USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 > Part 66
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112
The Baptist society has a church edifice at Chatham village. In June, 1823, Mary Nickerson, of this town, a member of the Harwich church, resolved to hold a Baptist meeting at Chatham, which she did in the school house at Old Harbor, now North Chatham. She held the service alone for several Sabbaths, when she was joined by My- rick Nickerson; after a few Sabbaths Otis Wing joined them; then Jeremiah Kelly. In 1824, the school house having been closed against them, they purchased an old sheep cot, which had been the first school house there, and in this they continued their worship. October, 8, 1824, the church organization was effected by Otis Wing, Myrick Nickerson, Enoch Bassett, Bangs Snow, Nehemiah Doane, Jeremiah
-
--
-- 1
588
HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Kelly, Abner Eldridge, Thacher Ryder, Josiah Mayo, Sally Bassett, Huldah Snow, Esther Ryder, Eunice Nickerson, Esther Doane, Betsey Studley, Sally Kelley, Rebecca Eldridge, Thankful Turner, Huldah and Bethiah Crowell.
In 1827 a meeting house was built and various ministers filled the pulpit. In 1828 Davis Lothrop was settled, and remained ten years, succeeded by Thomas Conant for nearly two years. In 1841 Rev. William Bowen was pastor; in 1842 George D. Fenton was settled; in 1843, Nathan Chapman; 1845, Davis Cobb; 1848, A. Smith Lyon, until February, 1853; George D. Stowell came in 1853; J. Ellis Guild, in 1854: and in 1857, Rev. Abijah Hall, jr., who remained one year and was pastor again in 1859-60. Andrew Dunn filled the desk in 1858; 1861, supplied by various ministers. In 1862 George Matthews was settled for a year. H. G. Hubbard was settled in 1864 for two years. Rev. S. J. Carr was called in 1866; George W. Ryan in 1868; F. R. Sleeper, in 1872; Jessie Coker, in 1874; Irving W. Combs, in 1876; and in 1877 G. H. Perry was pastor for that and the succeeding year. Supplies filled the time until February, 1880, when C. D. R. Meacham came. Rev. O. P. Fuller, 1881; C. N. Nichols, 1886. In October, 18SS, the society settled Rev. Ira Emery, who continues. The society have a pleasant church edifice in the north part of the village on the street leading to North Chatham.
SCHOOLS .- This medium for the advancement of all that pertains to civil and religious government was not neglected in Monomoyick, nor in the first years of its incorporation as Chatham, but no records prior to 1720 are found. That year Daniel Legg was employed to teach school, and taught two years. In 1722 Samuel Taylor was sent to the general court with a petition "to consider the low estate of the town, and exempt it from fine for keeping only a schooldame." In 1723 Mr. Legg was again schoolmaster, and the full year was divided as follows: nine weeks at Robert Nickerson's, nine at John Ryder's, nine at Ensign Nickerson's, nine at Thomas Doane's, nine at Joseph Harding's, and seven at Ensign Sears'; he to " diet around " and have his mending done. The records are silent concerning his washing.
In 1732 John Crowell was schoolmaster; in 1734, Thomas Doane; and in 1737 two were hired -- John Hallett and John Collins. Others who followed were: David Nickerson in 1738, Richard Mayo in 1747, and Thomas Paine in 1760. James Ryder taught in 1762 for £210, old tenor. In 1768 the town was divided into four sections and the number of teachers increased. Captain Joseph Doane and Seth Smith were chosen to seat a teacher in the northeast quarter of the town; George Godfrey and Joseph Atwood in the southeast quarter; John Hawes and Samuel Taylor in the southwest; and Paul Crowell and Barnabas Eldridge in the northwest quarter. Now the schools as-
589
TOWN OF CHATHAM.
sumed more definite boundaries, and in 1800 the town had five sec- tions or districts, and a school house was built in each. From this time the schools of the town advanced rapidly in number and in efficiency, until amply provided with thirteen public schools, and school committees elected to serve year by year were kept in continu- ous service. This number of districts was burdensome and expensive, but prior to 1840 no better arrangement was possible, giving each part of the town equal privileges. At this date the uniformity of text books became a necessity, and the officers prescribed, in part, what should be used, and urged their use.
