Matthias H. Nichols

Matthias H. Nichols ( born October 3, 1824 in Sharpstown, Salem County, New Jersey; † September 15, 1862 in Cincinnati, Ohio ) was an American politician. Between 1853 and 1859 he represented the state of Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

Matthias Nichols attended the common schools and then completed an apprenticeship in the printing trade. Since 1842 he lived in Lima ( Ohio). After studying law and his 1849 was admitted as a lawyer in Lima, he began to work in this profession. In 1851 and 1852 he was district attorney in Allen County. Politically he was first a member of the Democratic Party.

In the congressional elections of 1852 Nichols was in the fourth electoral district of Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he became the successor of Benjamin Stanton on March 4, 1853. After two re- election he was able to complete in Congress until March 3, 1859 three legislative periods. These were shaped by the events leading up to the Civil War. During his time as a Member Nichols moved twice his party affiliation. Until 1855, he still represented the Democrats in Congress. From 1855 to 1857 he was a member of the opposition party. He then switched to the Republican Party. In 1858 he was not re-elected.

After the end of his time in the U.S. House of Representatives Matthias Nichols practiced as a lawyer again. He died on September 15, 1862 in Cincinnati and was buried in Lima.