Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1915-02-11
WHOLE NO. 3,413

speaker, both in and out of the arena
of politics. He was particularly in
terested in the patriotic history of the
nation and was student of civil war
history. Each year on Memorial Day
he was the orator of the day in some
part of the State. AS years came up
on Senator Nichols he became even a
more close student of public affairs
and was many times demanded to
speak upon various topics.
Senator Nichols was perhaps the
most accomplished newspaper writer
ever developed in Cumberland County.
Had his talent and life been devoted
entirely to the newspaper profession
he would have become one of the real
ly great newspaper editors of his time.
He was painstaking and careful with
his authorship and had striking and
forceful individuality with his pen. In
recent years his weekly letters, large
ly political chat, have attracted widest
attention and excerpts of his work
have been copied in many of the lead
ing newspapers. The Senator was a
man of opinions and always fearless
ly expressed them.
As a devoted friend of the soldiers
of the civil war, Mr. Nichols was fore
most. He knew nearly every veteran
in Cumberland County, and with few
exceptions, these men had the tender
est regard and highest admiration for
him. AS an official he for years en-
gagged in pension work and thus came
in very close and intimate association
with these men of the blue. None of
the old soldiers fell by the wayside
and was carried to the grave, but Mr..
Nichols penned for the newspapers
touching eulogy and gave them all,
private and officer, the praise due the
soldier who had fought for his coun-
try.
Senator Nichols prepared and had
printed a book on the City of Bridge
ton, a publication exploiting the ad-
vantages of the city, and this book
was widely circulated.
His most pretentious work as an
author, was a volume which he en-
titled, Historic Days, Cumberland
County, New Jersey, 1855-1S65. This
book came from the press in 1907, and
was at once received with great favor.
1t was book of political and war
tine "reminiscences, and has had
very great circulation and is priced
as volume of historic interest and
value. In the foreword, Senator
Nichols wrote: THE story of the Civil
War and the early days of great po-
: liticaI movement in Cumberland Coun-
= ty is theme of interest to the de-
: scendants of the noblemen who gave
their lives for the Union and those
: who stood at the cradle of the party
of human liberty at a crucial hour in
: our national history. 1t appeared to
= the writer that it was worthy of pre-
: servation.
ITO the memory of those who or
| ganized the Republican party in Cum
f berland County in 1855, and the
heroic sons of old Cumberland who
. volunteered in the war for the preser-
t vation of the Federal Union-1S61-1S6
5 many of whom lie in nameless
graves on battlefelds once red with
: patriotic blood, this volume is affec-
: tionately dedicated
! Mr.. Nichols was a member of Cen
! trail M. E. Church. He was also as
:, sociated with the Bridgeton Lodge, 1.
: o. o. F., Bridgeton Castle, K. G. E.,
! Hope Council, Jr. o. U. A. NJ, Wash
ington Camp, P. S. O. A, Bridgeton
, Lodge, Loyal Order of Moose, Ancient
Order United Workmen and Knights
of Sparta. He was especially inter
ested in the work of the Odd Fellows
and for several years was an officer
. sin the Grand Lodge.
! A brother, Barcley R. Nichols, and
: two sisters, Mrs. Lewis McGalliard
and Mrs. Albert McCulley also sur
vive the deceased.