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SIMON P. QUICK. The subject of this sketch presents an example of what may be achieved by any young man who starts in life with energy, enterprise and a determination to overcome all obstacles in his struggle for wealth and honorable position in life.
He is the son of James and Jane (Wheeler) Quick, natives of Ulster county, N. Y., where he was born in the town of Rochester, June 27th, 1850. His parents were poor and unable to give their children any advantages for an education except such as were afforded by the district schools of their town. Our subject remained at home assisting his father on the farm when, in the year 1862 the family were deprived of the care and protection of the father who, wishing to visit a relative in a western State, left for that purpose and never returned and was never again heard from. The mother being thus left with the care and support of her little family found in our subject, who was then but twelve years old and the oldest of the children, her main stay and assistance until the winter of 1870 and 1871, when he purchased a lot of fifty-five acres of land in Scott township, Wayne county, Pa., and, assisted by his brothers, he erected a house into which his mother moved and where she still resides. Since his first purchase he has added by purchase sixty-five acres to the little farm now containing 120 acres, purchased and provided by this dutiful son for the home and support of his beloved mother, who has the assistance in her declining years of her son Jeremiah. Our subject was young, but he had push and perseverance, and the duties devolving upon him in the support of his mother quickened and stimulated him to action, and he succeeded where some would have failed. After his marriage, which occurred on the 1st of January, 1871, to Miss Mary, a daughter of William M. and Sarah A. (Wasburn) Bowen, of the town of Scott, Wayne county, Pa., the real business life of our subject commenced. He immediately began housekeeping for himself in Sherman, Wayne county, Pa., and his first business venture was the purchase of sixty acres in the towns of Sanford and Scott, in Wayne and Broome counties, on to which he removed in 1872, and in connection with his farming business he engaged in the lumber business, buying logs and running them down the Delaware river to markets thereon, this continuing until 1878. The business depression and panic of 1873 and a litigation with Marvin Wheeler, resulting from a contract with the latter for the furnishing of lumber, etc., and which resulted finally in our subject's favor after several trials and arguments, which were expensive both in time and money, in a judgment of several hundreds of dollars, tended to lessen his profits for that period. The next purchase was in 1878, in the town of Windsor, Broome county, N. Y., of a quantity of timber, and subsequently of 550 acres, mostly of timber land, and a steam mill located thereon, in the town of Colesville, Broome county. The latter he is still operating. He has built two houses, a barn and a new steam mill, these new improvements aggregating a cost of eight to ten thousand dollars. Mr. Quick's business, since he began where he now lives, has been extensive and is increasing every year, the result of constant application and fair dealing. He is just and considerate to his employees, keeping them under pay during the dull season, securing by such a course the good will and earnest endeavors of those employed by him. Mr. Quick is part owner of the Windsor Water Works system, being one of the first members of the company as now organized. He has other investments in the village of Windsor and takes an active interest in all that pertains to the advancement and interest of that beautiful village.
Mr. Quick is a member of Windsor Lodge, No. 442, F. & A. M., also of Malta Commandery, of Binghamton, N. Y. Mr. Quick is a Republican in politics and takes an active interest in his party's success. He never seeks office nor desires it. He has always been a promoter of interests of a local nature tending to improve and benefit his fellow citizens. One instance we will here mention without fear of criticism. He organized what is known as the Oquaga brass band, becoming its leader and contributing towards the purchased instruments.
James Quick was born August 1st, 1821, and Jane Quick, his wife, July 15th, 1820, in the town of Rochester, Ulster county. These, the parents of our subject, had four children, as follows: Simon P., Jeremiah R., Jacob M., and Anna M. J. The parents of the wife of our subject were born, the father in the town of Bridgewater, Susquehanna county, Pa., June 11th, 1821. The mother was born in Hartford, Conn., September 2nd, 1822; both are living. They had eight children, as follows: William B., Oliver F., Horace B., Polly A., Jane, Nathan L., Dolly and Rose. Mr. and Mrs. Quick have but one child, and that by adoption when she was six months old, named Birdie Alice, aged six years.