In 1845, and for a few previous years, the appropriation of moneys had been about $1,200 yearly. In 1847 ;more was urged, and the amount was raised to $1,800. Six hundred pupils were looking to the common school as their only means of education, and the friends of the schools urged larger appropriations and increased facilities. In 1850 the text books were supplied by the town to only those who could not purchase. In 1857 a perceptible advancement was discern- ible, and the interest increased the attendance to the necessity of opening one more school for three months during the winter.
In 1858, after much discussion and a fair trial of the plan in adjoin- ing towns, the number of districts was reduced one-half, and a partial system of graded schools was adopted. A large building was erected at Chatham village for a grammar school and the intermediate de- partments, and a high school was even inaugurated in a small way. The grammar school, with a primary department, was also opened in South Chatham in a suitable new building. The Monomoy people had to be furnished with three months school because of their isola- tion. From this date the advancement of the public schools of Chat- ham to their present high grade was rapid.
In 1861, the attendance at the primaries was 362: at the South Chatham Grammer School, No. 2, 130; and at No. 1, Chatham village, 274. There were then four departments at the Chatham building- high, grammar, and two intermediates; at South Chatham, two de- partments-grammar and primary; elsewhere in the town, seven primaries; and a school at Monomoy one-fourth of the year. At that date the annual expenditure for school purposes was $3.200. In 1862 the Monomoy house was sold and the other departments were further consolidated. In 1863 fruitless attempts were made to place the prin- cipal of the high school in full jurisdiction over the departments of the building. This year the increase in attendance required assistants in three primaries. In 1864 a primary school wasopened in Washington Hall, and the high school was separately instituted. To this all scholars were to be admitted from any part of the town when they were properly advanced. The grammar department at South Chatham
1
1
590
HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
was constituted second in grade. The expenditures that year reached $3,745.12.
A winter boys school was opened in 1871, and termed the second department of grammar school No. 1. At South Chatham a similar department was organized in the new building.
About this date the school committee commenced the yearly pub- lication of the names of meritorions pupils, and the town's people, pleased with the good reports, voted four thousand dollars for the schools. In 1872 the board appointed, as superintendent of the schools, D. H. Crowell. In 1874 a new primary building was erected at North Chatham, and the best of edifices had been provided in all sections but one. In 1879. in furtherance of the system, Prof. M. F. Daggett was chosen principal of the high school and subordinate departments. and he perfected the present excellent system, and is still retained.
In 1883 effective changes were made in text books, for which the public paid; and written examinations before advancement in grade were adopted. In 1885 text books upon hygiene were introduced. The expense of the schools in 1SS7 was $3,732.41. In 18SS the regular teachers were eleven-all educated at home, residents of the town, except the principal. What an example of the efficient school service now fully inaugurated by the town! Seven fine buildings in five sections of the town accommodate the present population.
In 1889 the town had twelve schools in seven buildings-the high, grammar, and intermediate at Chatham village; grammar, and primary at South Chatham: two primaries in the Atwood district, and two in the building in the eastern part of the village; one in West Chatham: one in North; and one at Chatham Port. The appropriation was $3,300-the same as the previous year.
For several years prior to 1849, an academy furnished the means for a liberal private education; it stood just northwest of the present village. After the closing of the academy Joshua G. Nickerson built a seminary called the Granville Seminary, just north of the village, which after a few years was converted into a dwelling, and is now the home of Owen Oneal. The high school, aided by the two gram- mar departments, now fully supplies the wants of the town.
CIVIL HISTORY .- The loss of the records of Chatham prior to 1693 forbids a history prior to that date. It is evident that a town settled in 1665 must have had a civil history prior to the opening of the rec- ords; it is known that in 1686, under the name of Monomoy, the town was required to send grand jurors, and was asked to send a deputy in 1691. The records show thorough action at the town meetings after 1693. In 1696 a singular vote was made at town meeting-that every male who was deficient in killing the number of blackbirds and crows required, should " clear the way to go to mill and go to Nauset." This
--
7
j
591
TOWN OF CHATHAM.
was a penalty, and the delinquent was compelled to work on the road if he defaulted. In 1699 the body politic sent Rev. Jonathan Vickery to Boston with a petition that Monomoyick be incorporated a town, and have its bounds set with Harwich.
