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The Sikes Chair Company


When we first presented this page, little was known about the Sikes Chair Company.  Through email and photographs sent to us by readers, we are learning more every day. 

We still do not have any catalogues that would indicate date of manufacture, variety, styles, or pricing information, and certainly do not know what prices any piece would bring in today's market, so we appreciate your consideration in refraining from asking these questions.

We suggest you contact a professional who deals with antique furniture to have your piece examined and evaluated.   Only you can determine whether or not you want to insure an item.  If you view this piece only as a possession which might bring you some cash should it be destroyed by an act of God (fire, flood, tornado, etc.)  then by all means, insure it.

For the vast majority of people who have sent us photographs and shared their stories about the chairs and other furniture, the value is 100 percent sentimental.   If your chair is valuable to you because it once belonged to your ancestor, placing an insurance value on it will not mean anything.


The following pages contain images, shared by our readers, of various pieces of Sikes furniture.

Chair Photos - Page 1
Chair Photos - Page 2
Chair Photos - Page 3
Chair Photos - Page 4
Chair Photos - Page 5 Chair Photos - Page 6 Chair Photos - Page 7 Chair Photos - Page 8
Chair Photos - Page 9
Chair Photos - Page 10



If you have pictures of any Sikes chairs, tables, umbrella stands, or other furniture you would be willing to share,
and perhaps  a history of how you obtained the piece, please let us know.  We would be happy to include it here.


Readers, Please keep your  contributions [with stories about how you got your chair(s) or furniture] coming in.
You are making this page a success!



The obituary of Edwin Sikes was published in a newspaper whose name and date was torn away.
The clipping contained a note on the edge that says, "Died Spring of 1910."

"Prominent Business Man, President of the Sikes Chair Company, Who has Passed Away"

"Edwin Sikes, who died yesterday morning at his home, 573 West Ferry Street, had been for many years one of Buffalo's prominent business men.  He was President of the Sikes Chair Company.  Mr. Sikes was born in Somers, Conn., Jan. 19, 1825.  He came to Buffalo in 1860 to join his brother, Samuel D. Sikes, who had some time before established a chair factory on Clinton Street.   The business was conducted for fifteen years under the firm name of S. D. Sikes & Brother, and after the death of the elder brother Edwin Sikes succeeded to the management, reorganizing the company and becoming its president.  Mr. Sikes was elected a member of the board of directors of Citizens Bank in 1897, and continued as such until the time of his death.  For 24 years and until his retirement from most of the active affairs of the life a few years ago, he had been a trustee of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church.

On October 20, 1852, Mr. Sikes married Clarinda Colton Simons, of Longmeadow, Mass.  Mrs. Sikes died in 1867. Three children survive, William F. Sikes, Mrs. Henry L. Lyon, wife of the Deputy Water Commissioner, and Albert Sikes, all of this city.  Mr. Sikes married in 1869 Miss Louisa Sophia Colton, also of Longmeadow, who has survives him.  He leaves also one brother, Charles R. Sikes, of Ellington, Conn.  The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock from the family home on West Ferry Street, and interment will be in the family lot at forest Lawn cemetery."



From a Sikes Company letterhead dated Oct 15, 1933:

The Company was “Established in 1859”.
“Manufacturers of Distinction for the Home, Office & Public Buildings”
“Offices & Salespersons in Buffalo, New York, Philadelphia and Grand Rapids”

“A Consolidation of
The Sikes Company (Formerly of Philadelphia)
Sikes-Cutler Desk Corp.
Sikes Chair Co.”



Edwin Sikes was in the eighth generation from
Richard Sikes & Phoebe of Springfield, Mass.  Here are his ancestors:
Richard Sikes & Phoebe
Increase Sikes & Abigail Fowler
Nathaniel Sikes & Elizabeth Ball
John Sikes & Thankful Warriner
Reuben Sikes & Thankful Buell
Able Sikes & Lois Dwight
Horace Sikes & Nancy Darby
Edwin Sikes & Clarinda Simons



Following the publication of the above information, we were very excited to
hear from a family with direct connections to the Sikes Chair Company.
     
