Asher P. Nichols

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Asher P. Nichols (c. 1815 – May 30, 1880) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Born in Whiting, Vermont, his family moved to Rushville, New York when he was young. He finished at Springville Academy around age 18, then went to Canandaigua to work as a clerk in the law office of Judge George W. Clinton, son of Governor DeWitt Clinton. In 1836 Nichols and Clinton moved to Buffalo, where Nichols became one of the city's first lawyers and later joined Clinton as his partner. Although a Democrat, Nichols did not enter politics until 1867, when he was elected to the New York State Senate (31st District) for 1868–1869. In June 1870 he was appointed New York State Comptroller to fill the vacancy caused by William F. Allen’s resignation, and in November 1870 was elected to complete Allen’s term. He was defeated for re-election in 1871 by Republican Nelson K. Hopkins. Nichols died of apoplexy at a friend's home in Clinton and was buried in Rochester, New York.