History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 51

Author: Thompson, Elroy Sherman, 1874-
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 51
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 51
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 51

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).

George H. Swift married, at Wareham, Massachu- setts, Minetta S. Nickerson, daughter of John L. and Etta (Savory) Nickerson. Mr. and Mrs. Swift are the parents of one child, a daughter, born at Ware- ham, Grace Swift, who married A. G. Nye, of Saga- more, and is now living at Hartford, Connecticut.

HENRY S. STORMS-After a varied business career, Henry S. Storms was elected tax collector of the town of Bourne in 1926, and he is filling that office in a manner which is entirely acceptable to those who placed him in office. He is one of the very active adherents of the Republican party, and has been treasurer of the Republican Town Com- mittee for the past thirty-five or forty years.

Henry S. Storms was born in Mendocino County, California, in 1859, son of Simeon Storms, one of the many venturesome souls who sailed from Boston in search of gold in '49, and who later was Indian agent in the employ of the Federal Government, and of Sarah (Stevens) Storms. Henry S. Storms received a practical education in the public schools of Bourne

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Edwini K. Greer

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Glennon. Mr. and Mrs. Miskell have two children: 1. Laura F., born July 26, 1916. 2. Joseph B., Jr., born May 12, 1921. The family home is located at Falmouth Heights.

EDWARD F. MAHER-One of the well-known citizens of Hyannis is Edward F. Maher, who con- stantly is interested in matters pertaining to the wel- fare of his community. For the past thirty-five years Mr. Maher has owned and operated the Sandy Pond Ice Company. Just in all dealings in business and all other connections, deeply interested in his fellow-citizens and in their civic and social welfare, in the church, in politics, and activities of fraternal organizations, Mr. Maher is held in high respect by the people of Hyannis.

Edward F. Maher was born in Hyannis, July 20, 1866, son of William and Mary (Donahue) Maher, his father having been engaged as blacksmith in this town until the time of his death, a man of charac- ter, esteemed by all who knew him. Mr. Maher attended the public schools, graduated from Barn- stable High School, and went to work in the Eagle- ston Dry Goods Store, Hyannis. Soon thereafter he became associated with the Sandy Pond Ice Com- pany, and as its head has watched with interest the growth of this industry and the popularity of this commodity on Cape Cod since those early days. He was one of the organizers and is now treasurer and a director of Cape Cod Hospital, of Hyannis. Also, he is a director of the Hyannis Co-operative Bank, and a member of the Prudential Committee of the Hyannis Fire District. In politics, Mr. Maher has always been a Democrat, believing in the prin- ciples of government as set forth by Thomas Jeffer- son and so admirably maintained by Grover Cleve- land and Woodrow Wilson. He is a member of the Finance Committee of the town of Barnstable, and has served in this capacity since the committee was first appointed. From 1894 until 1898 Mr. Maher was assistant postmaster of Hyannis, and on June 14, 1914, was appointed postmaster by President Wilson. He retained this office until the month of February, 1923. While postmaster, through the period of the World War, Mr. Maher took a large part in the raising of funds for diverse purposes of a patriotic nature. He performed on boards and committees of war work, also, in addition to his regu- lar governmental duties as postmaster. Mr. Maher is secretary and treasurer of the Hyannis Public Library Association. He is one of the publicity and finance committee of the Cape Cod Chapter, Ameri- can Red Cross. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, in which order he is a Dis- trict Deputy, and the Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks. He is a member of the Hyannis Board of Trade, Rotary Club, and Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

EDWIN K. GREER-As the largest dealer in building materials in Wareham, Massachusetts, Ed- win K. Greer is well known in this section of Plym- outh County. His yards and offices are located at No. 57 Main Street, and include the yards formerly owned by Prince Gifford and the mason supply yards formerly owend by the Franconia Coal Company.

Charles K. Greer, father of Mr. Greer, was born in Belmont, Maine, and was engaged in business as a

carpenter and a lumberman to the time of his death in 1924. He served in the Civil War as a private in Company K, First Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and was Commander of General William T. Sherman Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Wareham. He married Hattie A. Morse, who was born in West Wareham, Massachusetts, and died in 1891.

