J. L. (James Lawrence) Nichols

Born in 1851, James Lawrence Nichols was a professor, publisher, businessman, and civic benefactor associated with Naperville, Illinois. Local history sources and library records describe him as a teacher at North-Western College (now North Central College) before he moved into publishing and business ventures of his own.

Nichols is best remembered as the author of The Business Guide, a wide-ranging reference work that drew on material he had used in the classroom and was published by J. L. Nichols & Company. He was also involved in the founding of the Naperville Lounge Factory, an early furniture business that later became connected with Peter E. Kroehler’s career.

He died on August 18, 1895, at just 44 years old. Naperville Public Library and other local historical sources note that he left $10,000 to the city to establish a public library, and the original Nichols Library was named in his honor.