JOHN BENNETT NICHOLS was born at Port Isaac, Cornwall county, England, in February, 1822.  His father' name was Thomas Nichols, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Ivey.  His father was a merchant.  There were six children in the family:  William, Thomas, John B., Samuel, Elijah, James, all sons, and all have lived in Portsmouth.  Thomas Nichols the father brought his family to the United States in 1832 and located in Honesdale, Pa., where he tried farming.  Our subject came to Portsmouth in 1844, before his father.  He went into the furniture business as a maker of furniture.  Riggs & Wilcox furnished the lumber and helped him.  He learned to make furniture in Honesdale.  He was in the business of making  furniture forty yeas.  Wm. E. Williams went in with him soon after he opened out in Portsmouth.  Mr. Williams made chairs, and Mr. Nichols made furniture.  He began undertaking at the same time; but all coffins were made by hand and were never made until some one was dead and needed one.  They were made chiefly of walnut boards.  Ready made coffins and caskets were not used until about 1856.  Our subject was in the undertaking business until he sold out to the Fullers, but afterwards continued the furniture business.
     In 1871, he was selected Cemetery Trustee for a period of three years.  Jan. 31 1871, the Presbyterian church presented Mr. Nichols with a silver service and a family Bible in Consequence of his having been chorister for twenty-eight yeas previous.  The Bible cost $22, and the silver service $500.  Mr. Nichols was a leader of the choir of the First Presbyterian church for forty years.
     He was married Feb. 13, 1851 to Maria Merrill, only daughter of John Merrill.  The following are the children: Charles M., engaged in the lithograph business in Columbus; John Belden, a farmer in Scioto county, Ohio, married Charlie Davis who is deceased, and left one child, Charlie; Louis Moore is business with his brother, Charles M., at Columbus.  Mr. Nichols retired from business about 1898, and since then has lived a life of retirement and leisure.
Source:  History of Scioto Co., Ohio - Publ. 1903 - Page 1087