Nickerson, Samuel Mayo (b. 19 JUN 1830, d. 1914)

Note: Ocean Edge is now the new name for a historic Cape Cod landmark, the Nickerson Estate. When Samuel Mayo Nickerson, the patriarch of the Nickerson family, built Fieldstone Hall in 1890, he was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Chicago. As such, the country house he built for his only son, Roland, and his family was in many ways a symbol of the success and fortune Samuel realized after leaving the Cape some three decades earlier.

Samuel Nickerson, a direct descendant of one of the Cape’s first settlers, William Nickerson, left the Cape in 1847 as a young man and headed west to Chicago. With him, he took a great deal of ambition and very little money.

A year later, now in the distillery business, Samuel married Matilda Crosby, a Brewster native. By 1859, with his business thriving, Samuel and Matilda’s only child, Roland, was born. Having rapidly become a major business figure, in 1863, Samuel decided to become involved in banking. He founded the First National Bank of Chicago and served as its president for some 25 years.

Historical American Buildings Survey
Samuel M Nickerson House
(now American College of Surgeons)

Location: 40 East Erie Street; northeast corner of North Wabash Avenue and Erie Street; Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

Present Owner: American College of Surgeons; 55 East Erie Street, Chicago

Present Use: Administration offices and meeting rooms.

Statement of Significance: The house was designed in 1883 by one of Chicago’s earliest architects, Edward Burling, for Samuel H Nickerson, a wealthy banker. Nickerson spared no expense in creating his “Marble Palace,” so-called because of its elegant interior which was finished in marbles, rare woods and other rich materials. The original character of this spectacular home is beautifully preserved to this day.

Historical Events and Persons Connected with the structure

The Nickerson Mansion was one of the most expensive and lavish homes built in Chicago before the turn of the century. “Nickerson’s Marble Palace,” as it was widely known, was the showplace home of Samuel m Nickerson, a prominent Chicago banker and one of the wealthiest men of his time. Nickerson was born in Massachusetts and came to Chicago in 1858 to enter the distilling business. He soon became involved in banking, being one of the founders of the First National Bank of Chicago in 1863. He was president of this, the oldest bank in the city, when he built his North-Side mansion in 1883. Nickerson was also the first president of the Union Stock Yards National Bank, as well as the founder and president of the old Chicago City Street Railway Company. Nickerson was an active participant in the cultural life of Chicago, leaving a large collection of artifacts to the Art Institute.

The Nickersons and their son Roland lived in the house until 1900, when they moved to New York. The Mansion was sold to Lucius G Fisher, the president of the Union Paper & Bag Co. of Chicago, who maintained it with few alterations. The Fishers added a few stuffed animal heads and their collection of antique weapons t the house, but otherwise left it unchanged.


Fieldstone House, Cape Cod

Originally part of an 1800 acre estate, one of the largest area of privately owned land on the Cape, the Nickerson's Brewster property included Fieldstone Hall, a carriage house, a windmill (reportedly used to generate electricity), and a private game preserve. The Nickerson's were socially and politically prominent and entertained frequently and lavishly. It was not uncommon for the social highlight of the season to be held at Fieldstone Hall. Guests came from throughout New England and included such luminaries as Grover Cleveland. In its heyday, the estate was said to have been staffed by 22 servants.

The year 1906 was a year of tragedy for the Nickerson's. On May 24th, Fieldstone Hall burned to the ground, leaving only the foundation intact. Roland, in ill health, died two weeks later. A year later, under Roland's widow Addie's direction, construction of a new Fieldstone began. Fearful of yet another fire, Addie had the house built with steel reinforced concrete covered by stucco.

The new Fieldstone Hall was completed in 1912, and while it incorporates some features of the original, its architectural style reflects the attitudes of the 1900's rather than the 1890's.

Designed by a Boston firm, the new house more closely resembles an English country manor with electric blend of Renaissance Revival and Gothic themes.

The first floor of the three-story, 480– foot long house contains a dining room, library, billiard room, breakfast room and large entrance hall. One of the house’s most striking features is an intricately carved oak staircase leading to the second floor. There are seven bedrooms, five of which are comparable in size to a modern living room.

Roland’s widow Addie and her two surviving children, Roland, Jr. and Helen, spent much of their leisure time at Fieldstone Hall. After the death of his wife Matilda, Samuel M. Nickerson also spent considerable time on the estate. Samuel M. died in 1914 just two years after the death of his wife.

In the 1930’s, the children of Roland and Helen began conveying the land. They donated the game preserve to the State which is now known as Nickerson State Park. In 1942, the mansion property was purchased by LaSalette Fathers. At first, they used it as a novitiate and then as a seminary.

In 1980, Corcoran, Mullins, Jennison, Inc. purchased the property, and in cooperation with the town of Brewster, has developed a Resort and Conference Center that will enhance and sustain this historical site.

Occupation: Date: 1860
Place: Distiller

Occupation: Date: BET 1870 AND 1900
Place: Banker

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Chicago Ward 8, Cook, IL

Census: Date: 1870
Place: Chicago Ward 20, Cook, Illinois

Census: Date: 1880
Place: Chicago, Cook, IL

Census: Date: 1900
Place: Chicago Ward 24, Cook, Illinois

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Chicago Ward 8, Cook, IL

Census: Date: 1870
Place: Chicago Ward 20, Cook, Illinois

Census: Date: 1880
Place: Chicago, Cook, IL

Census: Date: 1900
Place: Chicago Ward 24, Cook, Illinois

Occupation: Date: 1880
Place: Teller in Bank

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Chicago Ward 8, Cook, IL

Census: Date: 1870
Place: Chicago Ward 20, Cook, Illinois

Census: Date: 1880
Place: Chicago, Cook, IL

Census: Date: 1910
Place: 10-Wd Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts

Census: Date: 1910
Place: 10-Wd Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts

Census: Date: 1910
Place: 10-Wd Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts

Note: Had Brights disease (renal)

Census: Date: 1930
Place: Dunbar, Kanawha, West Virginia

Census: Date: 1850
Place: Cranberry, Venango, Pennsylvania

Note: Name: Thomas Reeder ,
Residence: West Union, Iowa
Enlistment Date: 22 September 1862
Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Side Served: Union
State Served: Iowa
Unit Numbers: 178 178
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 22 September 1862 at the age of 18
Enlisted in Company C, 6th Cavalry Regiment Iowa on 22 September 1862.
Mustered out Company C, 6th Cavalry Regiment Iowa on 17 October 1865 in Sioux City, IA

Census: Date: 1850
Place: Cranberry, Venango, Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 1880
Place: West Union, Fayette, Iowa

Census: Date: 1920
Place: West Union, Fayette, Iowa