USA > Massachusetts > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1901 > Part 53
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UTHER NICKERSON, president of the Equitable Marine Insurance Com- pany of Provincetown and director of the First National Bank of that place, was born in Provincetown, July 9, 1829. his parents being Stephen and Rebecca R. (Dyer) Nickerson. His paternal ancestry is traced back, through Stephen, second (his father), Stephen, first, and Seth, to Josiah Nickerson, all natives of Provincetown. Jo siah Nickerson was practically a lifelong resi- dent here, coming to the place in childhood, if not a native. He was in all probability a lineal descendant of William Nickerson, of Norwich, England, who, with his wife, Anne Busby, came to America. in 1637, and who, after residing for a time at Yarmouth, Mass., bought the land that now forms the site of the village of Chatham, where he settled and re- mained until his death.
Seth Nickerson married Martha Atwood, of Wellflcet. His son Stephen, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, is said by tradition to have served on board of the "Bonhomme Richard," under Paul Jones, in 1779, and to have taken part in the capture of the "Serapis." He was but a youth at that time; and it is re-
lated that, when the prize money was divided, he, with two or three others, were not allowed a share, and in consequence refused to sign articles for another trip. Being called to the cabin, Paul Jones, showing him his sword, told him that he would run him through if he did not sign. The lad immediately bared his breast, persisting in the determination not to sign unless he could share in the prize money. Such courage and resolution were likely to make a favorable impression on one who was himself famed the world over for those quali- ties, and it is certain that the commodore's threat was not put into execution. Subse- quently Stephen Nickerson, first, became the owner of fishing-vessels, and engaged, also, in the manufacture of salt. About 1812 he removed to Phillipston, Worcester County, and spent the rest of his days therc. He married Hannah Eldredge, of Chatham.
Stephen Nickerson, second, father of Luther, began fishing in his boyhood days, and made many trips to the Newfoundland Banks and Chaleur Bay. By industry and economy he saved money with which to establish himself in business; and in 1831 he, with Jonathan Nickerson, Thomas Nickerson, and Samuel Soper, formed the Union Wharf Company and built Union Wharf, the first long wharf at Provincetown. Their firm, also, was the first one of note to carry on the combined business of fishing and trading. Stephen Nickerson continued in business for many years, and was very successful. He was one of the first trus- tees of the Seamen's Saving Bank. He died at the age of eighty-six. His wife, Rebecca, was born in Portsmouth, N. H., and was a daughter of Jonathan Dyer. Her father was taken prisoner during the War of 1812, and died in Dartmoor Prison. Her mother dying about the same time, Rebecca, then a girl of two years, came to Provincetown to reside with friends. She lived to reach her ninety-second year. She reared four children: Stephen T., now deceased; Francis, who lived in Province- town; Luther, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; and Rebecca R., who died at the age of fifty-seven years. Mary R., another daughter, died at the age of eight years.
Luther Nickerson was educated in Province-
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REV. THOMAS DAWES.
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town, and in time became associated with his father and brothers in the ownership of ves- sels and in the fishing business. He was also for a number of years a member of the Union Wharf Company, and was actively engaged in business until 1892, since which time he has been practically retired, his time being occu- pied chiefly in looking after his private inter- ests. He still, however, through his position as president of the Equitable Marine Insurance Company and as director in the First National Bank, as mentioned in the beginning of this sketch, keeps in touch with the business inter- ests of Provincetown. Politically, he has been a Republican since the formation of that party. He served as Selectman in 1868, as Overseer of the Poor in the years 1868, ISS2, 1883, and 1884, and as a member of the School Commit- tee in 1871 and 1872. In 1895 he was elected to the State Legislature for one term, serving on the Committee on Fisheries and Game.
. Mr. Nickerson was married in 1852 to Miss Elizabeth Stickney, a native of Hopkinton, N. H., born in 1829 and a daughter of Ezekiel W. and Rhoda (Cottle) Stickney. He has two children - Rebecca Dora and Luther Colby. Rebecca Dora, who married Jacob Rood and resides in East Boston, is the mother of two children - Luther Colby, M. D., and Elizabeth Nickerson.
EV. THOMAS DAWES, pastor of the Unitarian Church, Brewster, Barn- stable County, was born March 1I, 1818, in Baltimore, Md. His parents were Thomas and Eliza (Cunningham) Dawes, and he is the fourth Thomas in a direct line, his grandfather and great-grandfather Dawes having also borne that name. His great-grand- father, Colonel Thomas Dawes, who was born in Boston, August 5, 1731, and died January 2, 1809, was a Colonial officer, commanding the Boston regiment from 1773 to 1778. He was several times a member of the State Legis- lature, serving either as Representative or Sen- ator. He also served in the Executive Council, and was at one time Captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery. He was Deacon of the Old South in Boston, 1787-1809.
