He was reputed to be worth "upwards of thirty thousand," owned acres and acres of cranberry swamps, and the new house he had just built was almost as big as it was ugly, which is saying considerable.

He had wanted to be a deacon in the church and, though the church was by no means so eager, deacon he became.

He was an uncompromising Democrat, but he had forced himself into the Board of Selectmen, every other member a Republican.

He was director in the Denboro bank, and it was town talk that his most ardent desire at the present time was to see his daughter Helen--Nellie, we all called her--married to George Taylor, cashier of that bank.

As George and Nellie were "keeping company" it seemed likely that Captain Jed would be gratified in this, as in all other desires.
He was a born boss, and did his best to run the town according to his ideas.