Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 613 - 614

W. A. AREY, of the Arey Furniture Company, which is located at Nos. 257 and 259 North Main street, Wichita, is doing the largest business of the kind in the city. Mr. Arey was born in Winterport, Me., in 1850, and is the son of W. R. and Laura S. Arey. Our subject comes of an old family of Scotch descent, who were early settlers of this country, the Areys being early settlers of Maine, and were mostly seafaring people. The town of Winterport is sixteen miles from Bangor on the Penobscot River, which is one of the finest streams in the United States, and among the numerous large harbors formed by the long and irregular coast line of Maine, Penobscot Bay is one of the widest and safest to be found on either continent, and one where the natives of the world could ride an anchor. 

            The father of our subject was a well-to-do citizen of Winterport, and his grandfather was a sea captain who used to tell fascinating stories of sea life, and our subject, after finishing his education in the public schools of his native town became enamored with a sailor's life, and at the age of sixteen years determined to go to sea. His father was part owner of the barque "L. Willis Ridge," and young Arey shipped as a sailor before the mast on that craft on a voyage to the West Indies. When but fourteen days out the barque was wrecked on an island, and the crew had a very narrow escape from death. They were finally rescued by an English vessel which took them to Nassau, and this experience cured young Arey of his desire for a life on the sea. It becoming necessary for him to learn some occupation as a means of support, at the age of eighteen years our subject went to Boston and learned the trade of an upholsterer, remaining there three years. 

            In 1868 Mr. Arey went to Chicago, where he resided a year and a half. In 1870, when a young man of twenty years, he came to Kansas and started a mattress factory in Topeka. While there he became acquainted with Col. Sam Wood, of Cottonwood Falls, and entered into his employ in the cattle business, passing through Wichita when it was but an Indian trading-post, en route for Texas, and subsequently was engaged on one of the great cattle drives from Texas through Indian Territory and Wichita. Mr. Arey remained in that business until 1872, when he returned to Boston, and from there proceeded to Denison, Tex., where he established the mattress and spring bed business, remaining there prosperously engaged until 1879. Thinking that a newer country with fewer competitors would prove still more lucrative, our subject determined to try life in Colorado for awhile, and in May, 1880, went to Gunnison City, accompanied by his family. The whole distance from Denison, Tex., to Gunnison City, was traversed by a team, and in passing through Indian Territory Mr. Arey was obliged to guard his outfit night and day to protect it from thieves and desperadoes. 

            After being a short time in Gunnison, our subject became associated with C. H. Rickett, formerly of Kansas City, in the furniture business, and met with unusual success. In 1882 he bought out his partner's interest, and retaining his business in that place, he entered into partnership with Turley & Bowles, of Aspen, in the same line of trade. Four years later Mr. Arey returned to Wichita, a city that had been almost entirely built up since his previous visit, developing in a marvelous manner from a trading-post to a thriving and populous city in less than a score of years. He engaged in his former business, and on the 2d of October, 1887, formed a partnership with Mr. A. J. Spengel. They at once moved to their present quarters and founded the Arey Furniture Company. This is a large establishment, well stocked with furniture of all kinds, as are also their two large warehouses. They do a regular installment business, which in the first year amounted to $76,000, with but slight loss on their collections, and is the only mercantile house in the city thus engaged. Their furniture is of the best quality, their terms easy, and their stock, comprising all articles of household furniture, carpets, pictures, etc., enabling many people to furnish their homes in a tasty and artistic manner on the credit system, when it would be impossible for them to do so on a cash basis. 

            The wife of our subject belonged to a prominent and well-known family of Kentucky, her maiden name having been Sarah Harper. Her father, Samuel Harper, was an influential citizen of Kentucky. To them have been born two children -- Nellie and Edward. Our subject takes an active interest in politics, and is a stanch Democrat. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Arey is an intelligent, keen-sighted man, of good financial ability, and, although still a young man, has the advantage of many years' experience, and a thorough knowledge of his business. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States, but has a more intimate acquaintance with the newer States than with many of the Eastern States, having known them in all their phases. He is a firm believer in the future prosperity of Wichita, takes great pride in its improvement, and has built a beautiful residence at Riverside, which is an ornament to the city, and reflects credit on his taste.

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