Edwin K. Greer, son of Charles K. and Hattie A. (Morse) Greer, was born in West Wareham, Massa- chusetts, June 7, 1869, and received a good practical education in the local public schools. Upon the com- pletion of his school training he learned the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed in West Wareham for a period of four years. At the end of that time, in 1891, he removed to Wareham and became associated with his father as a partner in the firm of C. K. Greer and Son, which concern was operated under that name until 1898, when Edwin K. Greer purchased the interests of his father and continued the business under his own name. When this concern was founded it had its beginning in a very small way, carrying only a small amount of lumber, but in 1914 the concern purchased the yards owned by Prince Gifford, located opposite their own, and about the same time they purchased also the mason supply busi- ness of the Franconia Coal Company. Close atten- tion, sound business methods, and strict integrity, to- gether with excellent judgment and thorough knowl- edge have brought steady growth and at the present time (1928) Mr. Greer is the owner and manager of the largest building materials concern in Wareham.

Politically, Mr. Greer gives his support to the principles and the candidates of the Republican party. He is well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Social Harmony Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Wareham; Wareham Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is Past High Priest; Sutton Commandery, Knights Templar, of New Bedford; New Bedford Council, Royal and Select Masters; Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Or- der Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and charter mem- ber of Agawam Chapter, No. 121, Order of the Eastern Star. He is also a member of Waukingnoah Lodge, No. 119, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and charter member of Cromesset Tribe, No. 156, Improved Order of Red Men. He is well known also in club circles, holding membership in the Lotus Club, of Wareham, and in other local organizations, and he keeps well informed concerning the develop- ments of the lumber trade throughout this section of the country through membership in the Northeastern Retail Lumberman's Association. His religious in- terest is with the Congregational church, of which he is an attendant.

Edwin K. Greer was married, in 1896, to M. Ethel Howes, who was born in Dennis Port, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, daughter of I. S. and Anna (Ellis) Howes. Mr. and Mrs. Greer have no chil- dren. Mrs. Greer is a charter member of Agawam Chapter, No. 121, Order of the Eastern Star, and Past Matron. She is also a member of the Monday Club.

CAPTAIN OSCAR CLINTON NICKERSON- Having heeded the call of the sea when he was twelve years of age, Oscar Clinton Nickerson followed the waters for seventeen years, serving on many vessels and, at the termination of this long experience returned to Massachusetts a master mariner, in 1895.

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Here he settled down to commercial life without loss of time. He purchased the lumber yard, which has since been his principal business interest, in 1895, combining it with hardware. Mr. Nickerson has so expanded the lumber and hardware concern that he now (1928) has branch yards at Orleans and Well- fleet. In 1919 the business was incorporated as the Nickerson Lumber Company, with Mr. Nickerson as president and treasurer and in 1926 the modern office and display rooms were erected in typical Cape Cod house style. He is one of the substantial and re- sponsible men of Chatham, active in political affairs as a Republican, and with a number of commercial connections. He is a director of the Harwich Lumber Company, a director of the Cape & Vineyard Electric Light Company, director and vice-president of the Chatham Trust Company and a member of the board of trustees of the Five Cents Savings Bank, of Har- wich.

Oscar Clinton Nickerson was born at Harwich, April 9, 1866, son of Warren J. Nickerson, native of Harwich and Mary (Atkins) Nickerson, of Chatham; his father having been a grower of cranberries on a large scale, constantly an interested participant in affairs of the community and conspicuous for that as well as for his long and conscientious service as a member of the Harwich School Board. Oscar C. Nickerson received his education in the public schools of Harwich and at the age of twelve years, he ventured to sea on a fishing boat, several years later going into the merchant marine. When he was but twenty-one years of age he possessed a ship of his own. Since his seventeen years on the sea, he has been an industrious member of the Chatham com- munity where, in parallel to his expansion and suc- cess in commercial lines, he has been correspondingly active in Masonry. He has held all offices in St. Martin's Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, of Chatham, and is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and is on the Cape Cod Reforestation Committee. He is a member of the Boston City Club, the Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Cape Cod Fish and Game Association, Eastward Ho! Golf Club, the Chatham Historical Society, the Board of Trade, is a director and treasurer of the Chatham Railroad and a member of the Boston Marine Society, as trustee and former president. The Boston Marine Society is

the oldest marine society in the world. It was founded in 1742, with charter from King George III. Mr. Nickerson also gave considerable of his time and interest during the period of the World War, serving on the Chatham Board of Public Safety and in charge of the local Liberty Loan drives and he was a member of the executive committee of the . War Camp Community Service of Provincetown. He manifests his interest in the youth of his community as a member of the executive board of the Cape Cod Council of Boy Scouts. Mr. Nickerson is a com- municant of the Methodist church.

