JOHN C. HIEBER
John C. Hieber, senior member of the firm of John C. Hieber & Co., the
leading wholesale dry goods dealers of Utica, was born in Bopfingen,
Wurtemberg, Germany, December 23, 1837, and received a good practical
education in the national schools of his native country. In June, 1852,
when a boy of but fourteen years of age, he came to America to seek a wider
field for the exercise of those talents which subsequently formed the chief
elements of his business career. He was thoroughly imbued with the
fundamental ideas of liberty and freedom, with ambition, progress and
advancement, and with characteristic energy turned his hand to the first
employment that was offered. He went to Johnstown, N. Y., and worked at
dressing buckskins for about one year. In 1853 he came to Utica and for
three years was employed as a clerk in the retail grocery store of A. D.
Mather & Co. These occupations enabled him to become acquainted with
customs and habits in the land of his adoption, and also to develop that
patriotic spirit which has ever since been a predominating factor in his
commercial and other relations. In 1856 he returned to Johnstown and
learned the trade of glove-cutting which he followed there during the next
four years. He returned to Utica in 1860 and became a salesman in the dry
goods house of E. T. Manning & Co., the predecessors of Hugh Glenn & Co.,
with whom he continued until 1864. In these various capacities Mr. Hieber
developed rare business ability and won the entire confidence of his
employers and associates. At the same time he gained a wide experience and
a thorough knowledge of business affairs which combined to form the proper
base for the career upon which he was now to enter.
In 1864 Mr. Hieber, in partnership with William Gries, under the firm name of William Gries & Co., engaged in the retail dry goods trade in Utica. This name was changed in 1867 to Gries & Hieber, and in 1869 Mr. Hieber purchased his partner’s interest. He then formed a copartnership with John A. Roberts, under the style of John C. Hieber & Co., and continued the business until 1871, when the firm sold out. A reorganization was then effected under the name of Hieber, Robert & Jones and at once engaged in the wholesale dry goods trade, which proved a success from the start. In 1874 Mr. Hieber purchased the interests of his partners and thus became sole owner; soon afterwards, however, he formed a partnership with David E. Williams and William O. Hewitt under the name of John C. Hieber & Co. This continued until 1881 when Mr. Hieber again became sole proprietor of the constantly growing business. In 1882 the present firm of John C. Hieber & Co. was organized, the individual partners being Mr. Hieber, David E. Williams, J. Frank Day and Isaac O. Roberts.
Mr. Hieber’s business career covers a period of thirty-four years, all of it being spent in Utica. Coming to this country a stranger, without money or friends, but with great energy, courage and laudable ambition, he has by his own efforts forged ahead and stands today among the foremost merchants of the State. He is preeminently a self-made man. His success is due chiefly to indefatigable industry, indomitable perseverance, close attention to details and great executive ability. By others endowed with less foresight would have been content to work for nominal salaries. He had carefully studied human nature and the elements of business affairs and with characteristic zeal had grasped those principles of trade which with commendable enterprise, and in this capacity added to his already large experience. In the wholesale line he found a wider field for the exercise of his business ability, his native energy and his enterprising spirit. To him was mainly due the success attained during the earlier years of the firm, and to him is almost wholly due the building up and continuance of the largest and most complete dry goods establishment not only in Utica and Oneida county, but in Central New York. In 1893 he built the present handsome and commodious brick block on Main Street for the exclusive use of the business.
Mr. Hieber has always taken a keen interest in public affairs and in the prosperity of the city, but his extensive business interests have never admitted of his accepting political office. He is public-spirited and progressive, and above all patriotic, and is one of the foremost citizens of Utica. He is a member and for several years has been a trustee of the English Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and is also a well-known Mason, holding membership in Oriental Lodge F. & A. M. and Oneida Chapter R. A. M. He is also a charter member of the Business Men’s Exchange of Utica.
On September 22, 1862, Mr. Hieber was married to Miss Barbara Neeger, daughter of George Neeger, of March, Oneida county. This union has been blessed with nine children, of whom six are living, Theodore W., Eugene A., George M., Lena, Flora E., and Matilda C. Theodore W., and Eugene A. are associated with their father in business.
Pages 67-69 (Contributed by Linda)