James Vick was an American seedsman, florist, and publisher.
Background
James Vick was born on November 23, 1818, at Chichester, near Portsmouth, England. He was the son of James and Elizabeth (Prime) Vick.
In his boyhood, he was a friend of Charles Dickens and their friendship continued in after years. In 1833, he came to the United States with his parents, settling first in New York City.
Career
In New York City, Vick learned the printer's trade and worked for a time on the Knickerbocker Magazine. His case in the composing room adjoined that of Horace Greeley, who remained his lifelong friend. In 1837, he removed to Rochester, New York, and worked as a compositor in several newspaper offices. During a printer's strike, the leading journeymen started a paper called the Workingman's Advocate, which in a few months passed into the hands of Vick and one or two others, who soon sold it to Henry O'Reilly.
About this time, Vick published Frederick Douglass' paper, the North Star. Being passionately fond of flowers, in his leisure time he cultivated a garden and developed a taste for agriculture and horticulture. In 1848, he began to import seeds from abroad. Over the signature of "Young Digger, " he contributed articles to the Genesee Farmer, published in Rochester. These brought him into contact with the management of the paper and in 1850, he was made one of the editors, the others being Daniel Lee and Patrick Barry.
After the death of Andrew J. Downing, editor of the Horticulturist, Vick purchased that magazine from Luther Tucker and published it in Rochester from 1853 to 1855 with Barry as editor. From 1857 to 1862, he was editor of the Rural New Yorker, also published in Rochester. It was while connected with this journal that he began the seed business which was destined to bring him a world-wide reputation. The seeds which he had imported from abroad he planted in a little garden on Union Street, and gradually increased his stock; later he had gardens elsewhere.
Soon he was sending out so many seeds that he had to begin to charge for them. They were sent by mail in answer to mail orders accompanied by cash. By 1862 his business had so increased that for the remainder of his life he gave it his whole attention. He employed a force of 150, and often the firm received 3, 000 letters a day; in some seasons he spent $30, 000 for postage. The circulation of his Floral Guide, or annual catalogue, reached 200, 000 copies.
In 1878, he founded Vick's Monthly Magazine, later known as Vick's Illustrated Monthly Magazine and under other titles, which he himself edited. With the establishment of his business, seeds were placed within easy reach and a new era in the culture of flowers began in the United States.
He served as secretary of the American Pomological Society (1862 - 64) and was a corresponding member of the Royal Horticultural Society.
He died of pneumonia and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester.
Achievements
Religion
For twenty-five years, Vick was superintendent of the Sunday school connected with the First Methodist Episcopal Church.
Membership
a corresponding member of the Royal Horticultural Society
Personality
In all his dealings, Vick maintained the highest character for honesty, integrity, and liberality, and he was always ready to help in any good work.
Connections
On July 5, 1842, Vick married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of John and Susan Seelye, of Rochester, who with four sons and three daughters survived him.