George Ward Nichols

George Ward Nichols (June 21, 1831 - September 15, 1885) was an American journalist known as the creator of the legend of Wild Bill Hickok.

Nichols was born on June 21, 1831, in Tremont, Maine. During American Civil War he served under General John C. Fremont and General William Sherman. He wrote ''The Story of the Great March'' (1865). The book was translated on several languages.

In September 1865 Nichols arrived in Springfield, Missouri, where he met James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok. The article ''Wild Bill'' by Nichols appeared in ''Harper’s New Monthly Magazine'' in February 1867. The publication immortalized Wild Bill. Kansas newspapers criticized Nichols for exaggerated exploits of the gunfighter.

Later Nichols moved to Cincinnati, where he became helped found and became the president of the College of Music of Cincinnati in 1878.

From 1868 until his death he was married to Maria Longworth Nichols Storer The couple had two children: Joseph and Margaret, wife of French politician Pierre de Chambrun. Nichols died from tuberculosis on September 15, 1885. Provided by Wikipedia