Nickerson, Heman

Nickerson, Heman a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Orrington, Me., Sept. 3, 1797, and there spent his childhood and youth, enjoying the privileges of the common schools, and being trained in habits of industry and virtue by pious parents. When twenty-one years of age, under the labors of Rev. Enoch Mudge, he experienced religion and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Soon after he felt called to preach, and in 1821 was received into the New England Conference. At the organization of the Maine Conference he was one of the original members, and soon took a prominent position among his brethren. After filling important charges he was appointed presiding elder, and sustained the responsibilities of that office twenty-one-years. With the exception of three years, from 1828 to 1831, his life was spent in the itinerant work. Poor health obliged him to take a superannuated relation in 1866, and that he was justified in this step is evident from the rapid decline of his health, finally terminating in his death Dec. 26,1869. "Heman Nickerson was distinguished for solid and enduring qualities of mind and heart. A good judgment, clear perceptions of the truths of the Gospel, a firm adherence -to the doctrines and polity of the Church, and a manly utterance of his sentiments, made him a useful minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. His candor and knowledge of human character enabled him, when presiding elder, to put the right man in the right place. He was highly esteemed by his brethren in the ministry as a safe counselor and a judicious friend. In difficult questions his opinion was sought and his advice justly prized. Four times was he chosen a delegate to the General Conference." See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1870, p. 147.