Frank Senior, the president of the Rex Knitting Mills of Little Falls, comes from a family that has long been identified with the textile industry in this country and in England. His father, Frank Senior, Sr., was a hand loom weaver by trade and engaged in textile manufacturing after he came to this country from his native land. The son of Squire and Fannie (Hall) Senior, he was born in Batley, England, and died in Little Falls. He married an Englishwoman, Mary Sheard, the daughter of David and Sarah (Talbot) Sheard. Mrs. Senior's brother, Michael Sheard, who was an English textile manufacturer, was the first man to assemble all the processes of cloth manufacture under one roof.
Frank Senior, Jr., was born in Little Falls on May 24, 1862, where he spent his boyhood and obtained a general public school education. As his father had died when he was a baby it was necessary for the lad to lay aside his textbooks at the age of fourteen and help solve the problems of the family budget by contributing to it from his earnings. He went to work for his uncle, Titus Sheard, who was then engaged in the manufacture of knitting yarns in this city and remained with him in various capacities until he was twenty-one. When he attained his majority Mr. Senior was taken into his uncle's business and made treasurer of the Titus Sheard Company, which office he held until Mr. Sheard's death in 1904. In 1905 the firm was incorporated under the name of the Rex Knitting Company, Incorporated, with Mr. Senior as president, his present position. The Rex Knitting Company makes knitted underwear, sweaters and sweater coats, which find a market in all parts of the country. During its nearly twenty years of operation under its present form it has enjoyed continued prosperity and a steady growth that reflects great credit upon Mr. Senior's ability as a manufacturer and executive.
In addition to his connection with the Rex Knitting Company, Mr. Senior is interested in other local enterprises of a business nature. He is a director of the Herkimer County Trust Company and a shareholder in the Homer P. Snyder Manufacturing Company. Nor has his attention been wholely confined to business affairs. During the World war he rendered some very valuable assistance to the Little Falls Chapter of the American Red Cross as its financial secretary and he also was one of the executive committee that handled the Liberty and Victory Loan drives during the war. For three years Mr. Senior served ably as the treasurer of Herkimer county and he has likewise held the offices of fire and police commissioner for the village of Little Falls and has been supervisor for the town of Little Falls. His political affiliations are with the republican party. In the Masonic order he ranks high as a member of the blue lodge, the chapter, the commandery and the Mystic Shrine, and he is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. As one of the leading business men of the city, he is, of course, a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Motoring and golf are this manufacturer's favorite diversions and he has long held membership in the Little Falls Country Club.
In this city Mr. Senior and Miss Elizabeth Herbert were united in marriage. The daughter of Alexus and Eliza Herbert, Mrs. Senior was born in Malone, New York, of French and Canadian parentage. Her father, a cabinetmaker by trade, was a native of Lyons, France, while her mother was born in Canada. Both parents died in Malone, where they lived for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Senior are active members of the First Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Senior is now serving as a trustee. Mrs. Senior is a member of the Fellowship Class and the Women's Missionary Society and takes part in the other branches of the church work. Mary Senior, the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Senior, was born at Little Falls and is now the wife of Raymond E. Cooper, son of E. J. and Florence Cooper of this city. Mr. Cooper is engaged in the leather dressing business, under the firm name of the Peerless Leather Finishing Company, of Little Falls, and is also a member of the Cooper Watts Cotton Company of this city. The second child, James Herbert Senior, died in 1901, at the age of ten years; Frank Senior, Jr., the youngest child, was born here December 4, 1902, and educated in the local grade and high schools, following which he attended St. John's Military Academy of Manlius, New York. He pre. pared definitely for a business career by taking a course in the Utica School of Commerce, from which he graduated in 1920, and then returned to Little Falls to become associated with his father in the knitting business. He is now vice president of the Rex Knitting Company, Incorporated.