The exposure of the coast of Chatham led, in 1712, to the military order that until otherwise ordered, no men of the foot company be taken from town. This was in answer to a petition from the inhabit- ants who feared French privateers. In May, 1723, no deputy was sent, and it was more from political disagreement than any other cause. The return in default of sending the deputy said, "the town not combined to send," and "town not qualified."
The civil regulations of the town were sometimes queer; and that relating to the ringing of hogs was very strict. In 1728 the law was made that no one should mow hay on the beach until August 26th, and the sheep were even compelled to swelter in their woolen garbs until just before the first of June. The vigilance of the inhabitants was exercised in 1768 by the most stringent rules: "that strangers who came for clams should be summarily dealt with." In 1774 and 1775 strong resolutions were passed against using imported tea; but in 1776 the town voted in the negative on the adoption of the declara- tion of independence. Notwithstanding this vote, the town was loyal; the whig party far outnumbered the tory. In 1779 the vote was to support the convention called, and the stipulated list of prices was adopted. The church and schools had to have their enactments dur- ing the trying times of war, and it was by the most economical meth- ods that the town was enabled to fulfill all its requirements. In 1749 it was necessary to fence the minister's land, and in town meeting it was enacted that nineteen men build two lengths each of the fence, and "Thomas Doane and Nehemiah Harding each bring one post extra."
The embargo made in President Jefferson's administration was a trying period in the civil history of Chatham. Nearly four-score plants for the manufacture of salt dotted the shores, and the check to the industry was severely felt. Meetings were held to petition against the act, and the feeling became so intense that the town recorded a majority of its votes against the war of 1812.
The municipal proceedings of the town were not unusual during the years just prior to the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. When the requisition for men to put down the rebellion was made, then the loyalty of the people was demonstrated. Its parties are mainly those which have predominated in the Commonwealth, the re- publican largely in the ascendency. The management of its poor has been commendable from the first, and the action of the town, while stringent, has greatly benefitted the chronic tendency to this unfor-
=
592
HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
tunate state of society. As a body politic it erected a monument to the soldiers who fell in the rebellion of 1861-5: and party spirit does not divide in what pertains to the welfare of the whole. The records have, from 1693, been remarkably well transcribed, and are better kept now than in most of the towns of the county, the present clerk and treusurer, Levi Atwood, using several volumes in which to record, in superior style, every transaction.
The deputies of the town, while acting alone in the election of the representative, with their terms of service beyond one year, have been: Joseph Doane, elected in 1768, served 10 years; Joseph Howes, in 1780; Richard Sears, 1781, 19 years; in 1807. Reuben Ryder, 3 years; in 1827, Richard Sears, jr., 2; 1829, Joseph Atwood, 3; 1830, Joseph Young. 3; 1832, Joshua Nickerson, 5; 1834, Freeman Nickerson, 5; 1837, Seth Nickerson; 1838, Josiah Kendrick, 4: 1839, Thomas Spar- row; 1840. Samuel Doane, 3, and Henry Gorham; 1841, James Gould, 2; 1842, Ephraim Taylor, 2: 1844, Joseph Young, jr .; 1845, John Tay- lor; 1846, Watson Hinckley; 1847, O. A. Nickerson; 1849, Lothrop Bearse, 2; 1853, Samuel Doane: 1854, Richard Gould, 2; 1856, Heman Smith; 1857, Thomas Dodge. After Chatham was placed in a district with other towns, the representatives have been stated in the proper county chapter.
