Shoe Company Honored Local Hero Simeon L. Nickerson

Shoe Company Honored Local hero Simeon L. Nickerson

……………….. Special to the Middleboro Gazette: By Bob Lessard, June 21, 2012:-:- Sisters Margaret Perkins Allum of Pembroke and Elaine Perkins Harte of Abington recently came across a booklet produced by the George E. Keith Company (Walkover Shoes) of Middleboro after World War 1 that included a photo of Simeon L. Nickerson, a local hero. The company printed the booklet to honor its employees who served in the “War to End All Wars.”

………………… Simeon L. Nickerson’s photo was used in the booklet because he had been an employee of the company prior to his enlistment in the U. S. Army. A large framed photograph of Nickerson is displayed in Middleboro’s American Legion Post 64, which is named after him.

………………..Margaret Allum recently brought the booklet to the attention of apost member and kindly shared the historic contents with the post.

………………..The booklet information regarding Nickerson states he was : “Born in Rochester, Mass., Nov. 25, 1889; was employed in the Making Room of the Middleboro Factory; enlisted in Co. D, 101st Infantry, sailed for France, September 1917 with our first forces; was made a Sergeant and took part in operations at Chemin des Dames, and in the Toul sector April 3 to June 18, 1918; he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for “conspicuous bravery” and given a personal citation by Major General C. R. Edwards for “gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field.”

………………..The booklet continues: “ He was killed in action at Trugny, France, in Pas Fini Sector, July 23, 1918 in the 2nd battle of the Marne when he voluntarily exposed himself in order to locate an enemy machine gun position thus saving the lives of many of his comrades…..”

……………….Jesse Perkins, father of the sisters, was a company employee and was given a copy of the booklet when he returned home from France, according to family members.

………………His biographical booklet information, which included a small photo of him, reported: Jesse C. Perkins: Born in Middleboro, Mass., July 1, 1893; entered 301st Field Artillery September 21, 1917; ten months in training; sailed from Boston July 16, 1918; trained two months at Camp DeSouge; transferred January, 1919 to 302 Field Artillery; sailed from Pauillac, France April 20, 1919. Discharged at Camp Devens April 17, and returned to Middleboro Factory May 7, 1919.”

………………Jesse married Lillian (Hazel) and had six children; twins Richard and Robert, Lillian, Marion, Margaret and Elaine, who were all educated in the Middleboro school system.

………………In addition to Nickerson and Perkins, the company booklet also honored three other company employees from Middleboro, who lost their lives during World War 1. They were each honored as was Nickerson, by single page biographical histories. They were Harold R. Ashley, Fred A. Robinson and John F. Glass, Jr.

……………..John Glass, for whom VFW Post 2188 is named, has his photo displayed in the function room of the Post building.

…………….The VFW picture is a copy of the booklet’s photo, which the Perkins family provided to the Post many years ago as no other known photo of Glass could be located.

……………Other local men who worked for the George E. Keith Company making Walk-Over Shoes in the Middleboro factory prior to World War 1 are also listed in the booklet. They all have thumbnail biographical sketches and some have individual photographs attached.

…………….They were: Ira Amsden, Harry A. Aghaian, Sarkis K. Afarian, Charles E. Baker, Benjamin L. Attaquin, Harry Artin, Albert Bernier, Walter Beckman, Harvey A. Basinet, Oliver Cary Brett, Mesrobe A. Butigian, Clifford S. Bryant, Charles Card, Clarence E. Clark, Charles E. Chute, Louis Chartier, Charles S. Carver, George Carr, Walter A. Carmichael, Lawrence D. Costa, Albion Cline, Solomon Cyr and John L. Creed.

……………..Also, Gaetana DiMarzio, Thomas J. DeMoranville, Cesar A DeFaria, James S. Dean, Frank E. Eddy, Joseph Dutra, Kontanti Duskiewicz, Harold Dunham, Thomas Doucett, Joseph Doucett, Charles L. Farrington, Alton E. Estabrooks, Joseph E. Ellis, Granville D. Fuller, John D. Freitas, Thomas Gregory, Lester W. Haskins, Herbert B. Haley, William F. Horne, Alton Hinds and William H. Hewitt.

…………….Others World War 1 veterans listed for the Middleboro factory were Hagop A. Janjigian, James R. Jacintho, Edward W. Kraus, Thaddeus King, Harold D. Kennedy, Alfred C. Lang, Ralph B. Mendall, Domingo B. Mello, William J. McMahan, Byron McFarlane, Richmond C. Matthews, Frank D. Moriarty, Romeo Millette and Augustine Ouellette.

…………..Completing the listing are the names of Mihran Piranian, Samuel Rosenblatt, Manuel M. Rose, Millard E.Raymond, Earl Sears, Emile E. Savard, Ernest J. St. Armand, Forrest B. Standish, John L. Sullivan, George Ralph Taylor and Warren White.

…………..The foreward of the booklet which carried the title “Walk-Over War Record,” explained the reason for its publication in part with this comment: “Believing that a brief story of the war efforts of the Geo. E. Keith Company and its employees is of permanent interest, we have prepared this summary. We are sure the information contained will be a source of pride to anyone in any way connected with the company will be cherished in the years to come.” (Posted May 18, 2015)