The Hon. Thomas Dawes, son of Colonel Thomas, was born in Boston, July 8, 1758, and was graduated from Harvard College in 1777. He was a Justice of the Supreme Court from 1792 to 1803, and Judge of Probate from that year until his death, which occurred July 22, 1825. Thomas Dawes, third, father of the Rev. Thomas, was also a native of Boston, his birth having taken place April 26, 1783. He was graduated from Harvard in ISO1, and, turning his attention to commerce, he carried on business in Baltimore for four years. Upon his return to Boston he engaged in business as a ship broker. Ile married Eliza Cunningham, an adopted daughter of Henry Hill, of Boston, and was the father of four children ; namely, Thomas, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Sarah Ann. Thomas Dawes, third, died of apoplexy in 1825. His daughter Margaret died at the age of twenty years. Elizabeth Dawes was the wife of the late George Minot, son of Judge Minot, and a graduate of Harvard, class of 1 836, who for many years was attorney for the Boston & Maine Railway. Mr. and Mrs. Minot reared one daughter - Ellen. Sarah Ann Dawes married Chauncy Parkman Judd, who was a law partner of George Minot and his successor as attorney for the Railway Company. Mr. and Mrs. Judd were the parents of two . daughters - Edith and Marion.
Thomas Dawes, fourth, pursued his element- ary studies at a private school in Boston, con- tinued his preparation for college at the Chauncy Hall and the Boston Latin School, where the Franklin silver medal was awarded to him, and received his bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 1839, and was graduated from the Divinity School in 1842. During his college course he displayed marked proficiency as an orator, and was regarded as the most forcible speaker of his class, which included such men of subsequent distinction as the Rev. Charles H. Brigham, the Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale, Samuel Eliot, and Samuel Longfellow. In 1844 Mr. Dawes was installed pastor of a church in Fairhaven, Mass., where he remained until 1853, going from that place to South Bos- ton for a stay of about seven years, and then presiding over a church in Walpole, N.II., for three years. He was called to Nantucket in
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1863. His present pulpit he has occupied con- tinuously since 1872. The church in Brewster was organized October 16, 1700, with eight members, including the first pastor, Rev. Na- thaniel Stone. The early records are in Mr. Stone's own handwriting and are well pre- served.
On November 5, 1845, Mr. Dawes married Lydia A. Sawin, daughter of the Hon. Ezekiel Sawin, a merchant of Fairhaven and sometime State Senator. Mrs. Dawes died August 16, 1 892, aged sixty-nine years.
For six years Mr. Dawes was a member of the Boston School Board, and the report of that body for 1852 was written by him. He belongs to the Alpha Delta Phi and the Phi Beta Kappa Societies of Harvard University, is president of the Pilgrim Club of Brewster and secretary of the Cape Cod Conference. In politics he is a Republican. He owns and prizes a solid silver bowl which was presented to his great-grandfather, Colonel Thomas Dawes, by the officers of the regiment of the town of Boston in 1763. The inscription on the bowl reads
THE GIFT OF THE FIELD OFFICERS AND CAPTAINS OF THE REGIMENT OF THE TOWN OF BOSTON TO THOMAS DAWES, ESQR. FOR HIS PAST SERVICES AS AD- JUTANT TO SAID REGIM- ENT, SEPT 13 1763.
IRAM CROCKER, a prosperous farmer and one of the largest land-owners in Barnstable, was born in this town, August 19, 1820, son of Enoch and Lydia (Percival) Crocker. The Crockers of Barnstable trace their lineage to Deacon Will- iam Crocker, a native of Lyncham, in Devon- shire, who emigrated to New England in 1634 or 1635, and who, it is asserted by some au- thorities, located first in Roxbury, although others claim that his first regular abiding-place was Scituate. It is generally believed that he resided in the last-named town prior to coming to Barnstable in 1639. That was the year in which the town was settled, and he was conse-
quently among the original proprietors. A well-to-do resident, having landed possessions, he was prominently identified with early public affairs. He died in 1692.
Deacon William Crocker's son Joseph, of whom the subject of this sketch is a direct de- scendant, was born in 1654. He married Temperance Bursley. Their son William, who was born in August, 1679, married Mary Crocker; and his son Benjamin, the next in this line, who was born in March, 1720, mar- ried Bathsheba Hall. Benjamin Crocker's son Joseph, Mr. Hiram Crocker's grandfather, whose birth took place in April, 1748, fol- lowed the shoemaker's trade in Barnstable during his active years; and he died July 21, 1825. He was a Deacon of the church at West Barnstable. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Hinckley. She died in Au- gust, 1841, aged ninety-two years.
