USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume II > Part 53
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a resident of Utica and here passed away March 28, 1903. It was said of him by the local papers that he "deserved the wide-spread popularity which he en- joyed among the people. . . He was candid and prudent and possessed the sterling virtues of honorable manhood."
In 1845 Benjamin Allen was united in marriage, in Utica, to Miss Anne Magill, who died on the 28th of March, 1900. They were the parents of four children, Mary .J., W. Fred, George B. and Anne Matilda, The elder son, long one of the popular and honored business men and citizens of Utica, died on the 4th of January, 1911, when in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He was born in this city, September 1, 1847, and following his graduation from the Utica Free Academy became associated with his father in business in 1865. For three years he served as an employe and then became a partner in the firm which was extensively engaging in dealing in stone, occupying a place of leadership in this avenue of trade. Not alone in this line but in other connections as well W. Fred Allen left his impress upon the business world and in various connections he bent his energies to executive management and administrative control. He was chosen for the presidency of the Mohawk Valley Cap Company and was one of the directors of the La Tosea Knitting Company. He was also a director of the Ritesize Knitting Company and the U. K. T. Cutlery Company. Ile en- thusiastically advocated the project of a new hotel and was chosen for the pres- ideney of the Utica Hotel Company. Ile also succeeded his father as a director of the Second National Bank and was one of the chief factors in the Utica Ilome- stead Association. IIe came to the front as a business man because of his recogni- tion and utilization of opportunities which arise in connection with the substantial expansion of commercial and financial interests. The impossibility of placing fic- titious values upon industry, determination and perseverance, at once proves the worth of the individual who must base his rise upon these qualities. These ele- ments constituted the salient features in the advancement of W. Fred Allen, whose experience has been of wide range as he progressed from a comparatively humble position in his father's employ to the presidency of a number of the most in- portant corporate interests of his native city.
In 1873 W. Fred Allen was united in marriage to Miss Ida Cowing, of Buf- falo, and made his home at the corner of Lansing and First streets. Two chil- dren were born of this marriage, Gertrude and Mrs. John E. Ormsbee, who now has one child, Allen Ormsbee. Mr. Allen was an independent republican who usually indorsed the principles of the party but did not hesitate to oppose a candidate if he regarded the election of the individual inimical to the best in- terests of the community. He had no political aspirations for himself and the only office which he consented to fill was that of school commissioner, in which capacity he served from 1889 until 1892. He was himself a graduate of the public schools of Utica and was one of the first pupils enrolled at the opening of the Blandina street school in September, 1854. The cause of education ever found in him a stalwart champion and his cooperation was given to many move- ments for the advancement of education. He belonged to Utica Lodge, A. F. & A. M., for forty years and was one of the founders and members of Imperial Council of the Royal Arcanum. He was also a trustee of the Utica Soldiers' Monument Association and he belonged to the Fort Schuyler, the Arcanum,
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the Utica Curling and the Yahnundahsis Clubs. Ile was of a most social and genial disposition and was often the life of the party. ITis face was expressive of the geniality and cordiality of his nature. He was sincere and true and he appreciated the same qualities in others. Men gave to him their friendship be- cause they knew his own friendship was genuine and sincere. He was a sym- pathetie and interested listener as well as a splendid entertainer and all ap- preciated the sincerity of his words and actions, whether in business or social connections. Such a man cannot be called from a community without being strongly missed, and the loss of W. Fred Allen has been deeply felt, not only by the members of his own household and family but by those who knew him or were in any way associated with him while he was still an active factor in the affairs of life.
The surviving son, George Benjamin Allen, was born in this city, June 29, 1855, was educated in the public schools and, his course completed, he at onee joined his father and brother in the stone business. He has lived a comparatively quiet life, yet is well known in business connections, being now a director of the Citizens' Trust Company, the La Tosca Knitting Company, the Ritesize Under- wear Company, while of the Mohawk Valley Cap Company he is president. He is also a trustee of the Homestead Aid Association and of the Areauum Club and is a valued member of the Royal Arcanum of Utica.
CHARLES OLIVER JONES.
