Volume 6, Number 1 - Fall 1976
Robert Hicks: My Great Grandfather
by Tessie James Miller
I have been interested in the history of my families for most of my adult life. I have been in 28 states and checked most of their records. Briefly, great grandfather Robert Hicks, born in now, Perry Co., Ky., married Elizabeth Polley. They moved to Louisville, Ky., where Robert attended "law college" and grandmother Elizabeth attended "Academy".
Later they moved with their children born in Ky., to Indiana where land was opening. At Jeffersonville, Ind., Land Office, Robert Hicks cash entered land. I have a copy of his grant. They settled first in Lawrence Co., then moved to Bloomfield, Monroe Co., Ind., where Robert was a county officer, practiced law, and was a Premative Baptist Minister.
In 1835-36, Robert and Elizabeth Hicks began selling land in Lawrence and Monroe Counties. I have copies of their grantor deeds, I had made the first time in Indiana, in the late 1920’s.
Recently, a niece of mine, living in Monroe Co., Ind., discovered they owned land cash entered by her ancestor, Robert Hicks.
Soon after selling land, Robert Hicks family with relatives who had come with them from Ky., the Codays (Cody,) Rippees, Rogers, Staceys, Ingrams, Fleetwoods, Hightowers, Combs and others, and friends, James (Hill) Hicks, wife Rebecca, whose maiden name I can not document, James was an orphan boy, reared by my great great grandfather, and went by the name of Hicks. I have always carried his line with my own as he was so well loved by my Hicks family, however he was not at all related.
By the late 1840’s these came into Wright County and bought land there. In 1841, Robert Hicks was commissioned to assist in dividing the lower South West counties. They sat up Douglas County, from that vast tract of land called Taney County with added strips from neighboring counties. By this act of the Legislature, great grandfather Robert Hicks, became a resident of Douglas County. I have his original commission, for this work. From some notations, it seems that Robert Hicks had set up late 1840 census record, however the Honorable Floyad Shoemaker and I searched the records in Jefferson City, but the census could not be found. Robert Hicks also assisted in setting up the 1850 census of Ozark County, and signed this. My great grandmother Elizabeth Hicks, wife of Robert Hicks died 14 Sept. 1841. My great grandfather Robert Hicks wrote in his Bible that she died when their son Isaac Hicks was born. Isaac Hicks died during the Civil War and is buried in the National Cemetery, Springfield, Mo. Isaac Hicks never married.
Robert Hicks married second Catherine Sweeten, a widow with a little boy named John, who grew up in the family and went by the name of Hicks. One of my closest cousins, Jim Bob Graham, a descendant said he thought Catherine had been named Sweeten and had married a distant cousin. I add this for the benefit of any one searching Sweeten genealogy in the future.
I also wish to add that Douglas County was originally call "Decateur" county, but because of some disagreement, it was changed to Douglas. Robert Hicks and wife Catherine Hicks and children still at home are listed in the:
Federal Census - Douglas County, Mo. 1860 page 29- house 195 (Brief)
Robert Hicks |
age 55 |
born Kentucky |
Catherine Hicks |
age 47 |
born Kentucky |
William Hicks |
age 23 |
born Indiana |
John Harrison Hicks |
age 22 |
born Indiana |
Isaac W. Hicks |
age 19 |
born Missouri |
Julia Hicks |
age 18 |
born Missouri |
Polly Hicks |
age 16 |
born Missouri |
Mahalia Hicks |
age 11 |
born Missouri |
Winnie Hicks |
age 8 |
born Missouri |
Robert S. Hicks |
age 7 |
born Missouri |
The older children, Nancy had married James Mcintosh, Frances married John Riley, Elizabeth Ellen, married a Coats, and my grandmother Jane had married Dr. Charles R. Wilson, and Arthur Monroe Hicks, married Hester Ann Colston, she died in 1869, Arthur Monroe Hicks died in 1872. Three Years Later Feb. 22, 1863, Robert Hicks died in Jefferson City, Mo., in Legislative session. Proof: The Journal of Mo., 22nd General Assembly, 1862 - 1863 page 342 ... Mr. Palmer announced the death of the Honorable Robert Hicks…"Douglas and Ozark Counties, Mo."…"He died
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in this city, yesterday the 22nd at 12 o’clock." Journal dated Monday Feb. 23, 1863. Also: Mo. Historical Review, Vol 5, page 46.
Now the "sons". Thomas R. Hicks, listed in census with his mother Mary J. Hicks, no husband listed, 180 census Ozark Co., Mo. 1870 page 4 -House 22. Four Henderson children, listed as Hicks, then Thomas R. Hicks, age 3 years old and Arthur Franklin listed as an infant.
The death certificate of the above Thomas R. Hicks, filed at the State Board of Health, Jefferson City, Mo. Certificate Mo. -61 -014617 shows Thomas Robert Hicks, born 10-16-1866, and died April 11, 1961. signed by Clarence Hicks, Wasola, Mo., and others.
The military record - Spanish-Ameican War of Arthur Franklin Hicks, he gave under oath that he was born Sept. 12, 1869. This was signed by Thomas R. Hicks and Clyde Hicks. (National Archives,).
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