The Portland daily press., 1901-01-21
HON. ]. s. KICKER.
FansraI Services Saturday at Resi-
dence ON Forest Avenue.


lean manliness, integrity and industry.
It was an eminent example Of what any
young man can do who starts In life 18th
honesty and serious purpose.
There was no luxury in his boyhood.
Compelled by ciIc umstauces to make his
own way at once, he started career that
was ever upward with the same zeal and
his manifold dealings in after life. The
state OF Maine and the city of Portland
have known him for nearly half cen
tury and both are richer ( or his having
been q citizen here. 10 New England at
large he was known as q business man,
prominently. an investor In and often
times promoter of many well known en-
terprises. At the time of his death he was
one OF the very large stockholders OF the
Boston and Maine railroad In which cor
poration he was also director. At the
same time he was director In the Maine
Central railroad and several steamship
com panies running boats In and out OF
Portland. He was president OF the United
States OIL company and well known In
the management of several financial In
stitutlons In this city. The foundation
Of his fortune was laid in the Casoo Ian
ming company. the managing interest OF
which he held for many years.
But while known to most of his fellow
citizens as a prominent New England
business man, MIR. Kicker was also
known to many friends aud acquain-
tanoss as a wealthy business man who
dispensed charity, sometimes lavishly,
at all times wisely. A worthy cause al.
ways excited the interest of this man Of
gentle ami kind heart, and he had the
pie isure during his lifetime of seeing the
good that mon-y can do. All his chari-
ties were far removed from ostFn tation
ana whenever 1t was possible those who
received his benefits never knew from
whose hand they came.
Eight years ago Mr.. Kicker became a
trustee OF the Maine Wesleyan Seminary
at kent's Hill and to this institution he
late Stephen Allen MIR Kicker was elected
to succeed him as director In corp ora-
tion which was authorized TO collect and
hold funds for educational purposes.
Whtn no other stipulation was made these
funds were to go to the seminary at
Kent Hill. Ihe new building there,
used as library and also dedicated to art
and music, was a result OF his gifts and
10 bears his name. His charities TO in IL
vidual students were also liberal, and
better than any others they were charac-
teristic OF his giving. For several years
before his death he had paid the tuition
and individual exp nses OF Cns girl stu
dent at the seminary from each coun'y
of the state. These appointments were
always made by the president OF the In
stitution, the conditions being that the
girl should be one OF ability and deserv
Ing an education without the financial
means of acquiring 1t. A strict require
ment on MIR. Rioker's part was that no
student receiving such benefit should
have any knowledge whatever whence
II came. At ole time the fainil y or an
other girl student at the seminary be-
came Impoverished and unable 10 con-
tinue her education. The president OF
the college wrote to MIR. Rioxer, making
known to him the circumstances and
stating that 1t was worthy case. He
provided the means for her education on
the same con ditions. Some time after
wards President Chase wrote again to
MIR. Kicker saying that the girl was very
anxious to know who the patron was,
that she might send him q letter OF
tell her and it was given. A graceful
let. er OF thanks was ssnt and MIR. RicKer
relating this incident to an intimate
friend some time afterwards said: II
consider that ample compensation for
what i have done for that institution"
And thus no dispensed many another
charity, sometimes through the char
liable institutions and sometimes direct
ly. Many poor persons In this city have
been made comfortable and happy by
him and they never knew the giver.
MIR. RIoker was a dne old gentleman of
the old school, man of calm dignity.
home loving and always genial lie had
a quiet and line sense of humor that Was
forever a delight 10 his friends. His
homs life was charming. He had been
married for tifty-six years and his wife
and one daughter, Mrs. stephen Bartlett,
of boston, survive him There were
two other children, a daughter, the late
Mrs. Albert u, Rollins, ana son who
died several yea RS ago.