Enoch Crocker, above named, son of Deacon Joseph, was born in Barnstable, January 26, 1791; and his wife, Lydia, was born in Sand- wich, Mass., November 3, 1792. His chief occupation was shoemaking; but he was asso- ciated with others in running a stage line, and he was a lifelong resident of Barnstable. Enoch Crocker died November 28, 1854, sur- viving his wife, who died December 6, 1843. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Alanson, born May 20, 1816; Ada- line, born June 4, 1818; Hiram, the subject of this sketch; Benjamin F., born June 17, 1822; Augusta, born July 10, 1824; Enoch, born October 18, 1825; Charles C., born Au- gust 21, 1831 ; and George W. and Chloe P., twins, who were born March 21, 1835. Of these the only ones living are: Hiram, Benja- min F., Charles C., and George W.
Provided with a common-school education, Hiram Crocker began to serve an apprentice- ship at the wheelwright's trade when eighteen years old, and followed it as a journeyman until 1849. The California gold fever, which was then at its height, attracted him to the Pacific coast ; and he arrived at San Francisco after a passage of one hundred and sixty days from Barnstable by way of Cape Horn. He was fairly successful in the diggings, where he remained until November, 1855; and almost
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immediately after his return he gave his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits at Cotuit. His landed estate, which was originally possessed by one of his early ancestors, is one of the most fertile tracts in that vicinity ; and he has demonstrated the fact that farming on Cape Cod can be made to yield good returns, in spite of the general belief to the contrary. He car- ries on general farming and keeps some excel- lent stock. At the present time he owns about four hundred acres, partly woodland, desirably located.
On November 27, 1845, Mr. Crocker mar- ried Rebecca Sampson. She was born in Co- tuit, August 30, 1821, daughter of William and Hannah B. (Thatcher) Sampson. Her father, who was born in the same place, Au- gust 13, 1786, died at the age of forty-eight years; and her mother, who was born in Barn- stable, January, 1791 or 1792, lived to the age of eighty-four. Mrs. Crocker was reared upon the farm where she now resides, she being a descendant of Deacon William Crocker, the original American ancestor of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Crocker have had five children, namely : Mary S., born June 29, 1847; Han- nah E., born April 23, 1849; Lydia, born July 25, 1853; Benjamin S., born September 28, 1855; and Adeline A .; born August II, 1 860. Of these but two are living: Hannah E., who is unmarried; and Benjamin S., who is a civil engineer residing in New York. He married Olive Jenks, of Spencer, Mass., and has one daughter, Mary S. Crocker, who was born August 18, 1882.
Politically, Mr. Crocker is a Republican. For a number of years he has been a member of the School Board, and has served as Regis- trar of Voters. His ability and thrift, as well as his upright character, show him to be a worthy representative of a family whose ances- tors occupy an honorable place in the early records of Barnstable.
SAIAH T. JONES, for many years a suc- cessful and highly respected business man of Sandwich, was born in Falmouth, Mass., November 25, 1838, son of Joshua and Reliance (Phinney) Jones. Having pur-
sued the regular course of study provided by the town schools, he left Falmouth when a young man for Virginia, where he was for some time employed as clerk in a country store. In 1869 he purchased a tack factory at Wheeling, W. Va., having as a partner in the transaction the well-known tack manufact- urer of Sandwich, Hiram H. Heald. After continuing the business in its original location for twenty-two years, it was deemed advisable to move the plant to Norristown, Pa., where it is still in active operation. Messrs. Jones and Heald were also the owners of a productive cranberry bog in Plymouth County, Massachu- setts.
Mr. Jones resided in Sandwich from 1860 until his death, which occurred November 18, 1898. A self-made man, his prosperity being acquired solely by his own personal energy and strict business integrity, he reached a po- sition among business men which can be at- tained only through actual worth. His alle- giance to the Democratic party continued unbroken from the time of his becoming a voter, and he was actively concerned in the general welfare of the community. He was a Methodist in religious belief and a prominent church member.