That success in life depends upon the person rather than opportunities is further evidenced by a study of the life of Charles Oliver Jones. He is a native of north Wales, his birth having occurred on the 30th of September, 1842, and a son of Edward and Mary (Thomas) Jones. The parents emi- grated to the I'nited States in 1846, landing in New York city where they resided for a year before removing to Oriskany. Oneida county, New York. After two years' residence there they came to New Hartford, where they con- tinned to reside.
The education of Charles Oliver Jones was obtained in the common schools of Oriskany and New Hartford which he attended until he had attained the age of ten years. At that period he assumed the heavier responsibilities of life by becoming a wage-earner in a rope factory, where he worked for fifty cents a week. He later obtained employment in the cotton mills where he remained until 1862. Four years thereafter he proceeded to Franklin Springs engaging in the manufacture of cotton batting until 1877 at which time he returned to New Hartford and went into the junk business. Hle did not long continne in this line and having recognized the need of more houses in the village he established a real-estate and building business, which proved to be a most successful and lucrative venture. In 1894 Mr. Jones bought an in- terest in the New Hartford Paper Box Company of which enterprise he became the sole owner two years later. IFe is still identified with this industry, which is operating under the firm name of the C O. Jones Paper Box Factory, in
C. O. JONES
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addition to which he is president of the Illma Underwear Company and of the James S. Johnson Manufacturing Company.
New Hartford was the scene of the marriage on the 7th of June, 1870, of Mr. Jones and Miss Margaret Jane Miller, a daughter of Hugh Miller, and to them has been born one child, Edward Hugh Jones.
The family express their religious belief through their membership in the Presbyterian church, and in politics a republican, Mr. Jones accords his sup- port to the men and measures of that body. Possessing a strong sense of his civic responsibilities, he takes an active and helpful interest in all municipal affairs and served as postmaster for two terms and president of the village for three, and he was at one time the incumbent of the office of town clerk. Beginning his business career as a factory boy with very limited education and no means, save such as he earned, Mr. Jones has attained the position he holds today in business activities and the regard of those who know him through his own unaided efforts and unflinching determination to achieve his ambition.
BENJAMIN DAVIS GILBERT.
Benjamin Davis Gilbert was born in Albany of Revolutionary stock, Novem- ber 21, 1835. His father died three months before he was born and his mother six months afterward. His mother's brother, Robert Davis, was appointed his guardian and he was brought up by him in Cooperstown, New York. He was educated at the Franklin Literary Institute in Delaware county and from there went to Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1857. In college Mr. Gil- bert was an honor man and member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, also the Phi Beta Kappa. After leaving college he went to Buffalo, where for three years he was engaged in the brokerage business. In the fall of 1860 he came to Utica aud engaged in business with his cousin Robert II. Davis, the firm being Davis & Gilbert. The business was discontinued in 1876. In 1877 Mr. Gilbert formed a connection with the Utica Morning Herald, then one of the leading papers of Oneida county, first as literary editor and later as agricul- tural editor. He became secretary of the Utica Board of Trade in 1878 and con- tinued to serve in that capacity until April 22, 1907. In the spring of 1889 Mr. Gilbert severed his connection with the Utica Morning Herald and re- moved to Clayville, New York, where he gave his time more exclusively to his agricultural work connected with the New York State Dairy Men's Association, of which he had become secretary. Ile was employed by the government to write a history of cheese making in New York state and this was published by the agricultural department of the United States in 1898 and was very widely circulated.
Mr. Gilbert was all his life a student of botany and made a specialty of the study of ferns and became an authority on the subject, naming many of the rare ferns for the large herbariums. Ilis private collection enhanced specimens from all over the world and was known as the finest private collection in this
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country. Ile traveled inch in tropical lands collecting rare specimens. His travels covered southern California, our southern states, the islands of Bermuda. St. Thomas, Martinique, Jamaica, and Europe. He revised the list of Bermuda ferns and his pamphlet on that subject was accepted as authority, as was also his fern list of North American pteridiphites. He was a well known contributor to the scientific publications of this country and Europe. His fern collection and botanical library were given to the Utica public library to form the nuelens of a scientific department in that institution. Mr. Gilbert was a member of the Oneida IHistorical Society and the New York State Society of Colonial Wars.
