Thomas Nickerson (ATSF)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Nickerson was the eighth president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
between 1874 and 1880. He was also president of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
.
He was born in Brewster, Massachusetts
, on September 19, 1810. His family was well known for the number of sailor
s it had produced, and Thomas himself also sailed for nearly 30 years before he turned to land transportation. He invested in the Santa Fe around 1870, becoming the railroad's vice president in May 1873. The next year he was promoted to president of the Santa Fe, succeeding Henry Strong
, where he served until 1880.
Nickerson didn't limit himself to just the Santa Fe. He was also a prominent figure in the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
, Sonora Railway, California Southern Railroad
and Mexican Central Railway
, all subsidiary companies of the Santa Fe Railroad.
Nickerson died in Newton Center, Massachusetts, on July 24, 1892.
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
between 1874 and 1880. He was also president of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad was a U.S. railroad that owned or operated two disjoint segments, one connecting St. Louis, Missouri with Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the other connecting Albuquerque, New Mexico with Southern California. It was incorporated by the U.S. Congress in 1866 as a...
.
He was born in Brewster, Massachusetts
Brewster, Massachusetts
Brewster is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population of Brewster was 9,820 at the 2010 census.Brewster is twinned with the town of Budleigh Salterton in the United Kingdom....
, on September 19, 1810. His family was well known for the number of sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
s it had produced, and Thomas himself also sailed for nearly 30 years before he turned to land transportation. He invested in the Santa Fe around 1870, becoming the railroad's vice president in May 1873. The next year he was promoted to president of the Santa Fe, succeeding Henry Strong
Henry Strong (ATSF)
Henry Strong was the seventh president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.Strong was born in Helensburg, Scotland, the son of Glasgow's Consul General. When he was four years old, he and his family emigrated to the United States...
, where he served until 1880.
Nickerson didn't limit himself to just the Santa Fe. He was also a prominent figure in the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad was a U.S. railroad that owned or operated two disjoint segments, one connecting St. Louis, Missouri with Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the other connecting Albuquerque, New Mexico with Southern California. It was incorporated by the U.S. Congress in 1866 as a...
, Sonora Railway, California Southern Railroad
California Southern Railroad
The California Southern Railroad was a subsidiary railroad of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in Southern California. It was organized July 10, 1880, and chartered on October 23, 1880, to build a rail connection between what has become the city of Barstow and San Diego,...
and Mexican Central Railway
Mexican Central Railway
The Mexican Central Railway was one of the primary pre-nationalization railways of Mexico. Incorporated in Massachusetts in 1880, it opened the main line in March 1884, linking Mexico City to Ciudad Juárez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso and connections to the Southern Pacific Railroad, Texas...
, all subsidiary companies of the Santa Fe Railroad.
Nickerson died in Newton Center, Massachusetts, on July 24, 1892.