Page:One of a thousand.djvu/460

 446 OAKMAN, O BKIEN. OAKMAN, Richard Nickerson, son of Joseph L. and Mar) - (Nickerson) Oak- man, was born in Wendell, Franklin coun- ty, January 20, 18 18. His early education was obtained at the common schools, followed by three years at Franklin Academy, Shelburne Falls. After leaving the academy, he was princi- pal of the Union Academy at Province- town for six years. In 1846 he left the position and devoted his attention to farm- ing for thirty years. In 1853 Mr. Oakman was representative to the General Court for Montague, and for six years commissioner for Franklin county. For twenty-eight years he has been selectman for Montague, and for many years assessor, overseer of the poor, and member of the school board. In social, religious, and philanthropic matters he has always taken a prominent position, and held many important trusts — a worthy illustration of what a New England boy can accomplish by patient industry, temperance, and frugality, without inherited means or influential friends to aid him. Mr. Oakman is now president of the Crocker National Bank, and holds various other offices of trust and responsibility. In 1S41 he married, in Hawley, Julia P., daughter of Ichabod and Paulina (Porter) Hawkes. Of their four children, R. N. Oakman, Jr., Julia Kate, Nellie P., and Frank Hawkes, the two sons are filling important positions — the elder as treas- urer and manager of the John Russell Cutlery Company, the younger with the Lamson & Goodnow Cutlery Company. OBER, Frederick Albion, son of Andrew K. and Sarah Had lock Ober, was born in Beverly, Essex county, February 13, 1849. The public schools gave him his early training until fourteen years of age. He received no other assistance from schools, save that of one year in the agricultural college (1869). Mr. Ober is a lineal descendant of Rich- ard Ober, who settled in Beverly in the early part of the seventeenth century. He early imbibed a fondness for field sports and natural history, and while yet a boy had collected and preserved samples of nearly all the birds of New England, and had noted their habits. So strong was his passion in this direction, that he aban- doned a lucrative business and went to Florida, where he hunted in 1872. He was so charmed by this trip that he made another in 1874, determined to explore Lake Okechobee and the Everglades. During his first trip he had been unable to reach this great lake and explore the mys- teries that hung around it. This time he was successful. In 1876 and '80 he hunted in the West Indies, discovering twenty-two new species of birds, and for the first time explored the Caribbees between St. Thomas and Trin- idad. In 1881 he turned his attention toward Mexico. On his way thither he touched at Cuba, and afterwards visited the ruined cities of Yucatan. Arriving in the city of Mexico, he ferreted out its remains of early civilization, climbed to the summit of Popocatapetl, 17,800 feet, rode a thou- sand miles on horseback through southern Mexico, and then returned to the United States, after seven months' absence. In 1883 and '85 he again visited Mexico, pen- etrating portions of the country hitherto unknown to any save the natives. The exploration of these fields has con- tinued more than ten years. The thrilling incidents connected therewith have been given to the world in his lectures, also in his published works, the principal ones being "Camps in the Caribbees" (1879), " Young Folks' History of Mexico" (1883), Travels in Mexico" (1885), "Montezuma's Gold Mines" (1886), and "Knock About Club Series " (1S8S, '89 and '90). Mr. Ober's travels in South America, and later in Spain and northern Africa, have added fresh matter to his store from which he draws for his publications and pop- ular lectures. Mr. Ober is unmarried. O'BRIEN, HUGH, was born in Ireland, Tuly 13, 1827. When five years of age, his parents came to this country, and he received his early education in the public schools of Boston, graduating from the grammar school that stood on the famous old Fort Hill. He entered the office of the " Boston Courier " as an apprentice to learn the art of printing, when in his twelfth year. From the " Courier " office he went to the book and job office of Tuttle, Dennett & Chisholm, of which he became foreman at the age of fifteen. Several years later he founded the " Shipping and Commercial List," of which he was long the editor and publisher.
 * The Silver City" (188-