Mr. Gilbert was three times married. Ilis first wife was Miss Amelia A. Dutton, of Meredith, Delaware county, New York, whom he married in 1858 and who died in 1861. He next married Adelaide H. Thorne, of Utica, New York, who died in January, 1881, leaving one son, Benjamin Thorne Gilbert, of Utica. In 1886 he married Saralı Jeannette Millard, of Clayville, New York. Mr. Gilbert died June 3, 1907.
MAHIER BROTHERS.
One of the prominent business establishments of Ctiea is Maher Brothers, manufacturers and retailers of men's and boys' fine clothing, with offices and factory at Seneca and Lafayette streets. The business was established by Ed- ward Maher and his nephew John L. Maher, in 1876. Soon after the death of Edward Maher in 1886 Maher Brothers assumed the business and the concern is now one of the most important of the kind in the state outside of New York city. The firm also manufactures uniforms and there is not a city in the United States, where their produet is not worn. The house of Maher Brothers is known for its superior merchandise, its integrity and fair dealing.
John L. Maher was born in Carlow, Ireland. December 1. 1856. IFis father was Laurence Paul Maher, his mother Sarah Bolger and both came of noted and prominent families in the county. Of this union, six sons are still living and two daughters. One is Sister Mary Laurence, of the Convent of Merey, Greenbush, New York, and the other married Dr. II. E. Brown, of Utica.
In 1874 John L. Maher the eldest son eame to America. His destination. following the advice of Horace Greeley, was the west, the Black Hills. Stopping at U'tica to see his uncle he was offered employment and accepted. His work was satisfactory and it paved the way for what followed.
Mr. Maher of this review has for many years been known as one of the most public-spirited citizens of Utiea. As a member of a committee of citizens, at different times he assisted in the amicable settlement of three unfortunate and protracted strikes, the most noted of which was the Globe Mills strike in 1895.
He is a member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and has served as its president and treasurer. Ile is a man of wide reading and an excellent conversationalist. He has devoted a great deal of time to the cause of direct primaries and is regarded as one of the best informed men in the state on this subject. Ile has spoken in public many times in behalf of direet
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primaries and has made many friends for the cause. He was reared in the folds of the Catholic church and is one of its faithful adherents. Starting as a young man upon his own resources, he has attained deserved success and now enjoys the results of many years of elose and conscientious application to the growth and development of a large business.
William Maher was born September 21, 1860 and came to America in 1880. He first located in St. Louis but in 1887 came to Utica and joined his brothers in business. He is regarded as one of the best judges of cloth and clothing in the state and is the chief buyer of the firm.
Edward J. Maher was born October 20, 1868, and came to America and Utica in 1881. After leaving school he commenced at the bottom, learned the tailoring trade thoroughly, became an expert cutter and then designer. He has entire charge of the manufacturing end and much credit for the success of the business is due him. He is an authority on men's fashions and is noted for his "uniformn" designs.
Two uneles of the Maher Brothers served in the Union army at the time of the Civil war, one of them being killed in battle and the other dying of fever contracted in the line of duty. The firm of Maher Brothers is widely noted for its patriotic spirit. Many of the most interesting displays that have been given in Utica, of relies of the colonial days, the Revolutionary war and of the great Rebellion have been made by this firm.
CARL K. FREY.
Among the men who have long been identified with business in Utica and have won acknowledged standing may be named Carl K. Frey. He is a native of this city, born November 5, 1858. ITis parents were John and Margaret (Weidner) Frey. The father was born in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, in 1834. He came to this country and settled at Utica where he engaged in the cooper's trade. He was well and favorably known in this city as a man of upright character and genuine personal worth.
Carl K. Frey was educated in the schools of Utica and in St. Joseph's German school. He gained his introduction to business in an insurance office and in 1873, being then about fifteen years of age and ambitious to make an honorable name for himself, he entered the employ of L. C. Mundy, a photog- rapher. The young employe soon took a liking to this line of business and became very proficient in all its details. In 1887 he associated with a partner and they purchased the store of Mr. Mundy, the firm being conducted under the title of Gardner & Frey. Subsequently Mr. Frey acquired the interest of his partner and he has since continued in his own name. He is a man of good taste and sound business judgment and the firm of which he is the head is one of the most prosperous of the kind in this part of the state. He makes a specialty of portraits but keeps a complete line of photographie supplies on hand at all times, thus meeting the demands of a growing trade. He gives em- ployment to seven persons in his store and studio.