The marriage of Mr. Jones with Hannah C. Weeks took place March 17, 1861. Their wedded life of thirty-seven years was an ex- tremely happy one, as they strove only to be worthy of each other's love and devotion. Mrs. Jones is a native of Westport, Bristol County, Mass., daughter of Captain William and Myra E. (Allen) Weeks. Her father was born in Dartmouth, same county, in 1813; and her mother, who was Captain Weeks's first wife, was born in Westport in 1813. Captain Weeks is now residing in New Bedford. His first wife died at the age of forty-five years, and he was again married. He is the father of seven children, three by his first union and four by his second. Mrs. Jones has had eight children; namely, Adeline W., Lombard C., A. Reliance, Charlotte E., Louis B., Isaiah T., Frank L., and Jennie B. Jones. Reliance is the wife of Henry A. Bourne, and Louis B. married Alice Marsh.
Mrs. Jones and the other heirs of her late
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husband's estate have not withdrawn their interest in the firm of Jones & Heald, prefer- ring to keep the business intact. Mr. Jones was a Master Mason, and belonged to De Witt Clinton Lodge.
EORGE EVERETT BIGELOW, of Revere, is actively identified with the mercantile interests of Boston, where he is carrying on an extensive business under the firm name of E. W. Bigelow & Co. He was born December 23, 1855, in West Boylston, Mass., which was formerly a part of the original town of Shrewsbury, Worcester County. The descendant of a Colonial family of prominence, he traces his ancestry back to John " Biglo " (as the name was spelled in some of the old records), the line being John,' Samuel,2 Samuel,3 Deacon Amariah,+ Dr. Amariah,5 Ezra,6 Everett W.,7 and George Everett,s the subject of this biography.
The marriage of John Biglo and Mary Warren, October 30, 1642, was the first recorded in Watertown. He was a blacksmith by trade and a man of influence in the community, serv- ing as Constable in 1663 and as Selectman in 1665, 1670, and 1671. His will, dated January 4, 1703, was probated July 28, 1703.
Samuel Bigelow, son of John, born October 28, 1653, married June 3, 1674, Mary Flagg. He was a Representative from Watertown to the General Court in 1708, 1709, and 1710. His will was proved in 1731. Samuel Bigelow, Jr., was born September 18, 1679. Ile married in 1716 Mary Gleason, she being his second wife. His estate was settled in 1734. Deacon Amariah Bigelow, born in Marlborough in 1722, son of Samuel, Jr., died March 8, 1780. He was twice married.
Dr. Amariah Bigelow, born in Shrewsbury, March 23, 1757, son of Deacon Amariah and his second wife, Sarah Eveleth, of Stow, Mass., was educated for the medical profession, and settled in West Boylston, being the first resident physician of that town, where he opened his office in 1780. He died very suddenly, when but little more than thirty years of age. In 1781 he married Persis Beaman, daughter of Ezra Beaman, Esq., more familiarly known as " Major " Beaman, who was with the Continental army at Cambridge in
1775, and who with true patriotism was ready at any time to devote his property and his per- sonal exertions to secure and maintain the inde- pendence of the American colonies. Ezra Bige- low, son of Dr. Amariah, was born in West Boyls- ton, November 27, 1782. He died in Clinton, Mass., in 1868, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. He was a farmer, and for many years a promi- nent merchant, keeping a general store. lle held many public offices in West Boylston, being Town Clerk 1813 to 1823, Chairman of Selectmen three years, Assessor, and Town Treasurer. He was a noted mathematician, was an associate of Robert B. Thomas, and ren- dered much assistance in compiling the " Old Farmer's Almanack." His first wife, Cynthia Child, died in 1820, leaving three children - Ezra B., Dolly C., and Persis B. For his second wife he married Sarah Crossman, by whom he had six children - Cynthia A., Everett Webster, Augusta E., Cynthia G., . Henry C., and Sara Louisa.
Everett Webster Bigelow was born in Wal- tham, Mass., June 29, 1826. He was engaged in the cotton manufacture in West Boylston for many years, but in 1865 transferred his busi- ness to Clinton, Mass., where he resided until 1870, when he removed to Boston, making his home at the Highlands. He died in Revere, May 16, 1895. In 1885 he established the firm of E. W. Bigelow & Co., dealers in oils. On February 7, 1850, he married Caroline A. Howe, who was born in Holden, Mass., February 7, 1830. Her father, Barney Howe, for many years a prominent merchant of Holden and West Boylston, was born in 1800, and died in West Boylston in 1860. He married Melinda Knowlton. His father, Hiram Howe, born in Shrewsbury in 1775, married Olive Harthan.