Oscar Clinton Nickerson married, at Harwich, on January 5, 1889, Eglantine F. Young, of Harwich, a daughter of Mulford and Emily (Kelley) Young; her father having been a native of Harwich and her mother a native of Dennis. Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson are the parents of five children: 1. Lawrence C., born September 11, 1891. 2. Mora E., born August 2, 1893. 3. Joshua A., born March 24, 1901. 4. Ivan Y., born August 23, 1903. 5. Ernest C., born August 4. 1909. For recreation, Mr. Nickerson's favorite indulgence

is boating and he is a member of the Chatham Yacht Club.

THOMAS H. NICKERSON-Member of a famı- ily known well and honorably for years along Cape Cod, and engaged in commercial connections in Harwich and Harwich Port since 1892, when he finished school, Thomas H. Nickerson is one of the distinguished citizens of the community, having more than a common interest in public and fraternal affairs, in which, throughout his career, he has been actively engaged.

Thomas H. Nickerson was born at Harwich Port, September 29, 1874, son of Thomas Adams Nickerson, and Eglantine (Doane) Nickerson, both of whoni were born in Harwich; the father having been a mariner throughout life, died September 22, 1893. Mr. Nickerson attended the public schools of Harwich until his graduation from high school in 1892. Im- mediately after graduation he entered the employ of the Cape Cod National Bank, of Harwich, as clerk. The following year brought death to the elder Nick- erson, and Thomas H. Nickerson remained with the bank, where, after a time, his ability was rewarded by promotion to the office of assistant cashier. He held this position for fourteen years, and in 1913 left the bank to go into the real estate business for himself. The real estate business has continued to hold him' through succeeding years, and Mr. Nicker- son has met with a considerable success in it. At present (1928) he devotes his time to dealing in real estate, to his hobby (the collecting of antiques), which he has been interested in for a number of years, to his various positions on commercial and public boards, to his office as notary public, which he has held since 1915, and to the occupation of auctioneer. Mr. Nickerson is one of the best-known auctioneers on Cape Cod, as he covers a large territory. He has numerous political and fraternal connections. Inter- ested in education, he was first elected to the School Board in 1900, and served for fourteen years; for nine years he was a member of the Board of Selectmen, and town assessor, overseer of the poor, member of the Board of Health; member of the General Court, 1923 and 1924; representative from the Second Barn- stable District to the State Legislature; during the World War he was chairman of the Town Safety Committee and chairman of every Liberty Loan Drive, and the town's quota in every drive was over- subscribed; vice-president and a trustee of the Cape Cod Hospital, at Hyannis; formerly director of the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Cod, is vice- president of the Pilgrim Memorial Association of Provincetown, Massachusetts; member of Pilgrim Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Harwich, and is a Past Master and Past District Deputy; is a Past High Priest of Sylvester Baxter Chapter, Roy- al Arch Masons, of West Harwich; has served as Junior Steward of the Grand Lodge of Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Massachusetts; is a Past Patron of Masona Chapter, of West Harwich; is Past Noble Grand of Exchange Lodge, No. 235, of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, of Harwich; is a member of Satucket Rebekah Lodge, of Harwich; is a Past Master of Harwich Grange, and is a member of the South Shore Club, of Harwich Port.

Thomas H. Nickerson married, at Harwich Port, on October 28, 1909, Abbie Stuart Baker, who was born March 7, 1875, at Harwich Port, daughter of Joseph

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Gould and Abbie Frances (Nickerson) Baker, both of whom were natives of Harwich Port. Mrs. Nick- erson is a member of the Dorcas Society, the Rebek- ahs, Order of the Eastern Star, and the Grange. Mr. Nickerson is at present a member of the minis- terial committee of Pilgrim Congregational Church of Harwich Port, and has served the church as treas- urer and in many other capacities.