The selectmen and their years of service are given in the succeed- ing list, and where no time is given the service was one year: 1693, William Nickerson, 4, Joseph Harden, 6, and Thomas Atkins, 13; 1697, William Eldred. 3, and William Griffith, 2; 169S, Nicholas Eldred; 1700, Thomas Nickerson, 2; 1703. William Nickerson, 3: 1704, Na- thaniel Covel; 1707, Daniel Hamilton, 3, and Edmund Howes, 4; 1708, Ebenezer Howes, 7: 1710, Joseph Eldridge and Moses Godfrey; 1711, John Smith, and John Atkins, 5; 1712, W. Nickerson, Ens .; 1714, Samuel Taylor, 4; 1717, Thomas Howes, Ens., 2, and Richard Sears; 1719, Daniel Sears, 11; 1720, Thomas Atkins, S; Robert Paddock, 2, and Paul Crowell; 1721, William Eldridge; 1722 Nathaniel Covel, and Wil- liam Eldridge, jr., 4; 1725, Thomas Doane, 3; 1726, Joseph Harding; 1729, Samuel Taylor, 4; 1731, John Young, 23, and Caleb Nickerson, 3; 1732, John Nickerson, and Paul Crowell, 4: 1733, Samuel Stewart; 1736, Thomas A. Doane, 2, Samuel Atkins, 3, and Samuel Smith, 2; 1739, James Covel, 13; 1740, Thomas Hamilton, 13, and John Eldridge, 3; 1742, Paul Sears; 1748, Thomas Nickerson, 5; 1749, Solomon Collins, 2, and Nehemiah Harding, 2; 1756, Moses Godfrey, 6, and Daniel Sears, jr., 2; 1760, Paul Crowell, jr., 2; 1762, Nathan Basset, 6, and Samuel Collins, 9; 1764, Seth Smith, 7; 1765, John Hawes, 14; 1768, Joseph Doane, 9; 1772, Joseph Atwood, 2; 1776, Joseph Howes, 13, and Barzil- . lia Hopkins, 2; 1779, John Crowell; 1780, Caleb Nickerson, 13, and James Eldridge, 3; 1782, Benjamin Godfrey, 6; 1783, Isaac Howes, 5;
1
593
1
TOWN OF CHATHAM.
1786, Elijah Smith, 7; 1789, Samuel Doane, 12; 1790, Kimbal Ryder, 4; 1797. Jonah Crowell, 6; 1800, Stephen Smith, 5; 1801, Jonathan Nick- erson, 5. and Simeon Ryder, 2; 1803, Seth Taylor; 1804, Mulford Howes, Joseph Young, 10, and Reuben C. Taylor, 9; 1807, David God- frey, 2: 1808, Reuben Ryder, and John Taylor, 5; 1810, Nathaniel Snow. 11, and Myrick Nickerson; 1812, Kimbal Ryder, jr .; 1813, Rich- ard Nickerson; 1814, Thomas Howes, jr., 2; 1819. Salathial Nickerson, 7, and Stephen Ryder, jr., 5; 1820, Samuel Doane, 7; 1823, Joseph At- wood: 1824, Christopher Taylor, jr., 6; 1826, Nehemiah Doane and Isaac Hardy: 1828, Joshua Atkins; 1829, Simeon Doane; 1831, Joshua Nickerson, 18, and Josiah Kendrick, 8; 1838, Ephraim Taylor, 9. and Reuben Young; 1843, Thomas Sparrow and Joel Sparrow; 1844, Zenas Atkins, 2; 1846, Josiah Mayo; 1847, Joseph Young, jr., 2, and Zenas Nickerson, 4; 1849, Henry Eldridge, jr .; 1851, Ziba Nickerson; 1852, H. T. Eldridge; 1853, Warren Rogers, 6; 1854, James Gould; 1855, Jacob Smith, 3, and Benjamin T. Freeman, 4; 1856, Richard Taylor, 3; 1859, Josiah Hardy, jr., 6, and Ephraim Taylor, 2; 1861, Levi Eldridge, jr., 7, and B. T. Freeman, 4; 1865, Joshua Y. Bearse, 11, and Ephraim A. Taylor, 5; 1868, Warren Rogers, 7: 1870, Levi Eldridge, 2; 1872, Alfred Eldridge: 1873. Elisha Eldridge; 1876, Benjamin T. Free- man, 8; Levi Eldridge, 9, and S. E. Hallett, 10; 1881, Hiram Harding; 1885, A. Z. Atkins, 5; Charles Bassett, 5, and Collins Howes, 4. The last three were elected for 1890.
