He was born on March 18, 1858, in
Schenectady, New York. In 1877, he started his first business in
Passaic, New Jersey, and later started work at the wholesale clothing firm of his father, David Marks & Sons. He was president of the Clothiers' Association of New York, and president of the National Association of Clothiers, president of the Clothing Trade Association of New York, and chairman of the Hospital Saturday and Sunday Association Trade Auxiliary. He later served also as trustee of the Hospital Saturday and Sunday Association, director of the
Educational Alliance, member of the Conciliation Committee of the
National Civic Federation, director of the National Butchers' and Drovers' Bank. ==Personal life==