DUNCAN A. MATHESON-For more than fifty years Provincetown has seen the continuing rise to a most substantial position in the local trade of Duncan A. Matheson, department store proprietor and one of the most admired of its citizens. Trans- planted from a foreign soil, he came to Provincetown with nothing but his youthful strength and an ambi- tion to forge ahead that would brook no defeat. The thrift of his Scotch forebears was in his blood, as well as their industrious character, their deep religious convictions, their sturdy physiques. Of all of these he took unconscious advantage adding to them cer- tain qualities absorbed by association with people of varying racial antecedents in his adopted land. The result has been the production of a most worthy citi- zen, admired, respected and loved by a host of close friends and acquaintances of years standing. He has ever taken a deep interest in all civic and social matters of moment to his fellow-citizens, who have always regarded him as one of their own in every way.

Duncan A. Matheson was born on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, in 1848, a son of Donald and Flora Matheson, both natives of Scotland. He re- ceived his education in Cape Breton and came to Provincetown when he was twenty-six years of age, in 1874. He was a good shoemaker and worked at his trade here. Putting aside what money he could, he gradually established himself in the shoe business and added to this with a line of clothing. Continuing to prosper, he eventually enlarged his commercial operations to include a line of general merchandise, which evolved into a department store. His dealings with the people were so just and his associations with them so pleasant to both sides that he has been long one of the most respected and valued citizens. In politics he is a Republican, his church is the Congre- gational. He is a member of the King Hiram Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Duncan A. Matheson married Irene Perry Bush, of Provincetown, daughter of Captain William and Rebecca (Crosby) Bush. They are the parents of one child, Rebecca F.

CAPTAIN FRANCIS H. PERRY-Having been in command of a fishing vessel at the age of twenty- seven years, and for twenty-one years master of others, Captain Francis H. Perry, of Brewster, then retired from the sea, and has through the years fol- lowing devoted himself to other interests. He is known widely as a citizen of great public spirit, and has served his constituency in a manner to evoke sincere appreciation as member of the State House of Representatives. Renown, honor and success have crowned his career, and to him have accrued many firm friendships of long standing. His record is an inspiration, because of the good use to which Cap- tain Perry has put his years and talents.

Captain Perry was born in Sandwich, Massachu- Plym.1-13

setts, June 24, 1855, son of John W. and Clarisa (Howland) Perry, his father having followed the sea until death took him from it. He was interred in Brewster. At twelve years of age Francis H. Perry went to sea each summer, attending school in the winter, until he was seventeen and thereafter followed in his father's footsteps. After ten years' exper- ience and increasing prestige among seamen, he became master of his first vessel, and engaged in mackerel and cod fishing, which he followed more than a score of years, until his retirement from the sea at the age of forty-eight. During this period he caused to be built two staunch vessels: one, the "Re- becca," named after his wife; and the other, "Mertis H. Perry," after his daughter Mertis. When he dis- posed of his maritime interests, Captain Perry en- gaged in the cranberry business, in Brewster, where he has lived since and where since boyhood he has been well known. He was elected to the Board of Selectmen, and to the office of overseer of the poor, and was thus in office for twenty years, leaving it in 1927. A Republican, constantly loyal to the party's principles and active within its ranks, Captain Perry has served as chairman of the Brewster Republican Town Committee, and in 1922 was elected to the Mas- sachusetts House of Representatives. To the House he was reëlected in 1924 and 1926, and has served on several of the more important committees, notably, the Committee of Harbors, and those of Public Lands and Conservation, in which the Cape is most interested. He has assisted in much legislation of benefit to the people of Barnstable and Plymouth counties, and has ever been to their welfare a con- scientious representative. Captain Perry is a trustee of the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, of Har- wich, having acted on the board for fifteen years, and has, since its organization, been a director of the Cape Cod Trust Company, of Harwich. He is also a director of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, in which he is an active worker. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Pilgrim Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of West Harwich; Past High Priest and Past District Deputy Grand High Priest, Twelfth Capit- ular District; and Past Sachem, Improved Order of Red Men. He is Past Master also of Brewster Grange, and a communicant of the Unitarian church.

Captain Perry married (first) Rebecca F. Bassett, daughter of Franklin Bassett, of Brewster; and (sec- ond) Roberta J. Freeman, daughter of Captain John Freeman, Jr. To the first union were born children: 1. Nelson F. 2. Mertis, wife of Clenric H. Cahoon, barrister, of Harwich. 3. Everett W.

