John C. Nichols

John Conover Nichols (August 31, 1896 – November 7, 1945) was an American lawyer, World War I veteran, and politician who served four terms as a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma from 1935 to 1943.

John Conover Nichols
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1935 – July 3, 1943
Preceded by	William W. Hastings
Succeeded by	William G. Stigler
Personal details
Born	(1896-08-31)August 31, 1896 Joplin, Missouri, U.S.
Died	November 7, 1945(1945-11-07) (aged 49) Asmara, British Military Eritrea
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Marion Young Nichols
Children	Nina Jean Nichols Dan Nichols
Alma mater	Kansas State Teachers College
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1917 to 1919
Unit	19th Infantry
Battles/wars	World War I

Biography

Born in Joplin, Missouri, Nichols was the son of John Adams and Mary Catherine Conover Nichols. He attended the public schools in Joplin, Missouri, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the teachers college at Emporia, Kansas. He married Marion Young in Tulsa on March 30, 1921. She was the daughter of William Buford and Nina Young of Eufaula. The Nichols had a daughter, Nina Jean, and a son, Dan. He studied law in the office of his brother in Eufaula, Oklahoma; and was admitted to the bar association in 1926 and commenced practice in Eufaula, Oklahoma.^[1]

Career

During World War I Nichols served in the 19th Infantry, United States Army from 1917 to 1919.

Nichols was elected as a Democrat to the 74th Congress and to the four succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1935, until his resignation on July 3, 1943,^[2] to become vice president of Transcontinental & Western Airlines. While in office, he served on the Rivers and Harbors, Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Territories Committees. In 1935 and 1937 he was also a member of a special committee that went to Hawaii to hold hearings on statehood. His legislative interests focused on American Indians, soil conservation, old-age pensions, Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camps, and aviation.^[3]

Death

Still vice president of Transcontinental & Western Airlines, Nichols died in an airplane crash at Asmara in Eritrea (then under a British Military Administration), on November 7, 1945.

He was originally interred in the United States military cemetery at Asmara, Eritrea, but his body was later moved and reinterred at Greenwood Cemetery in Eufaula, Oklahoma.^[4]