The treasurers have been: William Nickerson in 1693, for 8 years; in 1701, Thomas Atkins was reelected for 7 years; 1708, William Cro- well; 1710, Ensign W. Nickerson; 1711, Nathaniel Covel; 1713, Rich- ard Sears; 1714, Thomas Hawes; 1719, John Collins; 1721, Thomas Doane; 1723, Nathaniel Nickerson; 1725, Joseph Harden; 1726, Elisha Mayo; 1729, Richard Knowles; 1731, Thomas Nickerson; 1732, John Atkins; 1733, Daniel Sears; 1735, Paul Crowell; 1736, James Covel; 1740, Paul Crowell; 1748, James Crowell; 1752, Paul Sears; 1753, Daniel Sears, jr .; 1769, Nathan Bassett; 1775, Richard Sears: 1785, John Emery; 1789, Joseph Doane. Since 1791 the office of treasurer has been filled by the town clerk.
The clerks of the town have been: 1693. William Nickerson; 1708, Thomas Atkins; 1714, Daniel Sears; 1722, Samuel Stewart; 1732, Thomas Nickerson; 1749, James Covel; 1752, Paul Sears; 1753, Daniel Sears, jr .; 1769, Nathan Bassett; 1775, Richard Sears; 1785, John Em- ery; 1789, John Doane; 1790, Joseph Doane; 1797, Nathan Bassett, jr .; 1803, John Hawes; 1824, Reuben C. Taylor; 1827, Richard Sears, jr .; 1828, David Godfrey; 1838, David Atwood; 1839, Christopher Tay- lor: 1843, Nathaniel Snow; 1844, Ephraim Taylor; 1847, Josiah Mayo; and in 1873, Levi Atwood was elected, and was acceptably filling the offices of treasurer and clerk in 1890.
38
-
594
HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
VILLAGES .- The principal and most important center of the town is the village of Chatham, situate in the southeastern part. The streets environ the ponds of that part of the town, and their windings are only equaled by the undulations of the area over which they lead. It had no group of houses in 1800 by which it was designated from the other portions of the town. No post office was established for a score of years subsequently, and at that time nothing betokened the present flourishing village. The fishing facilites and sites for salt works soon after 1800 brought many families, whose descendants are now the active business men.
This beach many years ago was still further east, forming a good harbor along the village, but it has since formed nearer the main land. The first wooden light houses erected here in 1808 were washed away and their site is now covered with water. Others of brick were erected in 1841, and the encroachments of the sea has left them in ruins, as appears in the illustration. The scene shows the beach east and north of the ruins at a point where the sea has made, in the contour of the coast, those great changes described in chapter I. The present double light was located in 1877 just west of these ruins, at the left of the picture.
The Collins, Sears, Bangs, Hamilton and Atwood families mostly owned the lands now embraced by the village. Aged citizens who can recall the houses here in 1805, place Richard Howes, Joseph Dex-
595
.TOWN OF CHATHAM.
ter and Eliphalet Hamilton, with his three sons-Seth, Nehemiah and Melatiah-east of Mill pond. Somewhere here were also Samuel and Cyrenius Collins. John Hammond lived near the lights; also Josiah Harding and Isaac Hardy. At the head of Mill pond were the houses of Jonatham Hamilton and Captain Mulford Howes; opposite the present store of Ziba Nickerson was the residence of Richard Hamil- ton, and opposite the Traveler's Home the house of Richard Gould. The Atwoods were on the road to Stage harbor, and near Oyster pond.
Very soon after, in this village of 1805-if it could be thus denom- inated-we hear of Eben Bangs, Henry Gorham, Elra Eldridge, David Bearse, Josiah Mayo, Joshua Nickerson, Joseph Loveland and David, Josiah and Richard Gould. At the south the bluffs of Morris island and the long neck called Harding's beach are plainly visible; on the east the long beach called Nauset connects with Monomoy point, and beyond this is the Atlantic.
