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.

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."

"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."

     
  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

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