| NICHOLS,
HON. ALBRO F., son of Hiram M. and Louisa E. (Stoddard) Nichols, was born
in Lyndon, March 24, 1850. Hiram M. Nichols was a native of Unity, New
Hampshire. In early life he was a peddler of jewelry and silverware, and
later was engaged in mercantile business at Lyndon Center for many years,
which place was his home until his death. He died in 1902, at the
age of eighty-one years, highly respected and esteemed.
The
mother of Albro F. was a daughter of Capt. Alpheus Stoddard, of Newark,
a prosperous farmer and lumberman, and a longtime resident of that town.
She died in 1853. His native village was his home during most of his minority.
Aside from attending the district schools, he attended a select school
at Claremont, New Hampshire, the Colby academy at New London, New Hampshire,
and graduated in the classical department of the New Hampton institute,
New Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1871, with honors. Prior to his graduation
a part of his time had been spent on a farm, as clerk in his father's store,
and in teaching school. In the fall of 1871 he commenced the study of law
in the office of Belden & May, and was admitted to the bar at the June
term, 1873, of Caledonia county court. He continued his studies for some
time thereafter with Belden & Ide. He commenced practice in the office
with Hon. Thomas Bartlett at Lyndon. In 1876 he located at West Concord,
where he made an excellent public and professional record. He was elected
state's attorney in 1878, and reelected the two succeeding terms, resigning
the office upon his removal to St. Johnsbury in 1883.
The
law firm of Nichols & Dunnett was formed in 1883 and continued three
years. After the dissolution of this firm, Mr. Nichols continued the practice
of law alone until January, 1888, when he was appointed clerk of court,
at the unanimous request of the Caledonia county bar, which office he now
holds. Mr. Nichols married Lucella S. Frye of West Concord in 1877, and
has a pleasant home. As lawyer Mr. Nichols possessed excellent judgment
of legal principles and precedents, and with good knowledge of human nature
and a genial temperament, was a successful advocate. He was made a Mason
in Moose River lodge, No. 82, F. & A. M., West Concord, in 1880, later
demitting and becoming a member of Passumpsic lodge, No.27, St. Johnsbury,
of which he was worshipful master two years. He was eminent commander of
Palestine commandery for three years, and thrice potent grand master of
Mizpah Lodge of Perfection for several years. He received the 33d degree
in 1888. In 1890 he was elected a senator for Caledonia county, and was
an active and prominent member of that body; he served upon the judiciary
committee, and was chairman of the general committee, and also of the joint
special committee on temperance legislation. He was reelected in 1892,
and served on the judiciary committee and was chairman of the committee
on education. He received both nominations, unanimously, in the conventions.
For
several years after his appointment as clerk, he was the leading trial
justice in St. Johnsbury, and has often been called to act as referee and
special master, positions for which he is especially qualified by judicial
acumen and integrity. As clerk of court, Mr. Nichols has inaugurated a
system of orderly arrangements of documents and records that is highly
meritorious, and the office is a model of neatness, convenience, and systematic
classification.
Source:
Successful Vermonters, William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical
Publishing Company, 1904, page 102-104.
Prepared
by Tom Dunn, August 2005
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