  I am Albert Dwight Sikes II, born May 23, 1918, and my father is Robert Mills Sikes (deceased 1952.) from Buffalo, NY.   My grandfather was Albert Dwight Sikes (deceased 1930) from Buffalo, NY.

As I recall, the original Sikes Chair Company was at first owned by these two and another Sikes brother whose name escapes me.  (Editor's Note:  From Edwin Sikes's obituary, we know the 3rd bother's name was Samuel D. Sikes.)  My grandfather bought out the other two brothers in the early 20th century. This factory was located at 500 Clinton St., in Buffalo, NY but around the early 20th century, it was moved for approximately 10-12 years to Philadelphia.  In 1916, it was then moved back to Buffalo, NY and in 1930 my grandfather bought the Cutler Desk Company and renamed the company Sikes-Cutler Desk Company.  Late in 1930 my father passed away, leaving the company to his wife, Lily Jean Sikes. 

Just as the big depression was about to strike,  my grandmother received an offer of two million dollars and a meeting was called to discuss the offer and those present were her three children.  Their names were Robert Mills Sikes, Edwina (Sikes) Gurney and  Margaret (Sikes) Prentice.  The preponderance of opinion was  to refuse the offer or two million and the belief was that the good name of the Sikes-Cutler Desk company could withstand the depression.  The depression honored no name nor status, and the Sikes-Cutler Desk Company went bankrupt with millions of others.    

My Maternal grandmother's  maiden name was Taylor.  Gordon B. Sikes is a distant cousin.  I have one Brother, Robert Stockton Sikes  from Vermont, who passed away just recently (2003).  He had two sons, named John Sikes and Peter Sikes. John lives in Vermont and I do not know where the other son lives.     My Sons and one daughter are Stephen Albert Dwight Sikes, Christopher (Kiffer) Lewis Sikes, Jonathan Sikes, and Marcia Sikes, Buffalo, NY.

Albert Dwight Sikes, II
Brevard, NC  28712
surfywings@hotmail.com



About the same time we received Albert's letter, we also heard from
a lady whose grandfather was an employee of the Sikes Chair Company.

     Wow!  How exciting to locate your web site.  I have many pictures and stories regarding my grandfather, Clarke L. Moore, who worked at Sikes Chair Factory for 48 years.  He began work at the Philadelphia, Pa. factory, but accepted an offer to transfer to the Buffalo factory.  He moved his wife and three children to Buffalo in 1933.  My grandparents both were deaf mutes.

     I have several pictures of my grandfather at work over the 50 years at Sikes.  He was an avid photographer and enjoyed taking and sharing photographs.  Because of his pride in his job, Clarke made sure that he had pictures to show family and friends of his work.  He was very well liked and respected as he was conscientious, skilled and dependable.  He was able to repair any of the equipment and operate all of the machinery. 
     My hobby is genealogy and I have included all of the Sikes pictures in my grandparents family history.  I would very much like to have more history of Sikes Chair Factory and pictures of both the Phila. and Buffalo factories.  If records such as payroll, productivity, newspaper publications, ads, or other information that I can include with my grandfather's work history at Sikes exists, I would appreciate having copies.  Perhaps there may even be something with my grandfather's name?

Sincerely,

Cheryl WHISSEL, 1303 Indian Trail N.
Palm Harbor, FL  34683
cwhissel@tampabay.rr.com









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Copyright 1997 - 2008   including form and content by The Sikes/Sykes Families Association.
Material or data obtained from these pages may be used only when credit is given to The Sikes/Sykes Families Association.
This Web Site was created for The Sikes/Sykes Families Association by Diane Scannell.
We accept e-mail at  ArtSikes@aol.com    or dscannell@satx.rr.com


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