Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1886-10-14
SENATOR 1. T. NICHOLS.

Mr.. Nichols has been prominent in
Cumberland politics for number of
years past, and his personal acquaint-
ance in all parts of the county is very
large, while he is also well-known
through his relations as editor of the
Pioneer.
Isaac T. Nichols was born in Bridge
ton, March 22d, 1s49, and consequently
will be thirty y-nine years old his next
birthday. His father was Capt Isaac
Nichols, who was born in Deerfield
township in 1906, and died Aug. 18th,
1875. His mother was Mary A., daugh-
ter of William and Elizabeth McGear,
of Bridgeton, who was married to
Captain Nichols in 1914, and died Aug.
10th, 1868. He obtained his early edu-
cation at the Bank street public school,
this city. At the age of seventeen he
began learning the printers trade in
the office of the Chronicle, a trade to
which he had always had an inclina-
ton.
Becoming proficient in the mysteries
of the lease" and "stick" he went
West, in 1868, and directing his way
toward Minneapolis became Journey
man. on the Euening Star of that city.
In the Fall he returned, thinking there
was no State like his native one, and
served for time on the Pioneer, then
owned and edited by James B. Fer
guson.
Not long afterward he became asso-
ciated with the late Uri Carruth in the
publication of Campaign Independent,
which advocated the election of Grant
and Wilson. This occupied part of a
year, and at the conclusion of the cam
paign Mr.. Nichols did editorial work
on the Milluille Republican, and allan
TIC City Daily Reriear, editing the Re
publican, during the Winter time for
Mr. Newlin while the. latter was read
ing clerk of the Senate and doing work
upon the Rerie,o in the Summer sea-
son.
In 1869, one year after his return
from the West, he married Emma,
daughter of Geo. Remster, and grand
daughter of the late Judge Geo. Rem
ster, of Salem county. On October Sth,
1874, he became editor of the Vest Jer-
seq Pioneer, now Bridgeton Pioneer, and
a member of the firm of MCGOWAN s.
Nichols, its publishers.
Mr. Nichols had always, from the
time he was old enough to understand
anything about it taken great inter
est in politics, and in 1876, when but
% years of age, he was nominated on
the Republican ticket for the Assem-
bly,, his competitor being the late
Isaiah Richman, who had just ended
term in the Assembly. Mr.. Nichols
was successful and though several
times candidate, has from that time
to this never been defeated.
Mr.. Nichols gave evidence of being
a very useful member during his first
term, and though so young speedily
took a prominent position. In the fol
lowing year he was given the honor OF
are-nomination, and was again elected,
Jacob Kienzle being the candidate on
the Democratic ticket. During these
two years of service in the House OF
Assembly he served on the Commit
tees on Education, Revision of the
Laws, Banks and Insurance and State
Library, besides being on a special
committee appointed to investigate
charges against certain State officials
He gained prominence as ready de
batter and for his ready tact and clear,
practical ideas on important anG
knotty questions. In 1877 he origi
mated and introduced bill, which be-
came law, exempting all soldiers and
sailors who served in the late war from
poll tax, and he strenuously advocated
the ''Cash Bill'' which prohibited the
use of shinplasters and punch orders
in the satisfactory stores of South
Jersey. His speech on the report OF
the investigation of the accounts and
transactions of the Secretary of State
received the unanimous endorsement
of both parties in the Assembly. In
1878 he was an effective advocate Of
the bill reducing the legal rate of in
terest in the State from seven to six
per cent.
In 10 and 80, having served his
two terms in the Lower House, Mr..
Nichols remained at home. In the
latter year, however, he was chosen
by the Republicans as their nominee
for State Senator DIR. Jonathan s.
Whitaker, of Millville, was the candi-
date on the Democratic ticket and the
Doctors we'll known popularity and
strength led many to think he would
make close fight for the election, but
the result proved quite otherwise. Mr..
Nichols was triumphantly elected be-
ing far in advance of the Doctor.