Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Lake Region containing Biographical Sketches of 
Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settled Families, J. H. Beers & Co., 
Chicago, 1905.

Pages 470--471

ARAD FREEMONT NICHOLS, a successful business man and highly esteemed citizen of Hayward, Sawyer Co., Wis.,
was born June 25, 1853, at Shinglehouse, Potter Co., Pa. His parents, Benjamin Franklin and Samantha (Jones)
Nichols, were natives, respectively, of New York State and Vermont.

Benjamin Nichols, father of Benjamin Franklin, settled in Pennsylvania about 1840; he was a farmer and
lived to be over 80 years old. His son, Benjamin Franklin, who was born in Bainbridge, Chenango Co., 
N. Y., in 1819, went when a young man to Potter county, Pa., building near Shinglehouse two sawmills,
both of which he operated. Later he became interested in a sawmill and lumber yards at Cincinnati, Ohio,
and is now living in retirement at Shinglehouse, in the enjoyment of vigorous health. Mr. Nichols has been
a Republican from the birth of that party, has filled local positions of trust and is a respected and 
influential citizen. Mrs. Samantha (Jones) Nichols passed away in 1900, at the age of seventy-nine. Her
father, Anthony Jones, who was of Welsh descent, was a veteran of the Revolutionary war. His widow, Catherine
(Stevens) Jones, survived him many years, dying at Shinglehouse, when ninety-five years of age. Five children
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, as follows: Sobiska, deceased in childhood; Roscoe N., of Little Falls,
Minn.; Willard Alonzo, of Shinglehouse, Pa.; Arad Freemont, mentioned below; and Frank A., of Shinglehouse.

Arad Freemont Nichols was educated in the public schools of his native town and took a course in Nelson's
Business College at Cincinnati. When he was twenty years old he went to Port Arthur, Ontario, where he
spent two years as bookkeeper for the owners of a silver mine. Returning to Pennsylvania, he was occupied 
for two or three years in stores at Rixford and Eldred, and in 1883 went to Rice Lake, Wis., where for two
he was employed as bookkeeper for Knapp, Stout & Co., a lumber firm. From there he came to Hayward, entering
the employ of the Northern Wisconsin Lumber Co., as shipping clerk; after a year he went into the main
office of the firm, with which he remained for ten years. On the death of his brother-in-law, Charles F.
Hall, in September, 1895, Mr. Nichols became a partner in the firm of Hall, Linden & Co., hardware dealers,
and gave his chief attention to the indoor management of this business. The firm, which had the only 
exclusive hardware establishment in Hayward, carried a large stock of hardware, tinware, etc., as well as
agricultural implements. Nov. 1, 1903, the firm of Hall, Linden & Co. was combined with that of A. W. & J. S. 
McGeorge, under the name of the New Store Co. This concern has erected a large two-story double brick
cuilding, which is almost entirely occupied by the immense stock of general merchandise, one of the largest
stocks in northern Wisconsin.

Mr. Nichols is a stockholder in the Hayward Building Association and was one of the incorporators of the Odd
Fellow's Building Association, each of which built a fine business block; he was one of the incorporators
of each of these associations, and is at present secretary and treasurer of the former. He is also secretary
of the Republican county committee, and though never a candidate for office, takes a keen interest in all
public affairs.

In March, 1893, Mr. Nichols was married to Mary McGeorge, who was born at St. Steven, New Brunswick, daughter
of Peter and Eleanor (Kelly) McGeorge. Mrs. Nichols is a member of the Congregational Church. Fraternally
Mr. Nichols belongs to the I. O. O. F.; is a charter member of Keystone Lodge, F. & A. M.; a member of
Pokegama Chapter, R. A. M., at Rice Lake; and of the K. of P., and M. W. A.