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In 1910 Mr. Frey was married at Utica to Miss Laura Feiseliger, of Syra- euse. He was reared in the Roman Catholic faith and is a member of St. Jo- seph's church of Utica. Politically he gives his allegiance to the demoeraey and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Columbus of which he was a charter member. As he has been industrious, energetic and obliging, being, moreover, a good judge of human nature, he has been successful in his business and is known today as one of the thoroughly trustworthy citizens of Utica.
CHARLES WELLS WICKS.
Charles Wells Wieks has a wide acquaintance in Utica and Oneida county and, therefore, searcely needs introduction to the readers of this volume. He has always lived in this county, representing one of its old families, and along mercantile lines won for himself a prominent position, his labors at the same time contributing to general progress and prosperity as well as to individual success. Ile was born at Paris IIill, Oneida county, New York, December 16. 1862, a son of Charles Chidsey and Naney (Bieknell) Wieks. The father, born at Paris Hill, September 23, 1811, died on the 17th of September, 1884, while the mother, whose birth oeeurred in Watertown, Massachusetts, March 16, 1829, passed away. April 27, 1904. The ancestry of the Wicks family is traced back to -John Wix, who emigrated from Wyckford, England, about 1750 and settled at Montauk Point, Long Island. His son Edward Wix removed to North Guilford, Connecticut, during the Revolutionary war and changed his name to Wiek. lle had two sons, John and Edward, and two daughters, Amy and Amanda. Of these John Wick followed the seas and became a captain, owning his own ship, and was in partnership with Comfort and Constant Sands, of Philadelphia, in the West Indies trade. On one of his voyages he was shipwrecked owing to a shifting sand-bar and was given up as lost by his wife and friends. During this time he lived a precarious life among the islands, subsisting on rum and molasses and whatever they could kill in the way of game. Ile finally appeared in New York and sent word to his wife of his safe return. As soon as possible he disposed of his ship and holdings and gave up the sea forever. In 1800 he and his brother Edward removed to Paris Ilill, Oneida county, New York, and changed the name by adding "s," thus adopting the present form of Wicks. John Wieks purchased a farm of sev- eral hundred acres at Paris Hill from General George Washington, the deed of which is still in possession of the family and was signed by Governor Clin- ton as attorney. John Wicks died, May 3, 1836, leaving five sons, Constant IL .. Comfort. Edward B., John and Charles C., and two daughters, Phoebie and Sarah.
Of this family Charles Chidsey Wicks became the father of our subjeet. He purchased the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead and re- mained on the farm. He had five sons and ten daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters are now deceased. After living for a considerable period on the old homestead he disposed of the farm and removed to Johnstown,
CHARLES W. WICKS
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New York, and, as previously stated, passed away on the 17th of September, 1884, his wife surviving him for about twenty years.
Their son Charles Wells Wieks pursued his early education in the "old red schoolhouse" at Paris Hill, which was one of the oldest schoolhouses in that part of Oneida county. Later he attended a private school conducted by the Rev. J. B. Wicks at Paris Hill and afterward attended Sauquoit Academy at Sauquoit, Oneida county, from which he was graduated with the class of 1889. After leaving school he entered the employ of Head & Winston, of Utica, New York, wholesale grocers, with whom he continued for two and a half years, leaving them to go to New York city, where he entered the employ of Austin Nichols & Company, wholesale grocers. After a short time, however, he was called back to Utica, New York, to take a position with Roberts-Butler & Company, manufacturers of clothing. lle had remained with that house for some years when, upon the death of Mr. Roberts, he became a member of the firm. He continued in business in that relation until the death of Mr. Butler, when a corporation was formed under the name of the Roberts-Wicks Con- pany, with Russell H. Wieks as president and Charles Wells Wicks as secre- tary. The latter continued in that capacity until January, 1904, when he re- tired from the company to enter the retail clothing business. For this pur- pose he formed a partnership with George H. Greenman, of Johnstown, New York, and they continued successfully in that business for five years under the firm name of Wicks & Greenman and at the end of that period sold out to The Talbot Company of Boston, who still conduet the business in Utica under the original name of Wicks & Greenman. Mr. Wicks then retired from active business with a handsome and well earned competency and now has leisure for the enjoyment of those things which are a matter of pleasure and interest to him. He is still identified with several interests and publie enterprises in an official capacity, being a director of the Utica Fine Yarn Company of Utica, New York, of the Maxwell Manufacturing Company of New Hartford (Utica) New York, a director and treasurer of the Gunn Motor Company of Utica, a director of the Utica Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Lincoln Memorial Road Association of America.
