Thomas L. Nickerson

He was the 8th President of the Atison, Topeka and Sante Fe Railroad

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/4631550/person/62690872/fact/1711576...

Thomas west to Boston about 1826 to seek his fortune and in due time he became prominent in commercial and railroad circles.

After preliminary experience usual in business life, he formed a partnership with Pliny Nickerson for the ownership and management of vessels, under the firm name of Nickerson & Company. For thirty years this was one of the best know business houses in Boston and its fleet at one time was the largest in the US similarly owned and employed. But anticipating the decline in maritime commerce that subsequently came, Mr Nickerson retired from the firm about 1868 to give his attention to railroading, and it was his subsequent connection with railroads that most fully illustrated his remarkable business ability. The Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe railroad came into the hands of eastern parties in 1870 and in the fall of the same year, he was elected one of the trustees of the land grants bonds, and in that capacity, acting with a committee from the board of directors he reappraised all of the lands which would come to the railroad, and by such reappraisal saved to the company more than two millions of dollars. In May, 1871, he was elected a director of the Atchison road, and in May, 1873, vice-president. The road had been open for traffic since early in 1873, and a certificate of acceptance had gone to Washington, but except for the first one hundred miles, it was without business or connections beyond the western line of the state, with the exception of two feeble stage routes…one to Santa Fe and the other to Pueblo. During the year 1872, in order to obtain money, the Atchison Company had been obliged to give the endorsement of its directors on its paper, and it soon became evident that the interest on its bonds could not be paid at maturity. to avoid a receivership it was proposed to get an extension on a part of its coupon obligations. Mr. Nickerson was determined that the road should not go into the hands of a receiver, but that the plan of coupon extension should be carried through, and with the cooperation of the other directors, bu his own promptly efficient management he finally accomplished it, Friends of the road frankly said that this achievement was manifestly for its greatest advantage, and proportionally so for all parties who had interest in western enterprises; and that to his credit he more than another one person should be given the credit of its successful accomplishment.

In May 1874, he was elected president, and when he reared five years late, 800 miles of track had been laid and the road was is such fit condition that its first mortgage bonds sold at 120,second mortgage bonds at par and the sock at 110. While he was president of the Atchison road he was selected as the man best fitted to harmonize the NY and Boston parties associated in the Atlantic & Pacific road, the directorate of which was made up of representatives in equal numbers from the Atchison and St. Louis and San Francisco companies, and thereupon ten million dollars was immediately subscribed and the bonds were marred at a premium.

When the Mexican Central Railway Company was organized to build a line from El Paso to the City of Mexico, eleven hundred to twelve hundred miles, Mr Nickerson was unanimously elected president, and served most ably until August 4, 1884.

These enterprises, great as they were, by no means completed the grand total of Mr. Nickerson's remarkable activities. He was interested in many undertakings in various parts of the country and was loyal to them all. At the first meeting of the stockholders of the National Bank of NOrth America, Boston, held Sept. 11, 1850, he was elected a director; in the spring of 1855 he served on public committee to establish Boston and European steamship lines; he helped organize the National Bank of the Republic, Boston, and at the first meeting of subscribers he was elected a director; he was also a director of the AMerican Loan and Trust Company , Boston from its beginning in 1881.

He resided for many years in Boston, but during the latter years of his life in Newton. He was a member of the Baptist Church, served as superintendent of the Sunday school, and took a leading part in missionary and benevolent society circles; he was a liberal giver and contributed largely to missions and home societies. He took an active interest in the Newton Theological Institute, was its treasurer and for many years one of its trustees. He took notice of, but was not active in politics, although at one time a member from Boston of the legislature and holding other posts of public trust. Personally he was of a genial hospitable nature and simple in his tastes, denying his family no comfort or luxury, but extravagance in business displeased him He had little time for social pleasure, but was fond of company and was a generous host.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/4631550/person/62690872

From Thomas Lucindus Rogers & Ella Sophia (Nickerson) Rogers Prepared by Anthony D. Rogers June 8, 1997

"The following information on Thomas Nickerson is adapted from Caroline “Patsy” Chickering’s Nickerson family history. Patsy credits Edward H. Mason, Thomas Nickerson’s son in law, for the material.

