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Capt. David H. Nichols, Co. D, 3rd Colorado Cavalry; 16 Dec1900; 71.75 years of age.
David Hopkinson Nichols was commissioned Captain of Company "D" of the 3rd Colorado Cavalry in Aug 1864.
He served in the 3rd Colorado Cavalry from Aug1864 to 30Dec1864.
The 3rd Colorado Cavalry, a 100 day enlistment, was raised by Territorial Governor
John Evans to suppress Indian uprisings.
While David H. Nichols was in service, the 3rd COLO CAV engaged in the Sand Creek Massacre in which about 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho people, mainly women, children, and the elderly were killed. An infamous event in Colorado history.
A brief chronology of the significant events of David H. Nichols' life is below:
born on 16 March 1829 in Hardwick, Vermont
served in the Mexican War as Second Lieutenant in Colonel George B. Wright's Ohio Brigade
married Elizabeth Atkinson on 05 Sept 1848
joined the California gold rush in 1849; in 1853, return to Illinois via the Isthmus of Panama
crossed the plains from Illinois to Colorado gold fields in 1859 and settled in Boulder
was active in raising funds and helped build the first schoolhouse in Boulder
was 2nd Sheriff [1863-1865] of Boulder County
took a Captain's commission with the 100-day volunteers, 3rd Colorado Volunteer Cavalry answering Territorial Governor John Evans' call to suppress territorial Indian troubles of 1864; participated in the infamous Sand Creek Massacre, 29 Nov 1864
was elected/served two non-consecutive terms to the Colorado Territorial House of Representative where he was instrumental in bringing the University of Colorado to Boulder and served as speaker of the House in 1874
member of Colorado Constitutional Convention of 1865
served as the 8th Lieutenant Governor [1893-1895] under Governor Davis H. Waite
was a member of the Board of Commissioners for the Colorado State Penitentiary for 19 years
died on 16 Dec1900 in Boulder, Colorado
Sources
Boulder County Colorado, History of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff David H. Nichols (1863-1865)
Colorado State Archives, Lieutentant Governors of Colorado
Historical Data Systems, Inc., Duxbury, MA 02331
NPS CWSSS Battle Summaries
NPS CWSSS Regimental Histories
Additionally information regarding David H. Nichols can be found in his Boulder Genealogical Society
biography hosted on the City of Boulder [Colorado, USofA], Parks &
Recreation, Columbia Cemetery website.
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