Captain Joseph Nickerson

He had charge of ship "Kentucky" and others, whose names have not been ascertained.  After leaving the sea he engaged in the ship chandlery in Boston. He was also largely interested in Western railroads. He contributed generously towards the library in Brewster and also in support of preaching in the Unitarian church and in the care and protection of the "Old Burial Ground." On retiring from the sea he removed to Boston, but was always interested in his native town.

http://capecodhistory.us/19th/Brewster-Ship_Masters.htm

Joseph Nickerson went to sea when he was very young and followed this calling until he was thirty when he began a business in Boston. He was a man of courage, skill and the energy necessary to take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself, and before long he occupied an enviable position in business circles. Oe of the most important enterprises in which he was engaged was the Arlington WOolen Mills, whose success was mainly due to his undivided efforts. The mills were incorporated in 1865 and two years later Joseph Nickerson, one of the four incorporators, was made president, an office he continued to hold until his death which time the capital stock had increased two millions of dollars, and the plant and output had grown in proportion. He was the owner of a number of ships and also engaged in the manufacture of cordage and cotton duck, whig he carried on in connection with his shipping interests. He later transferred much of his capital and enterprise to railroading, and at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest citizens of Boston IN its earlier days there was a time when it looked as if the holders of securities had made a permanent investment and the road was built to the state line in Kansas, but it had no railroad connections and no market for its bond. A meeting was called of those principally interested and Mr. Nickerson stated that he had made up his mind that the road was to built to Pueblo, COlorado, where they could connect with the Denver and Rio Grande railroad; saying he was satisfied to shoulder the entire responsibility if necessary, he asked for the subscription papers, and headed the list with two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars; in a very short time five hundred thousand dollars had been subscribed and success was assured. It is not saying too much when we assert the boldness and confidence displayed by Mr. Nickerson secured this success, and he thereby became a public benefactor. He was one of the directors of the Mexican Central road, in which his financial interest were also large.

Mr.Nickerson was a mam of exceptional executive ability and marked Individuality of character. Under an exterior sometimes rough, he carried a warm Heart, and one of his conspicuous virtues was a devoted loyalty to his friends. He was cast in a large mold, born to command, and weaker natures turned to him involuntarily in an emergency, feeling that the proper leader had been found. AMong the many instances of his charities may be mentioned a case where a firm becoming financially embarrassed, , he loaned them over fifty thousand dollars at a nominal rate of interest on securities refused at the banks and this enabled them to meet their obligations. The Nickerson Home for Children is another of his charities and is a noble institution. This had been established about 1835 by Mrs. Sarah Heyward and was supported by voluntary contributions. A House was purchased in 1864 and a large mortgage contracted, whose interest ate into the funds to a considerable extend. Mrs. Heyward called upon Mr. Nickerson on a very hot summer's day for his contribution and he, after making a few inquiries, sent her a check the following day to cancel the five thousand dollar mortgage. The name of the home was then changed to its present on win gratitude for his donation. After the death of Mr. nickerson the directors of the Arlington Mills called a special Meeting, and the following resolutions were passed:

RESOLVED, That by the death of our associate, Mr. Joseph Nickerson, who has been a Director of this Company since its incorporation, and President of it more than nine years, we have suffered a severe loss.  HIs sagacity, his steadfast courage and confidence in times of financial depression, and his sound judgment, had contributed largely to the success of this Corporation.

RESOVED, That we extend to the family of the deceased, our sympathy for them in their bereavement, and that we will attend his funeral lin a body.

RESOLVED, That these resolutions be entered upon our record and that a copy of them be sent to Mrs. Nickerson.

In religious faith Mr. Nickerson was a Unitarian and in politics a Republican , but he never held public office.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/3008704/person/662164546/mediax/3?pg...

