"Nichols, Edwin C., of Battle Creek, Treasurer of Nichols, Shepard & Co., was born in Clinton, Lenawee County, Michigan, July 20, 1838. His father, John Nichols, is associated with him in the manufacturing business. His mother was Nancy C. Galloway. In 1848 Mr. Nichols removed, with his parents, to Battle Creek, where he has since remained, and where, in the public schools, he received most of his school education. From 1854 to 1857, he was bookkeeper and cashier for Mr. T. B. Skinner. At the expiration of that time, he spent one year in Kansas, traveling for his health. After his return to Battle Creek, in 1858, he became a partner in the manufactory of Nichols, Shepard & Co. Mr. Nichols served one term as Alderman of the Fourth Ward. He has been fully identified with the welfare and public enterprises of Battle Creek. He was a stockholder, and is a Director of the Chicago and Lake Huron Railroad. He is a Director of the First National Bank of Battle Creek, and of the Battle Creek Bank. He is Vice-President of the gas company. Mr. Nichols is liberal in his religious views. He attends the Presbyterian Church, but is not a member. He has always been a Republican, and has worked effectively for the interests of his party. He married, in Battle Creek, Sarah J. Rowan, of Battenville, New York. They have had four children, three of whom are living. The Vibrator Threshing-Machine Company, of which he is Treasurer, furnish employment to between two hundred and fifty and three hundred men. They finish, during the entire year, five complete threshing-machines each day. Their trade extends through all the grain-growing sections. Their works, which are built of brick, are the largest of the kind in the United States. The company has a capital of five hundred thousand dollars and a surplus of three hundred and forty thousand. It is incorporated, and is composed of John Nichols, Edwin C. Nichols, and David Shepard, of Battle Creek; Cornelius Aultman, of Canton, Ohio; and the estate of Henry H. Taylor, of Chicago, Illinois. Their buildings and grounds occupy ten acres of land. They manufacture portable threshing engines, the vibrator threshing and separating machines, and mounted horse-power. Mr. Nichols is truly a representative man. He possesses great force of character and business ability." – Excerpt from "American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Michigan, Volume," published by Western Biographical Publishing Co., Cincinnati, O., 1878.