Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-02-20
THOMAS NICHOL DEAD.

THOMAS NICHOL DEAD.
rhs rtrn.ss and Eccentric Advocate of
- Mp4est M0ney" Expires In New
ThcGkas NJ. Nichol, whose connection
with IN Honest Money League" OF Chi
cagD III d othSr poiitical associations was
.wsll kD1w wns Ultd ~ the Nc~' York Cutnrns
bia Institute for Chronic Diseases. He
had been under treatment at the institute
for several months for disease of the
spinal cord. Mr.. Nichol was "A years
old.
Mr.. Nichol. well known among public men
throughout the country, and despit hisec-
centricities, was so much respected that
his death will be sincerely mourned. He
was most eccentric man. genius, AMI
had u great mind. although. as Senator
Sawyer once said of him, he was all sail
and no rudder."
Nichol was born in Ohio. went into tho
army. carried n musket for four years, and
then al the close OF the war landed in Ili-
n0is. down near Bellcyiile. where he taught
school for several winters and worked at
black nithing su nnlers. Then he moved
out to Kansas. rnd lived at Humboldt and
Fort Soft for a Ii ne. At the latter place
he edited newspaper i"i several months.
His no Dbies always Were finance an poll
ties. und he would walk twenty miles to
ing societies we're his delight. and it was
said in that country that there was not Il
lawyer or minister or pedagogne In those
counties who could stand up with him In a
discussion.
He was a bit Of q lawyer. aud during his
expetience as a school teacher in Illinois
he successfully defended fricndless fellow
who was under Trial for murder.
While he was blacksmithing. Nichol in
vented plow. and Was advised by dealers
inn, ia taI. IL
J. l. Case factory at Racine. Wis. where IL
was thought he could find purchaser.
This was in 1876. He landed at Racina ono
afternoon, and when he went up to the hotel
learned that Gen. Samuel +. Cary was TO make
a gcenback speech in the town hall that
evening. OF course Nicho went to hear
him, and during the progress Of the speech
asked Cary some questions. The speaker
was very much embarrassed blythe perplex-
ing inquiries put to him by the stranger.
! them. Mr.. Nichol. an entire stranger to
everybody in the room. then arose and
asked permission to reply to Cary at the
conclusion OF the latter's remarks. but was
prevented from doing so.
There was great excitement in the town.
and Nichol found himself hero. Tho Re-
puhlicans hired the hall for the next even
| ing. and Niehol made speech In which he
| demolished Cary In such manner as to
commend himself to the Wisconsin Repub-
W
| to follow Cary about the State. When Cary
| finished his campaign In Wisconsin. Nichol
| followed him into Ohio. and then to Maine.
and then all over the United States. max
| ing tho acquaintance OF Sherman. Garfield.
Blaine. Conking, Arthur. and other public
the Wiater following the campaign OF 1876
Nichol was employed to organize what was
known as -The Honest Money League in
| To fhn inf Tnhn
| Sherman was the President and he was ..,e
| Secretary. and he travelled from one end Of
| the United States to the other lecturing on
| hard money and organizing branches Of the
league in all tho cities and larger towns.
He was occupied at this work until the
summer Of 1880. when he went to Washing
ton to take charge Of the literary bureau
organized to promote Sherman's Presiden-
tiAl prospects. He went to Chicago as q
| confidential agent OF sherman. and when
Menor. where he became his private secre-
tary and served as such through the cam
paign of 1880.
When Garfield was elected he rendered
Nichol the position OF Private Secretary at
the White House. but Nichol dhclined it.
and was made Commissioner OF Indian
Affairs. in which position he served just two
days.
on the evening OF the second day he went
to the White House with his resignation
could not stand it any longer; that he had
not been able to eat or sleep. and would &c
crazy before the end OF the week unless he
was relieved from duty.
Nichols health being considerably broken
down. Garfield had him appointed u special
agent OF one Of the departments. and gave
him ro,ing commission to travel through.
out the West.
Although he was a great theorist ir
finance he did not have the faculty Of put.
ting his ideas into practice. and tn osc who
were associated with him in business soor
discovered 1t to their sorrow. In the frs
place. it was h'e habit. as he used to say,
TO keep his looks in his head. He never
made record Of any OF his flnanciA
transactions. but depended entirely upoI
his memory. His carelessness was pro
verbal. and friend who knew him sale
that II you would lock Nichol up tn q room
alone with $1,000 In 81 bills he would los,
halt of them before he got out While h,
wns at the Grand Pacific Hotel one day he
had $4,000 worth OF bonds stolen from him
bonds issued by a Denver street railroad
which he was carrying to be sold in tn
East. and he did not even miss them unit
they had boon found among the plunder o
thief who had been arrested by the police