Robert Henry Race, superintendent of the Gem Knitting Mills Company of Herkimer, New York, was born in Claverack, Columbia county, New York, on April 10, 1865, the son of Silas and Mary (Miller) Race. Silas Race was born at Stone Mills, New York, and died in September, 1876. He was a teamster. His wife was born in Scotland and died in Hudson, New York. Silas Race was the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Melius) Race, the former of whom was born at Stone Mills and died there. He was a farmer and hotel keeper.
Robert Henry Race was educated in the public schools of Hudson, New York, and at the age of twelve years went to work in the dry goods store of C. C. Terry at that place, where he remained from 1876 to 1880. He then went to Philmont, New York, and entered the employ of the Ackins Knitting Mills as a knitter and continued this work for two years, then returned to Hudson and worked in the Columbia Mills at that place for a year. In 1883 he went with the Harder Knitting Company of Hudson, now one of the Union Mills Company, and was in its employ until 1886, when he came to the Astoronga Mills in Little Falls, and was there for a year, after which he came to Herkimer as second boss in the Mark Mills, now Department M of Union Mills. Two years later he became boss knitter for the Gem Knitting Company, holding that position for three years, and he also worked as boss knitter for the Lyon Knitting Company of St. Johnsville, New York, at two different times. On July 10, 1901, he returned to Herkimer as superintendent of the Gem Knitting Mills Company, and has occupied this position through the intervening period to the present time.
On February 22, 1888, at Herkimer, New York, Mr. Race was united in marriage to Miss Alice Lasure, who was born on May 6, 1866, in Forestport, New York, and educated in the public school of Boonville, New York. She is a member of St. Francis de Sales church of Herkimer. Mr. and Mrs. Race have four children: Edward S. Race was born on January 7, 1891, and graduated from the high school in Herkimer, then attended Utica Business College and Columbia University, where he studied accounting. He enlisted for service in the World war and was in the Hospital Unit stationed at Oswego, New York, being first sergeant in the Quartermaster Corps, In 1919 he was married to Miss Frances Hughes, and they have one child, Sarah Elizabeth Race, who was born in May, 1920; Marian M. Race was born on March 13, 1893, and graduated from the Herkimer high school in 1911, and from St. Lawrence University in 1915, and is now a teacher in the high school at Passaic, New Jersey; Frances Race was born on October 23, 1895, and graduated from the Herkimer high school. In 1915 she was married to Gordon D. Little, a lumber merchant of Little Falls, New York, and they have one child, Robert Andrew Little; Carrie Race was born on May 6, 1889, and after graduating from the Herkimer high school she took a summer musical course at Cornell University, and now teaches music in Herkimer.
Mr. Race was one of the directors of the War Chest drive during the World war and took an active interest in the Liberty Loans. He is a member of the Herkimer Chamber of Commerce, the blue lodge of Masons of Herkimer, the Scottish Rite and Ziyara Temple of Utica, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of Herkimer, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of St. Johnsville, and is captain of General Herkimer Canton, No. 77. He also holds memberships in the Exchange and Down and Out Clubs of Herkimer. He is a member of the Dutch Reformed church, and his political affiliations are with the republican party. Mr. Race thoroughly enjoys home life and as he is always kindly and affable, his many friends have for him a warm regard.