The earliest industry of the village-always excepting fishing- was the manufacture of salt, which soon after 1800 received consider- able attention. These works, interspersed with flakes for drying fish, nearly covered the shore from the Sears' plant northeast of the vil- lage, southerly to the lights, around the shores of both ponds, and the rivers connecting them with the harbor. Enoch Howes, Henry Gor- ham, Elra Eldridge, Zenas Nickerson and Isaac Hardy had salt works on the beach east of the village; Joseph Loveland and Joshua Nicker- son had extensive works east and south of Mill pond; on the north side of Mitchell's river were the works of Joseph, John and Sears At- wood, and Micajah Howes, and at the head of the pond those of Isaiah Lewis; on the neck, next to Stage harbor, those of William Hamilton, Christopher Taylor and Elisha, Joesph and Isaiah Harding; next west those of Thomas Smith; on the point next to Oyster pond those of Reuben Eldridge and Samuel Taylor; David Godfrey, Solomon Atwood and David Atwood on south side of Oyster pond; Edward Kendrick and Nathaniel Snow on the north side of the pond; Collins Taylor and Benjamin Buck on north side of the river; Nehemiah Doane and Sam- uel Doane east of these. Some of these works were in use until 1860.
Shipbuilding found a place among the vats and flakes. The sloop Canton, of fourty-six tons, was built in 1828 on the east shore north of the lights, for Barzillai Harding, who ran her thirty years as a packet to Boston. About 1835 the schooners Jew and Gentile and Emulous were built here; and at the marine railway after 1860 the schooner T. & C. Hawes was built by James Cannon for Oliver Eldridge. The schooner Deposit was built just above the village by Anthony Thacher. .
In 1856 the present Eldridge house was built by Isaac B. Young, who, after experience at Lynn in the manufacture of shoes, started a factory here. The shed in the rear of the house was then attached,
:
.1 -
5
. 596
HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
and was the shop. He employed thirty hands, and for six years made and sold goods throughout the county. The factory was discontinued in 1863. .
There were stores in this village early, to supply the wants of the . few people, but that of Sears & Hardy, about 1830, close to the old lights, was the first general store of importance. After a few years Josiah Hardy became the proprietor, and about 1851 Ziba Nickerson was in- terested for two years. In 1853 Captain Isaiah Harding had an inter- est for seven years, when James Tripp became a partner with his father-in-law, Josiah Hardy. Josiah Hardy and Isaiah Harding added to the trade lumber, wood, coal, and cured and packed fish. This, at that time the only general, and by far the most extensive, store of the town, was near the present flag staff by the old lights. This firm brought in the schooner Fovorite, the first coal to the town. The firm of Hardy & Tripp, after a few years, sold to William Hitchings, who sold to Parker Nickerson in 1872; then Robert Miller purchased the building.
From the old store by the lighthouses, in 1853, Ziba Nickerson, on his present site, built the store, and engaged in general merchandise. Besides this, he has been long engaged in the lumber and shingle trade, which he was gradually closing out in 1889; he continues one of the heavy coal yards of the village. In 1854 a telegraph line, now a branch of the Western Union, to Boston, was inaugurated at his store, of which he was the operator many years, succeeded by his son, W. L. Nickerson.
The store of Solomon E. Hallett, on Main street, is the continua- tion of a dry goods business which his mother, Charlotte W. Hallett, commenced in 1840.
The store of furnishing goods and clothing, by Marcus W. How- ard, was started in February, 1873, in the building now occupied by Doctor Robinson's drug and E. T. Bearse's jewelry store. He contin- ued there until his present store building was completed, in 1885.
Sullivan Rogers is one of the oldest business men of the street. In 1846 he began sheet-iron and tin working in the store of Isaiah Lewis, where Erastus Nickerson now is; it stood on the knoll east of Ziba Nickerson's. In 1848 he moved into Samuel H. Young's shop, next west of where Mr. Rogers now lives. After three years he bought and removed to his present store. In 1882 he remodeled the building into its present commodious shape. In 1889 his son, Josiah M. Rogers, become a partner, forming the firm of Sullivan Rogers & Son, dealing in stoves, hardware and house furnishing goods.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.