JOHN HARDING TAYLOR-Numbered among the well-known citizens of Chatham, John Harding Taylor was born at Chatham, son of Hiram Taylor, born at Chatham, deceased, and Elizabeth C. (Nick- erson) Taylor, also born at Chatham, who died Feb- ruary 6, 1898, at the age of seventy-two years. Hiram Taylor was a sea captain, and for forty years cruised the Mediterranean. He met with considerable finan- cial success in his voyages and retired late in life; he died at the age of seventy, on June 29, 1891.

John Harding Taylor is of long-founded Cape Cod stock. He attended the common schools at Chatham and graduated from Chatham High School, afterward matriculating in the Boston Commercial School, at Boston, Massachusetts. His first com- mercial venture was in Chatham, where, for several years, he conducted a general store. Eventually he

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became a mortician, and as a funeral director has been engaged since 1892. Due to his sincere and sympathetic application to the profession, and to his high character, Mr. Taylor is one of the most re- spected members of the community; and his services, the most extensive in this territory, extend over a broad area. Mr. Taylor has constantly in mind the welfare of Chatham, and to this end devotes serious concentration. He has been an ardent worker in the New England Order of Protection since 1889, and, in point of membership, is now (1928) one of the oldest in the organization; its secretary, he has been a member for thirty-eight years, each of which has been marked with constructive effort on his part to promote the functions of the order. Mr. Taylor is also a member of St. Martin's Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and is a Republican in politics.

John Harding Taylor married, at Chatham, Oc- tober 10, 1883, Hattie W. Taylor, who died May 3, 1922, daughter of George A. and Mary W. (Hawes) Taylor, both of whom were natives of Chatham. To this union was born one child, Caroline, November 22, 1884, wife of Bertram D. Crosby, of Harwich, and mother of two children: Harriet Elizabeth, born October 27, 1914; and Caroline Taylor, born July 15, 1916.

HARRY HOWARD SNOW-With the exception of the period of his service in the World War, Harry Howard Snow has spent his life in Orleans, Massa- chusetts, the place of his birth. He early became a partner in the hardware, grain, and coal business es- tablished by his father and has long been known as a successful man. He is one of the popular resi- dents of Orleans and is active in the advancement of the interests of the community, and serves as vice- president of the Cape Cod Trust Company, of Har- wich.

Harry Howard Snow was born in Orleans, Massa- chusetts, June 4, 1887, son of William Henry, a na- tive of Orleans, engaged in the hardware, grain, and coal business here and formerly a member of the school committee, and of Annie Laurie (Walker) Snow, who was born in Harwich. Harry H. Snow attended the Orleans public schools until 1904, and then became a student in Worcester Academy, where he completed his course in 1906. Later, after his enlistment for service in the World War, he became a student in the Ground School of Cornell University, completing his course there in 1918. After leaving Worcester Academy in 1906, Mr. Snow began his active career in the employ of his father in the hard- ware, coal and grain business. Later he was admitted to partnership in the business, and with the excep- tion of the period during which he was in service in the World War he has been engaged in this line of activity to the present time (1928). Upon the entrance of the United States into the World War Mr. Snow enlisted, July 25, 1917, in Company C, Three Hundred and Seventeenth Field Signal Bat- talion, but on November 29 of that same year was transferred to the Aviation Corps and placed in training in the Ground School at Cornell University. When his course there was completed he was as- signed to Camp Dick, at Dallas, Texas, and was then sent to Ebert's Field, at Lone Oak, Arkansas, where he was stationed at the time of the signing of the Armistice. Upon his return to civilian life Mr. Snow returned to the hardware, coal, and grain business in Orleans, where he has continued to the present time.

Along with his business activities he has always found time for public service, and has also been active in various financial and business enterprises. He has been vice-president of the Cape Cod Trust Company, of Harwich, since January, 1920, and since March 19, 1925, has also served as secretary of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. During the period of the police strike in Boston he was a member of the State Guard, Company G, in which connection he rendered efficient service. Mr. Snow is a member of the board of trustees of the Snow Library and gives his support to the candidates and the principles of the Republican party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which order he has passed through all the chairs and is now serving as a member of its board of trustees. He is also a member of Universal Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Orleans, and of Sylvester Baxter Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of West Harwich. Mr. Snow is a very active member of the Orleans Board of Trade, which he has served as secretary and treas- urer. His religious affiliation is with the Universalist church of Orleans, which he serves as trustee.

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History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. III, Part 51

Author: Thompson, Elroy Sherman, 1874- Publication date: 1928 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author: Thompson, Elroy Sherman, 1874-
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642