Beautifully engraved unissued Certificate from the Utica Carriage Company printed in the 1890's. This historic document was printed by the Albert B. King Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of an eagle. Myron W. VAN AUKEN was a founder shareholder and director of the Utica Carriage Company, and served as its treasurer and attorney.
Certificate Vignette Certificates from carriage companies are hard to find and very collectible. A local paper obituary (name of which paper is missing) for Wednesday, August 12, 1931. VAN AUKEN, Myron W. M.W. VAN AUKEN DIES IN HOSPITAL - Long General Counsel for Commercial Travelers' Association - A Successful Business Man - Instrumental in Securing Site Here for Masonic Home. Fitting honor will be accorded Myron W. Van Auken, 79, for more than 30 years general counsel of the Commercial Travelers Mutual Accident Association of America, and prominent Mason at a special meeting of the executive committee of the Oneida County Bar Association today at the office of President Stephen W. Brennan. Mr. VAN AUKEN, in poor health for two years died in a local hospital early yesterday morning. He was well known in legal and business circles of this city, where he had resided for 56 years. He made his home in Hotel Utica but spent part of his summers at Holland Patent and with his son in Fairfield. Born in Ira, N.Y., June 5, 1852, Mr. VAN AUKEN was educated in the common schools and in 1865 his parents moved to Red Creek. He attended Union Seminary, Fairfield Seminary and was graduated from later attended Albany Law School, being graduated in 1875. FORMER CORPORATION COUNSEL After leaving law school he came to this city and had resided here since. He was in partnership with Henry A. DOOLITTLE for 10 years and later took Herbert D. PITCHER as a partner. In 1907 he had as partner E.C.RICE, but for many years he practiced alone. He was appointed corporation counsel in 1885 under Mayor KINNEY and reappointed in 1887. The Commercial Travelers Association was formed in this city in 1886 and eight years later Mr. VAN AUKEN was named general counsel, succeeding Judge W.H. SUTTON. When he became general counsel for the association it had but a few thousand members but in time it became the largest mutual accident association in the world. He rose to be one of the leading insurance attorneys in the United States and was vice president of the International Association of Accident and Surety Underwriters. He was also well known as a corporation lawyer, being associated with the Utica Paving Company at one time and all its subsidiaries east of Chicago. He engaged in several spirited suits for the companies and emerged victorious in all. He was also attorney and director of the Interstate Paving Company of Utica. Mr. VAN AUKEN was also connected with various other companies and was president of the Utica Land Company, which developed considerable land in the easter section of the city. He was a director also in the Utica Carriage Company, serving also as treasurer and attorney and was an organizer, also treasurer, of the Mohawk Alpine Mining Company. This firm was later merged with the Pittsburgh Silver Peak Gold Mining Company. Mr. VAN AUKEN being chosen a director. When the Utica Herald went into bankruptcy Mr. VAN AUKEN was attorney for the receiver, Henry R. WILLIAMS. After a serious illness in 1906, he retired from active practice of law and devoted himself more to business. PROMINENT REPUBLICAN For years Mr. VAN AUKEN was a factor in Republican politics in Oneida County, his voice and efforts being in constant use for the benefit of the party. He attended many conventions and in 1888 he was chairman of the Republican countyu committee. He took an active part in the success of the Republican Continentals. He was nominated for district attorney but was defeated. An ardent motorist, Mr. VAN AUKEN was a charter member of the Utica Automobile Club, holding membership since 1901. He was first counsel of the club and assisted in the organization of the AAA at Chicago. Mr. VAN AUKEN was well known in Masonic circles and more than to any other one man the credit for locating the Masonic Home in this city idsdue to him. He was a member of Faxton Lodge and at the time when the project of locating the Masonic Home was uppermost, he was master of the lodge, as well as district deputy grandmaster, and Grand Master LAWRENCE appointed a committee to choose the best site. Sites were offered all over the state. Utica and vicinity offered no less than 13. The driving park site in East Utica had not then been offered or suggested. Mr. VAN AUKEN proposed it as a compromise measure, and the Grand Lodge decided that it was the finest site offered. Mr. VAN AUKEN and James F. MANN called on the owner, Charles W. HUTCHINSON, and laid the matter before him, with the result he agreed to part with the property for half its value, and to make a donation of the other half. The citizens of Utica had subscribed $30,000 toward the pruchase price and the balance was made up. Before ground was broken Mr. VAN AUKEN obtained options on two pieces of land which he thought the home should have, one a piece of 40 acres lying between the Masonic Home property and the canal, and the other a tract of 100 acres east of the home, and now used as a park. Mr. VAN AUKEN was at one time a member of the Odd Fellows, Royal Areanum and Elks. He was a member of Oneida Chapter 57, R.A.M.,Utica Commandery 3, K.T., in which he has held several offices, and Ziyara Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was a member of the Arcanum Club of this city and served as its president several years. In 1890 he served as a superintendent of the United States Cent__? of the Eighth district. He was a member of the Utica Curling Club and for a long time a member of the Utica Citizens Corps whic he served as secretary many years. He was also a member of its veterans' association. In 1927 he was made a member of the United States Naval Institute. In 1876 Mr. VAN AUKEN married Miss Carrie M. RICE, daughter of Eleazur Rice of Herkimer County, who died in March, 1904. He leaves two sons, Capt. Wilbur R. Van Auken, U.S.N., Washington, and Clarence M. Van Auken, Fairfield, Herkimer County. VAN AUKEN, Myron W. FUNERAL OF MR. VAN AUKEN (Local newspaper clipping for August 13, 1931)--- The funeral of Myron W. VAN AUKEN was held at 2 this afternoon at Masonic Temple. Faxton Lodge, No. 697, F & A.M., was in charge of the services. The honorary bearers were David B. LISLE, Georgfe W. PIXLEY, William A. BUDLONG, Tom W. JOHNSON, Earl C. CLARK, Moses G. HUBBARD Jr., John MAHER and Herbert E. TREVVETT. The Oneida County Bar Association was represent by the following committee appointed by Stephen W. BRENNAN, president: P.C.J. De/ANGELIS, H.D. PITCHER, Charles A. MILLER, T. Harvey FERRIS, Bradley FULLER, James COUPE, Edmund J. WAGNER, Utica , and M.J. LARKIN, Rome. President BRENNAN and the directors also attended. Interment was in New Forest Cemetery.