No. 40, F. & A.M., of Sacramento; Sacramento Chapter No. 3, A.M.; Commandery No. 2, K.T.; and Islam Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., of San Francisco. In public affairs Mr. Nichols has always taken a prominent place, in 1892 acting as trustee of the state normal school, and in this city serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce for two years. He is a major in the state militia, holding a position as staff officer under General Montgomery, who is in command of the National Guard of the Northern District of Columbia.
History of the State of California and Biographical
Record of the Sacramento Valley, California By J. M.
Guinn, page 543. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago
(1906)
Transcribed by Betty Wilson