George Everett Bigelow attended the public schools of West Boylston and Clinton, and com- pleted his education after coming to Boston with his parents. For many years he was engaged in the express business. He was the Boston agent of the Boston & Bangor Express Com- pany ; and, when the International Express was formed, he was made cashier of the incorpo- rated company. He also held responsible posi- tions with the Boston & Albany Railroad Com- pany's Express, and with the Adams Express
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Company. In ISI he was appointed to a clerkship in the Boston Post-office, which posi- tion he resigned two years later to accept a more lucrative one in the express business. On the establishment of the firm of E. W. Bigelow & Co., as above mentioned, he became junior partner ; and he has since carried on an exten- sive and lucrative business in oils at the original location, on Central Wharf, No. 33.
On January 6, 1892, Mr. Bigelow married Lucy A., daughter of Patrick M. and Rachel (Blampied) Power, and very soon after settled in Revere, where he has an attractive home. Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow have three children, namely : Mary E., born October 30, 1892; George E., born January 15, 1895 ; and Charles B. L., born May 11, 1898. A daughter, Olive C., born June 16, 1900, died August 16, 1900.
LIVER LEONARD BRIGGS, the well-known Boston billiard-table man- ufacturer, was born in Westmoreland, N. H., September 18, 1832, being a son of Amasa Chapman and Sally (Leonard)
Briggs. His father, a native of the same town, born December 10, 1804, was a son of Lemuel Briggs, whose birth took place Decem- ber 2, 1767, and who died in 1868, at the ad- vanced age of .one hundred years. Lemuel was a son of Caleb Briggs, who was born in Rehoboth, Mass., February 27, 1743.
Caleb Briggs resided for a time in Taunton, Mass., and in 1770 removed to Westmoreland, N. H., where he died in June, 1825, after a long and useful life. The maiden name of his wife was Bertha Eddy. Joshua Briggs, father of Caleb, was born in Rehoboth, November 25, 1714. He married Sarah Luther, November 6, 1735. Joshua's father, Thomas Briggs, Jr., was born in Taunton, November 9, 1690. He was a son of Thomas Briggs, Sr., whose birth took place in Taunton, September 29, 1669, and a grandson of William Briggs, the first American progenitor of the family, who on November 6, 1666, married Sarah Macumber, of Mansfield, Mass.
Amasa Chapman Briggs, father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was a prosperous farmer of Westmoreland, and was prominently identified
with local public affairs, holding minor town offices. In politics he was originally a Demo- crat, but withdrew from that party to join the Free Soil movement, and subsequently became a Republican. He died January 22, 1895. His wife, Sally, was a daughter of Oliver Leonard, a prominent iron manufacturer of Foxboro, Mass. Amasa C. and Sally Briggs were the parents of six children, but two of whom are now living: Oliver L., named for his maternal grandfather; and Lyman P. Their first-born died in infancy. The others were : Alonzo H. ; Ortensia A. ; and Oliver's twin sister, Lucy S., who died at the age of eighteen years. The parents were members of the Congregational church.
Oliver Leonard Briggs began his studies in the common schools of his native town, ad- vanced by attending the high school, and com- pleted his education with a full course at Comer's Commercial College, Boston. He has resided in Boston continuously since 1850, and for some years following his graduation from Comer's he was employed as a book- keeper for James B. Dow, publisher. In 1861 he established himself in the book business at the corner of Washington and Essex Streets, paying nine hundred dollars per year for a store
which now rents for ten thousand ; and he con- tinued in trade there for ten years. The large and successful billiard-table manufactory which bears his name was established by him thirty years ago, with headquarters at 970 Washing- ton Street, where he remained until moving to his present place of business, at 61 Essex Street, in 1898.
In 1860 Mr. Briggs was united in marriage with Miss Mary Sabin Stone, a native of India, daughter of the Rev. Cyrus and Abigail Stone, formerly missionaries in that country. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have one son, Frederick Ilunt- ington, who was born May 5, 1866, was gradu- ated from Brown University with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in ISS9, and is now in business with his father. He married Miss Ada Leonora Longley, daughter of J. N. and Annie E. (Taylor) Longley.
In company with his wife and son, Mr. Briggs has made a tour around the world, vis- iting the principal points of interest in Europe
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and the Far East, and has also travelled exten- sively in the United States. He is a member of Columbian Lodge of Walpole, N. H. ; St. Andrew's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Bos- ton Commandery, Knights Templar; Ancient Landmark Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and the Boston Art Club. He is one of the best known men in his line of in- dustry in this country, and is highly esteemed in business circles.
ILLIAM CASWELL HUMPHREY, one of Marblehead's most substan- tial residents, is a native of that town, and was born October 17, 1848. His parents were William, Jr., and Nancy S. (Caswell) Humphrey, his father the son of William Humphrey, Sr., and his mother a daughter of William and Nancy (Cloutman) Caswell, of Marblehead.
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