----Source: NEILLSVILLE PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 02/07/1924

Nichols, Thomas H. (? - 27 Jan 1924)

The Black River Falls papers chronicle the death of Thomas H. Nichols, formerly of that city, at St. Paul Jan. 27th, 1924. He had a remarkable career. He was an octoroon and was born in slavery. During the Civil War he became attached to the 36th Wis. Infantry as a chore boy and came north at the close of the war with Capt. G. A Fisk of Sparta. He learned the barber trade, and with the money earned at this work secured considerable schooling; in fact he became quite a noted scholar, being able to converse and read in several languages. About 1872 he came to Neillsville, Clark County, Wis. and remained here four years carrying on a barber business. Our older residents will remember his having many topics. He lost nearly all his ability to converse intelligently on any topic. He lost nearly all his library in the great flood at Black River Falls, over which he grieved more than over the loss of his building. A learned Scandinavian minister of Black River Falls once made the statement that Mr. Nichols could talk the Scandinavian language better than he could. In late years he resided in St. Paul, where he died.