Photographs Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2008.010.086 |
Title |
Sheriff John Nicholls, Sr. |
Accession number |
2008.010 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Date |
1900 |
Description |
Black and white photograph of Sheriff John Nicholls, Sr. He was a McKinley Republican who was born in Wales. He came to America in 1866 and settled for a short time in Pennsylvania. On April 6, 1873 he arrived in Golden, Colorado. At the age of 31 he began work as a miner near Golden and in 1878 was appointed Golden City Marshall. in 1880 was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Jefferson County by Sheriff Jonas Morris Johnson, Jr., and was also elected Mayor of Golden. In 1882 he was elected Jefferson County Commissioner and served one term before getting elected Sheriff in 1884. He served two terms as Sheriff until 1888 when he accepted a position as President of the Jefferson County Bank in Golden. He organized the Good Templars Lodge, he was a Mason, an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, a Forester, a Woodman and a member of the Sons of St. George. He was the President of the Golden Opera House in 1880 and owned and operated a shoe shop in Golden. In 1899, Nicholls was involved in the controversial election for the office of Jefferson County Sheriff. An election discrepancy with the student voters at the Colorado School of Mines gave him the election over his Democrat opponent, William Barrick. The Colorado Supreme Court over turned the election and awarded the office to Barrick. Nicholls won re-election as Sheriff in 1901 and served seven more years in this capacity. He died at home on October 31, 1908 and the age of 67. He lived with his family in the original Boston Company building located on Washington Street. After his death the City of Golden condemned the old Boston Company and forced Clara Nicholls to find another home. The Boston Company Building was torn down on July 17, 1924 after Clara moved to 817 14th Street in Golden. She was born in York, Pennsylvania on March 30, 1872 and came to Golden with her parents in 1882. She married John Nicholls in 1890. |
Copyright |
All rights belong to Golden History Museum & Park, City of Golden, without restriction. |
Credit line |
Golden History Museums, City of Golden, Dennis L. Potter Collection |
Caption |
Sheriff John Nicholls, Sr. |
People |
Barrick, William "Billy" Nicholls, John Sr. |
Search Terms |
1878 Jefferson County Courthouse and Jail Boston Company Golden City Lodge No.1 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Colorado Golden elections Golden political figures Jefferson County Sheriffs Jefferson County Sheriffs Department Opera House |