William Cole Bovee, Jr., who has been continuously identified with banking interests in Oneida county for the past third of a century, has filled the important position of cashier of the Merchants Bank of Utica since its formation in 1920. A native son of Utica, he was born on the 7th of January, 1873, his parents being William Cole and Harriett Samantha (Latham) Bovee. His grandfather was the first superintendent of the Utica & Schenectady Railroad, which afterward became part of the New York Central Railroad. William C. Bovee, Sr., served as superintendent of the freight division of the Utica, Clinton & Binghamton Railroad. To him and his wife were born four children, namely: William Cole, Jr., of this review; Frank Alfred, Hattie Mae and Ada Florence.
William C. Bovee, Jr., attended the public schools of Utica in the acquirement of an education. In 1891 he put aside his textbooks to accept a summer position in the Oneida County Bank, with which he continued, however, for a period of thirty years. This institution was consolidated with the First National Bank. When the Merchants Bank of Utica was formed Mr. Bovee was chosen its cashier, for the duties of which responsible position he has proved himself eminently qualified, possessing thorough knowledge of every phase of the banking business and comprehensive understanding of the problems of finance. The Merchants Bank, which opened its doors on the 20th of December, 1920, was organized in order to meet the demand for banking facilities at the intersection of three busy streets — Huntington, Varick and Columbia. It has well served the merchants of that section of the city and has developed along substantial lines, being regarded as one of the soundest of the smaller banks in the Mohawk valley. The officers of the Merchants Bank of Utica, which is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, are as follows: Walter D. Jones, president; Clarence B. Williams, vice president; John B. Witte, vice president; Karol J. Szypulski, vice president; and William C. Bovee, Jr., cashier.
In early manhood Mr. Bovee was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Katherine Nickel, daughter of Daniel and Lizetta Marie (Prignitz) Nickel. Mr. and Mrs. Bovee became the parents of four children, namely: Harriett Lizetta, Louise Helena, Ada Katherine and William Cole (III). The last named, the only son, is deceased. Fraternally Mr. Bovee is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and he likewise belongs to the City Club and to the Republican Club. He enjoys an enviable reputation in social, business and club circles of the city in which his life has been spent and has long been numbered among its prosperous, representative and enterprising residents.