George Ward Nichols (June 21, 1831 - September 15, 1885) was an American journalist known as the creator of the legend of Wild Bill Hickok.
[2] 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.
[3][4] Kansas newspapers criticized Nichols for exaggerated exploits of the gunfighter.
[6][7] 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.