Judge Samuel H. Nicholas, occupying the common pleas bench in Coshocton, adds to his comprehensive knowledge of the law in the performance of his judicial duties the commendable trait of executing the business of the courts with dispatch as well as fairness. Roscoe numbers him among her native sons, the year of his birth being 1856. His father, Hon. John D. Nicholas, served on the common pleas bench from 1887 to 1897. The son attended the common schools of Roscoe and Coshocton, and in 1875 became a student in Kenyon College, but was obliged to discontinue his course there because of ill health. The following year, however, he pursued a course in psychology and English literature at Wooster University and, ere entering upon the study of law, devoted one year to the carpenter's trade.

Determined to follow in the professional footsteps of his father, he became a law student in the office of Nicholas & James, then regarded as one of the strongest law firms of Coshocton. After three years of study he was admitted to the bar and located for practice in the county seat. Gradually he has advanced in his profession to a foremost place in the ranks of the legal fraternity, possessing the ability that enabled him to cope with intricate legal problems and bring them to successful solution. With a mind naturally logical and inductive in its reasoning and analytical in its tendency, Judge Nicholas has never feared the arduous labor which is so necessary in the preparation of cases for the courts, while in his presentation of his case he has displayed the soundest reasoning, together with the utmost accuracy in the application of legal principles to the points at issue. In 1885 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county and made an exceptional record by his energy and fidelity in serving the people during his two terms' incumbency in the position. In 1889 he was given an appointment as member of the supreme court examining commission of the state, for the examination of candidates for admission to the bar, and thus served for three consecutive terms. In 1897 he was a candidate for common pleas judge and had strong support, but at length the convention endorsed the candidacy of Judge Eason. In 1906, however, the name of Mr. Nicholas was again before the primaries when, gaining the nomination he was later elected by a large majority. Following his election he immediately dissolved his partnership with W. S. Merrell, and since his elevation to the bench has allowed no personal element or opinion to sway him in the fair and faithful administration of justice. He is entirely opposed to the methods of some judges who allow the work of the courts to accumulate on the docket until judgement, if at length secured, comes after long delay. he dispatches the business of the courts in the same prompt and able manner which he displayed in caring for the business of his clients as a practitioner. Several murder cases and others of importance have been tried before him, and he has vindicated the highest expectations of his friends, giving proof of the fact that he possesses a judicial mind and is an able minister in the temple of justice.

After the death of his father Judge Nicholas was elected an honorary member of all the military associations to which his father had belonged. He stands as one of the prominent representatives of democracy in this part of the state and has been an able speaker on the hustings, always addressing his audience in forceful manner upon the questions of the day, of which he has ever been an intelligent and discriminating student. Fluency of speech and clearness of thought have made him a valued orator on many public occasions and he is regarded as one of the most popular speakers in Coshocton county.

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