Herbert Clayton Nickerson, chief engineer of the pumping stations of the New Haven Water Company, and a resident of East Haven, was born in New Canaan, Connecticut, March 5, 1874. He belongs to one of the old New England families, the Nickersons having come to America about 1650, at which time settlement was made of the town of Chatham, Massachusetts. Through his grandfather Nickorson, Herbert C. Nickerson is related to the family of Harvey C. Birch, who figured as the spy in J. Fenimore Cooper's work of that name and whose real name was Enoch Crosby. Richard G. Niekerson, father of Herbert C. Nickerson, was born in the state of New York and in his boyhood became a resident of Norwalk, Connecticut. He was with a railroad company, in charge of the mechanical department at New Canaan for a number of years, and afterward removed to New Haven, where he entered into business relations with the New Haven Water Company, taking charge of their Saltonstall station in 1882. He remained in charge there until July, 1916, and is now living retired at the age of seventy-three years, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Arabella T. Seymour, is a daughter of Thomas Seymour, of North Wilton, and is now sixty-nine years of age. Their family numbered four children, of whom Herbert C. is the youngest, the others being: Clara, the wife of W. S. Coker; Jessie, the wife of William G. Newton, superintendent with the firm of Peck Brothers; and Irving, who died December 13, 1891, when twenty-one years of age.

In the acquirement of his education Herbert C. Nickerson attended the public schools of East Haven and the Giles school, a private school of New Haven. He pursued an engineering course in correspondence schools and after his education was completed he entered the employ of the N. T. Bushnell Company, hardware dealers, as a clerk. He afterward spent a short time in the bicycle business in Norwalk and in December, 1891, on the death of his brother, became his successor as assistant engineer at Saltonstall. He was afterward transferred to Whitneyville in 1896 and in 1904 was made chief engineer in charge of all pumping stations, in which position he also superintends all new installation and improvement work in the pumping stations. His position is therefore one of importance and responsibility but his powers are proving adequate to the tasks that devolve upon him. He is also the secretary and treasurer of the East Haven Telephone &, Electric Company, of which he was one of the organizers in 1899.

On the 25th of October, 1899, Mr. Nickerson was married, in East Haven, to Miss May Etta Forbes, a daughter of Willett B. and Marietta (Bradley) Forbes. They now have one child, Eunice Isabel, who was born April 30, 1909, and is with her parents in an attractive home at No. 369 Main street, in East Haven.

Mr. Nickerson has long taken an active part in public affairs, in fact has figured prominently in this way since attaining his majority and has been especially active during the past fifteen years. For many years he has been a member of the East Haven fire department and was chairman of the committee which installed the first auto engine truck in 1917, it being a rebuilt Cadillac, combination hose, chemical and ladder truck, which was secured at a cost of eleven hundred dollars. In 1911 Mr. Nickerson served as second selectman and in 1913 was chosen to represent his town in the state legislature. Endorsement of his first term's service came in his reelection in 1915 and he was made clerk of the committee on cities and boroughs, in which capacity he served through both sessions. In 1915 he introduced a bill in Hartford creating a board of finance for the town of East Haven, putting the finances of the town on a budget basis, and of the board having this work in charge Mr. Niekerson has since been a member. This act also increases the powers of the selectmen and at the same time guards against any abuse of power. For many years Mr. Nickerson has been a member of the Old Stone church, of which he is a deacon, and he was chairman of the committee which secured the funds for the installation of a new town clock in the church tower, replacing the one which had been in position there since 1798. Mr. Nickerson has taken all the degrees of Masonry save the honorary thirty-third degree and he belongs to the Knights Templar Club and to the Quinnipiac Club, in which organizations he is popular, his sterling personal worth, his genial manner, his unfailing courtesy and his progressive spirit combining to win for him the friendship and regard of those with whom he is brought in contact. He has ever been most faithful to all trusts reposed in him and the public has never had occasion to regret that he has been chosen for high public offices.