Family Members Who Served in the Iowa Legislature:Nephew: Jay I. Nichols; GAs 29 - 33
Pliny Nichols
Muscatine County
Born in Wayne County, N. Y., on the 4th of October, 1824, the son of Jonas and Dorinda (Purvis) Nichols. In early life manifested a strong liking for books and study, and though only permitted to attend the public schools during the winter months, his services being required at his father's brick-yard during the summer, he improved his leisure hours and evenings so well that at nineteen years of age he was able to commence teaching with a first-class school certificate. His examiner volunteered the remark that it was the second one of that class issued in the county so far that year. A term at the Harkness Select School of Woodbury, Ohio, supplemented by a season at the Ohio Wesleyan University, of Delaware, Ohio, completed his school privileges. Mr. Nichols continued to teach school in the winter until twenty-two years of age, when in connection with his older brothers, Ira and George, he took the contract of constructing eight miles of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad, in the vicinity of Cardington, Ohio. In July 1848, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage with Miss J. C. Grandy, a native of New York. Mr. Nichols makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Short-horn cattle. He also raises a fine breed of standard roadster horses and always has some fine specimens on hand. He has done much to advance the high grade of stock in Iowa and surrounding States, and his stock-farm is one of the best for miles around. Politically, Mr. Nichols is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, and is strong in his support of the principles which it has advocated. Aside from his extensive business interests, he has found time to serve his constituents officially as School Director, Justice of the Peace, and in the State Legislature. He was a member of the House in the 18th General Assembly, and in the Senate of the 19th and 20th General Assemblies. In the 20th General Assembly, Mr. Nichols was Chairman of the Committee on Manufactures and a member of seven other important committees, namely: Ways and Means, Agriculture, Commerce, Agricultural College, Claims, Retrenchment, and Judicial Districts. Among the most important bills originated and carried through to success in the Legislature by Mr. Nichols was that of "Semi-Annual Collection of Taxes." This was naturally opposed by officials and bankers; the former on account of requiring more work in the auditor's and treasurer's offices; the latter because they had the idle money in the State to bank on, but against the combined opposition Mr. Nichols carried the bill through the House of the 18th General Assembly, but it was killed by the Committee on Ways and Means of the Senate. In the 19th General Assembly, the bill was again introduced by Mr. Nichols, reported adversely by the committee and lost by a tie vote in the Senate. In the 20th General Assembly, he again brought the measure forward when it passed muster in the Committee on Ways and Means, and making its passage in the Senate with only three dissenting votes. It subsequently passed the House and became the law of the State by the approval of Gov. Sherman, and worked to the great satisfaction of the whole community. Mr. Nichols and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of South Prairie, of which he was a Trustee.
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