110 Years Ago, 1916, transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“Henry K. Wick stricken down by pneumonia. Eminent millionaire businessman answers summons in Buffalo. Leaves giant work his energy welded. Brought up in Youngstown, he inspired business which has vast ramifications — introduced manufacture of Russian plannished steel in the United States — foreranks in coal operations — semi-retired for past fifteen years.”

“Henry Kirtland Wick, eminent coal operator, millionaire and Youngstown citizen, died at Buffalo, New York, at 5:30 Wednesday afternoon, following a brief illness with pneumonia.

“Feeling quite well, despite a slightly failing health of recent months, Mr. Wick went to Buffalo, the headquarters for his biggest business interests, Tuesday a week ago, but upon arrival there he was stricken. Saturday, when the serious nature of the illness became apparent, Mrs. Wick hurried to Buffalo. She was at the bedside when death came.

“The deceased was a son of Colonel Caleb B. Wick, a prominent Youngstown citizen, who died in 1865. He was 75 years old last August, and was one of ten children, two being half-brother and sister, and three dying in infancy….

“Mr. Wick at the time of his death was conceded to be one of the biggest businessmen of the United States. His fields of interest, stretching in broad ramifications through many states and in many industries were multifarious.

“By preeminent ability, energy and unswerving purpose he won millions and the name of one of the most noted coal operators in the country. Although his timber and coal holdings were very considerable in the south, he devoted the last fifteen years to a semi-retired life in his hometown where he was widely interested in many enterprises and in Buffalo, where the H.K. Wick Coal company, Inc., of which he was president, has its headquarters….

“In fifty years past Mr. Wick’s investments had spread to the compass points. Although essentially a coal man he was always deeply interested in iron and its manufacture. Thirty-five years ago he became associated with a Russian named George Kougousheff, of the old Brown & Bonnel Iron company. The man had said he was master of a secret process of making Russian plannished sheet iron, a high grade product. Mr. Wick went to Russia, absorbed the necessary knowledge of the method, and returned to the United States. He built a mill at Niles at which the first plannished product was produced in this country, and formally opened what was eventually to become a giant industry….

“Gradually his holdings of timber and coal lands increased, as did that of real estate of which he was a great local holder. But early he saw the possibilities of the rubber trade and inspired the formation of the Republic Rubber company here, becoming its first president. Also he was an original stock holder in the Sheet & Tube company. He was also a director of the P.Y.&A. Railroad company and the Youngstown Dry Goods company….

“Many Youngstown enterprises were patronized by Mr. Wick, notably among them being the Memorial Presbyterian church, which he helped found, and the Mahoning Institute of Art, in which he was deeply interested and which he aided greatly in the early days of its existence.

“The body of the deceased will be brought from Buffalo over the Lake Shore railway this evening. Interment will be made from the residence Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock. The services will be private and friends are asked to refrain from sending flowers.”