On the 5th of May, 1892, in Grace Episcopal church of Utica was celebrated the marriage of Charles Wells Wicks and Miss Lucie Canterbury Glenn, a daughter of IIugh Glenn, of Utica, New York. IIer father was born at Glen- vale Port Rush, in County Antrim, Ireland, and on coming to America set- tled in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he won substantial success in business and then returned to England, making his home in Norwood, a suburb of London. After living there for several years he again sailed for America with his family, this time coming to Utica, where he formed a partnership with E. T. Manning under the firm name of Glenn & Manning, establishing one of the first department stores of Utica and at that time the largest. Mr. and Mrs. Wicks have become parents of two sons: Glenn Dickinson, born January 30, 1893; and Roger Manning, born November 7, 1894. Both are now students in the Hotchkiss school at Lakeville, Connecticut, preparing to enter Yale University.
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The family attend Grace Episcopal church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Wicks are members. He belongs also to Faxton Lodge, No. 697, F. & A. M., of Utica, and has pleasant social and club relations, holding membership in the Auto- mobile Club of U'tica, of which he is a director, the Fort Schuyler Club, the Yahnundahsis Golf Club, the Arcanum Club, the Utica Curling Club and the Republican Club of Utica. The last named indicates his political position but, while he has always been a stanch supporter of republican principles and voted for the candidates of the party, he has never sought nor desired office for himself. His entire life has been passed in Oneida county and his ad- vancement has been continuous, bringing him to a creditable position in busi- ness circles and winning for him an enviable place in public regard.
RICHARD REYNOLDS.
Richard Reynolds was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, in February, 1804, a son of John and Ann Reynolds. His education was acquired in the common schools of his native country and when about twenty-two years of age he became a resident of New York, settling at New Hartford. There he was elosely as- sociated with industrial interests as one of the superintendents in the Woleott & Campbell Cotton Mills.
In his political views Richard Reynolds was a republican. He never affiliated with any fraternal organization yet all of his sons became Masons. His religious faith was that of the Episcopal church and his entire life was in harmony with its teachings.
In 1825 Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage to Miss Jane Benbow, of Man- chester. England, and they became the parents of eleven children, eight of whom reached adult age, namely, Mary A., Jane, Elizabeth, Margaret, John Edward, Richard Samuel, William Henry and George Arthur. Of these the eldest, Mary Reynolds. became the wife of Major David Jones.
Jane became the wife of Noble Hopkins, who was born in Wallingford, Ver- mont, October 10, 1827, and died at Utiea, Mareh 3, 1896. He was a son of Wil- liam and Martha (Smith) Hopkins and in his youth attended the publie sehools of his native town. His entire life was devoted to commercial pursuits. For some time he engaged in the wholesale tin business and afterward conducted a retail shoe establishment. His well directed energy, sound judgment, close ap- plieation and honorable dealing constituted the salient features in his success. Ile eame to Utica, New York, in 1855 with the son of William Hopkins, whose father, John Hopkins, was the first settler of the town of Wallingford, Ver- mont, removing to that place from Seituate, Rhode Island. He was one of Ethan Allen's Green Mountain heroes, who fought in the Revolutionary war. Ile was also a brother of Stephen Hopkins, one of the signers of the Deelara- tion of Independence.
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