[Thomas Nickerson] was born in Brewster, Massachusetts, on September 19, 1810, the youngest of five brothers. He went to Boston about 1826 to seek his fortune, and in due time became prominent in commercial and railroad circles.

Thomas Nickerson formed a partnership with a cousin Pliny Nickerson for the ownership and management of vessels, under the firm name of Nickerson & Company, and for thirty years this was one of the best known business houses in Boston, and its fleet at one time was the largest in the United States similarly owned and employed. My uncle John Rogers obtained a print of a painting of one of Thomas Rogers’ ships, The North America, built by Donald McKay in 1851. The North America was a three-masted full-rigged clipper ship. Patsy Fish and I both have copies of this print.

In 1870 the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe came into the hands of eastern parties, and Thomas Nickerson was elected one of the of the trustees of the company’s land grant bonds. In that capacity, acting with a committe from the board of directors, he reappraised all of the lands which would come to the railroad, thereby saiving the company more than two million dollars. In May, 1871, he was elected a director of the Atchison Road, and two years later he was made vice president. The Road had been open for traffic since 1873, but except for the first 100 miles it was without business or connections byond the western line of the state, with the exception of two feeble stage routes to Santa Fe and Pueblo.

In May 1874 Thomas Nickerson was elected president of the Atchison Road, and when he retired five years later eight hundred miles of track had been laid, and the road was in very fit condition. While he was president of the Atchison road, he was selected as the best man to harmonize the New York and Boston parties associated with the Atlantic and Pacific road. The directorate of which was made up of representatives in equal numbers from the Atchison and St. Lewis and San Francisco Companies, and thereupon ten million dollars worth of bonds were issued.

When the Mexican Central Railway Company was organized to build a line from El Paso to Mexico City (about twelve hundred miles) Thomas Nickerson was unanimously elected president and served most ably, until August 1884. These enterprises by no means completed the grand total of Thomas Nickerson’s remarkable activities. He was interested in many undertakings in various parts of the country, and was loyal to them all. For example, at the first meeting of the stockholders of the National Bank of North America, held in Boston, September 11, 1850, Thomas Nickerson was elected a director; in the spring of 1855 he served on public committee to establish Boston and European Steamship lines; and he helped organize the National Bank of the Republic, Boston, and was elected a director of that bank in 1859. He was also a director of the American Loan and Trust Company, Boston, from its beginning in 1861.

All of this time, Thomas Nickerson was still active in Nickerson and Company, the shipping company, However, anticipating a decline in maritime commerce, Thomas Nickerson retired from that firm in 1889.

Thomas and his family lived in Boston for many years, but moved ot Newton during the latter years of their lives. They were members of the Baptist Church, he served as superintendent of the Sunday School, and took a leading part in missionary and benevolent society circles. He took an active interest in the Newton Theological Institute, was its treasurer and form any years one of its trustees. Thomas Nickerson held many positions of public trust. He was not often active in politics; but for a short time he represented Boston in the state legislature.

Personally Thomas Nickerson was of a genial hospitable nature and simple in his tastes, denying his family no comfort or luxury, but extravagance in business displeased him. He had little time for social pleasure, but was fond of company and was a generous host.

Thomas Nickerson was certainly a wealthy man, yet he left no money to his daughter, Ella Sophia. I’d be interested in hearing more about this mystery. If anyone has any clues, please share them..."

From Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts (1910) Vol. 2 p744-746:

"Thomas, son of David and Priscilla (Snow) Nickerson, was eighth in descent from William Nickerson (I), and was the youngest of five brothers. Thomas came to Boston, about 1826, seeking his fortune, and in due time became prominent in commercial and railroad circles.