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From Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts (1910) Vol. 2, p743-744:

"Joseph, son of NICKERSON David and Priscilla (Snow) Nickerson, was born in Brewster, Massachusetts, March 3, 18o4, and died February 28, 188o. He went to sea when very young and followed this calling until the age of thirty years, when he began business in Boston. He was a man of courage, skill and the energy necessary to take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself, and it was not long before he occupied an enviable position in business circles. One of the most important enterprises in which he was engaged was the Arlington Woolen Mills, whose success was mainly due to his undivided efforts. These mills were incorporated in 1865 with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars, and two years later Joseph Nickerson, one of the four incorporators, was made president, an office he continued to hold until his death, at which time the capital stock had increased to two millions of dollars, and the plant and its output had grown in proportion. He was the owner of a number of ships and also engaged in the manufacture of cordage and cotton duck, which he carried on in connection with his shipping interests. Later he transferred much of his capital and enterprise to railroading, and at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest citizens of Boston. In its early days there was a time when it looked as if the holders of securities had made a permanent investment and the road was built to the state line in Kansas, but it had no railroad connections and no market for its bonds. A meeting was called of those principally interested and Mr. Nickerson stated that he had made up his mind that the road was to be built to Pueblo, Colorado, where they could connect with the Denver and Rio Grande railroad; saying he was satisfied to shoulder the entire responsibility if necessary, he asked for the subscription papers, and headed the list with two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars; in a very short time five hundred thousand dollars had been subscribed and success was assured. It is not saying too much when we assert the boldness and confidence displayed by Mr. Nickerson secured this success, and he thereby became a public benefactor. He was one of the directors of the Mexican Central road, in which his financial interests were also large. Mr. Nickerson was a man of exceptional executive ability and marked individuality of character. Under an exterior sometimes rough he carried a warm heart, and one of his conspicuous virtues was a devoted loyalty to his friends. He was cast in a large mold, born to command, and weaker natures turned to him involuntarily in an emergency, feeling that the proper leader had been found. Among the many instances of his charities may be mentioned a case where a firm becoming financially embarrassed, Mr. Nickerson loaned them over fifty thousand dollars at a nominal rate of interest on securities refused at the banks, and this enabled them to meet their obligations. The Nickerson Home for Children is another of his charities and is a noble institution. This had been established about 1835 by Mrs. Sarah Heyward, and was supported by voluntary contributions. A house was purchased in 1864 and a large mortgage contracted, whose interest ate into the funds to a considerable extent. Mrs. Heyward called upon Mr. Nickerson on a very hot summer's day for his contribution, and he, after making a few inquiries. sent her a check the following day to cancel the five thousand dollar mortgage. The name of the home was then changed to its present one in gratitude for his donation. After the death of Mr. Nickerson the directors of the Arlington Mills called a special meeting, and the following resolutions were passed:

RESOLVED, That by the death of our associate, Mr. Joseph Nickerson, who has been a. Director of this Company since Its Incorporation, and President of It more than nine years, we have suffered a severe loss. His sagacity, his steadfast courage and confidence In times of financial depression, and his sound judgment, had contributed largely to the success of this Corporation. RESOLVED, That we extend to the family of the deceased, our sympathy tor them In their bereavement, and that we will attend his funeral In a body. RESOLVED, That these resolutions be entered upon our records and that a copy of them be sent to Mrs. Nickerson.

In religious faith Mr. Nickerson was a Unitarian, and in politics a Republican, but never held public office. He married (first) June 21, 1827, Emeline Winslow, born February 20, 1807, died July 29, 1834. They had a daughter, Lydia Winslow, born November 29, 1828, died August 17, 1868, who married, April 28, 1858, at Jamaica Plain, Nathan Frederick Sears, and had one child, Susie Evelyn; resides in New York. Mr. Nickerson had three other children who died in infancy. He married (second) July 19, 1837, Louisa, born in Brewster, Massachusetts, January 26, 1816, daughter of Abraham and Rhoda (Clark) Winslow. her father being in business as a merchant. Children of second marriage: 1. Joseph Francis, born June 8, 1838; died February 23, 1842. 2. Albert W., born May 21, 1840; see sketch. 3· Ann, born 184-; died 1893. 4· Emma Louisa, born March 15, 1842; died April II, 1889; married John Hartt, and had children. 5· William Alexander, born September 17, 1845; died June 26, 1869. 6. Josephine, born January 14, 1849; married William E. Cox. 7· George Augustus, born January 11, 1854; died September, 1901."