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History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

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442 HISTORY OF MERRIMAC.<br />

is self educated and has gained knowledge by working every<br />

hour <strong>of</strong> leisure, day and night, for more than forty years.<br />

In 1 84 1 he commenced the study <strong>of</strong> medicine and attended<br />

medical lectures at Dartmouth college in 1842. The degree <strong>of</strong><br />

M. D. was conferred upon him by this college, and, also, in<br />

1867 the honorary degree <strong>of</strong> Master <strong>of</strong> Arts. Entering into<br />

the drug business in Haverhill in 1843, ^ e continued there<br />

until 1856, when, after returning- from a visit to Europe in<br />

1856-7, he removed to Boston and established himself as a<br />

manufacturing chemist, doing an extensive business with all sec-<br />

tions <strong>of</strong> the country. After returning from a second visit to<br />

Europe in 1872, he relinquished business in Boston and returned<br />

to Haverhill.<br />

Dr. Nichols found time during his business career to write<br />

books, give attention to inventions and discovery, lecture fre-<br />

quently upon science, art, agriculture, etc., and serve in various<br />

public and private capacities, involving trust and responsibility.<br />

He is the author <strong>of</strong> two well-known books, "Fireside Science"<br />

and "Chemistry <strong>of</strong> the Farm," published prior to 1872. The<br />

records <strong>of</strong> the Patent Office show that nine patents have been<br />

granted to him in twenty years, most <strong>of</strong> which are inventions<br />

in scientific apparatus and new methods <strong>of</strong> chemical manipula-<br />

tion. In 1865 Dr. Nichols established the popular scientific<br />

journal : " Boston Journal <strong>of</strong> Chemistry," which he has contin-<br />

ued to edit since that time, a period <strong>of</strong> sixteen years. Since<br />

relinquishing chemical manufacturing in Boston, much <strong>of</strong> his<br />

time has been devoted to railroad management. He served as<br />

president <strong>of</strong> the Vermont & Canada railroad for five years, from<br />

1873 to 1878, and he has been director in the Boston & Maine<br />

railroad since 1873. In 1867 he was appointed by the late<br />

Ge<strong>org</strong>e Peabody, Esq., <strong>of</strong> London, one <strong>of</strong> his trustees <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Essex fund, and is now a trustee <strong>of</strong> the Peabody Academy <strong>of</strong><br />

Science.<br />

Dr. Nichols has been prominent in agricultural matters for<br />

many years, and was appointed by Governor Rice a member <strong>of</strong><br />

the Massachusetts State Board <strong>of</strong> Agriculture in 1878. Although<br />

never in robust health, the record <strong>of</strong> his life shows it to have

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