After preliminary experience usual in business life, he formed a partnership with Pliny Nickerson for the ownership and management of vessels, under the firm name of Nickerson & Company, and for thirty years this was one of the best known business houses in Boston, and its fleet at one time was the largest in the United States similarly owned and employed. But anticipating the decline in maritime commerce that subsequently came, Mr. Nickerson retired from the firm about 1868 to give his attention to railroading, in which he had become largely interested, and it was his subsequent connection with railroads that most fully illustrated his remarkable business ability. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad came into the hands of eastern parties in I810, and in the fall of the same year Mr. Nickerson was elected one of the trustees of the land grant bonds, and in that capacity, acting with a committee from the board of directors, he reappraised all of the lands which would come to the railroad, and by such reappraisal saved to the company more than two millions of dollars. In May, 1871, Mr. Nickerson was elected a director of the Atchison road. and in May, 1873, vice-president. The road had been open for traffic since early in 1873. and a certificate of acceptance had gone to Washington, but except for the first one hundred miles, it was without business or connections beyond the western line of the state, with the exception of two feeble stage routes-- one to Santa Fe and the other to Pueblo. During the year 1872, in order to obtain money, the Atchison Company had been obliged to give the endorsement of its directors on its paper. and it soon became evident that the interest on its bonds could not be paid at maturity. To avoid a receivership it was proposed to get an extension on a part of its coupon obligations. Mr. Nickerson was determined that the road should not go into the hands of a receiver, but that the plan of coupon extension should be carried through, and with the co-operation of the other directors, by his own promptly efficient management he finally accomplished it, whereupon friends of the road frankly said that this achievement was manifestly for its greatest advantage, and proportionally so for all parties who had interests in western enterprises; and that to Mr. Thomas Nickerson more than to any other one person should be given the credit of its successful accomplishment.

In May, 1874. Mr. Nickerson was elected president, and when he retired five years later, eight hundred miles of track had been laid, and the road was in such fit condition that its first mortgage bonds sold at 120, second mortgage bonds at par, and the stock at 110. While Mr. Nickerson was president of the Atchison road he was selected as the man best fitted to harmonize the New York and Boston parties associated in the Atlantic & Pacific road, the directorate of which was made up of representatives in equal numbers from the Atchison and St. Louis and San Francisco companies, and thereupon ten million dollars was immediately subscribed and the bonds were marked at a premium.

When the Mexican Central Railway Company was organized to build a line from El Paso to the City of Mexico,--eleven hundred to twelve hundred miles, Mr. Nickerson was unanimously elected president, and served most ably until August 4, 1884

These enterprises, great as they were, by no means completed the grand total of Mr. Nickerson's remarkable activities. He was interested in many undertakings in various parts of the country, and was loyal to them all. At the first meeting of the stockholders of the National Bank of North America, Boston, held September 11, 1850, he was elected a director; in the spring of 1855 he served on public committee to establish Boston and European steamship lines; he helped organize the National Bank of the Republic, Boston, and at the first meeting of subscribers, December 14, 1859, was elected a director; he was also a director of the American Loan and Trust Company, Boston, from its beginning in 1881.

Mr. Nickerson resided for many years in Boston, but during the latter years of his life in Newton. He was a member of the Baptist church, served as superintendent of the Sunday school, and took a leading part in missionary and benevolent society circles; he was a liberal giver and contributed largely to missions and home societies. He took an active interest in the Newton Theological Institute, was its treasurer and. for many years one of its trustees. He took notice of, but was not active in politics, although at one time a member from Boston of the legislature and holding other positions of public trust. Personally Mr. Nickerson was of a genial hospitable nature and simple in his tastes, denying his family no comfort or luxury, but extravagance in business displeased him. He had little time for social pleasure, but was fond of company and was a generous host.

Thomas Nickerson (8) was born in Brewster, Massachusetts, September 19, 1810, died in Newton, July 24, 1892; married, April 18, 1836, Sylvina Nickerson, born February 7, 1817, died July 16, 1891, daughter of Thomas and Bethia (Snow) Nickerson. Children : 1. Anna Lincoln, born Augusta, Maine, November 7, 1837; died Boston, October 18, 1838. 2. Caroline Thomas, born Boston, November 11, 1839; died Newton, September 11, 1867. 3. Isadore, born Boston, November 12, 1841; died Boston, April 6, 1842. 4· Theodore, born Boston, March 26, 1843; died Newton, September 12, 1894; married Kate Morton Cobb, May 30, 1865. 5· Ella Sophia, born Boston, August 4, 1846; married Thomas Lewis Rogers, August 30, 1868. 6. Charles Thomas, born Boston, June 13, 1848; died Boston, November 2, 1852. 7. Lelia Sylvina, born Boston, September 7, 1850; married Edward Haven Mason, February 1, 1877. 8. Marion Emily, born in Boston, July 7, 1852; died Boston, July 17, 1860. 9· Alice Charline, born Boston, 1855: died Newton, 1869"