My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD V. HICKS. England has furnished to the United States men of enterprise and ability in every walk of life. Her sons have acquired distinction and wealth in the professions, in commercial circles and in agricultural pursuits, and while gaining material prosperity have also secured an enviable reputation for morality and the highest principles of honor. One of this class may be found in the subject of our sketch, who is an influential citizen of Cass County and a prosperous farmer of Milton Township, owning and occupying a fertile farm on section 12. His agricultural operations have been crowned with success, and he is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres in Cass County, besides three hundred acres in Niles Township, Berrien County.

In the village of St. Columb Major, Cornwall, England, the eyes of our subject first opened to the light, the date of his birth being November 17, 1819. His father, John Hicks, a native of the same place as himself, was for many years an officer in the British army and was a large property-holder and influential man in England. Twice he crossed the ocean to America in order to visit his son here, but while he was favorably impressed with America, his preferences were all on the side of the country of his birth. At the age of four-score years, he closed his eyes upon the scenes of earth, and his remains now lie buried near his life-time home.

The mother of our subject was Caroline E. (Perry) Hicks, a native of Middlesex, near London. Her father, Dr. Perry, accompanied Capt. Cook on his first voyage around the world, and was a man of great prominence in his day. Mrs. Hicks died when about forty-one years of age, after having become the mother of six sons, who grew to manhood. Only two are now surviving, Richard and Edward. The former is the fifth in order of birth of his father’s family. He was seventeen years of age when, in 1837, he came to America and located in what is now Milton Township, where he purchased one hundred and eighty-seven acres and commenced active agricultural operations.

May 4, 1843, Mr. Hicks married Miss Catharine Ullery White, during a visit to Ohio. This lady was born in Montgomery County, Pa., and was of German descent, her father having been born at sea and her mother in this country. She was reared in Shelby County, Ohio, where her marriage was solemnized. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks are the parents of the following children: John P., Henry B., Richard J., Caroline E., Sarah J., William S., Catharine M., Mary A. and Orran V., all of whom were born in Milton Township, and with one exception are now living in Cass County.

After coming to Michigan, Mr. Hicks for a time worked for John Dodge & Co., in Niles. He purchased his present home in 1849, and two years later erected, at a cost of $4,000, the attractive and comfortable residence he now occupies. Politically, he is a Democrat, and was one of the first Supervisors of the township, serving in that position for many years. He has also served in the school offices and as a member of the Board of Review. Socially, he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, and holds membership in Ontwa Lodge No. 6. July 1, 1893, Mr. Hicks had the misfortune to lose the wife who had shared his joys and divided his sorrows for fifty years.