My Genealogy Hound

D. W. Hicks. It was in 1873 that Mr. Hicks first became a resident of Mississippi County, Ark., and since then he has become one of the truly honored and respected residents of this section. His birth occurred on Blue Grass soil in 1845, and he was the fourth of a family of eight children born to Armstrong and Mary (Duerson) Hicks, who are both residing in Kentucky, and are each eighty-two years of age. The father was a miller. Like the majority of youths, D. W. Hicks learned his father’s occupation, and attended the common public schools near his home until sixteen years of age, at which time he enlisted in the Confederate army under John H. Morgan, and was an active participant in the battles of Hartsville, Tenn., Snow Hill, Tenn., Lebanon, Ky., and in numerous minor engagements. He was with Morgan on his Ohio raid in 1863, and was at the battles of Corydon and Buffington Island, but was captured at Richmond, Ind., and sent to Camp Chase, where he was held a prisoner for twenty-three months. After being released at the end of May, 1865, he returned to his home in Kentucky, with the consciousness of having been one of the tried and true soldiers of the “lost cause.’’ His career as a soldier was marked by fearlessness and courage. He worked in a roller factory for six months, then went to New Orleans, where he remained a short time, after which he returned to Kentucky, and made his home at Hickman for five years. Since that time he has resided in Mississippi County, Ark., the first five years of his residence here being spent in farming in the vicinity of Osceola. In 1878 he came to Chickasawba Township, where he farmed on rented land for some time, being also engaged in teaching school. His first purchase of land was in 1886, amounting to 113 acres, at Shady Grove, but he has since bought fifty at Hickman’s Bend, a fine place, all of which is under cultivation. This year (1889) he is farming eighty acres of corn and cotton. He is always interested in enterprises that will reflect credit upon this section, and although not an active politician he has served as justice of the peace and school director for two years. He is a member of Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, of the F. & A. M. In 1882 his marriage with Miss Mary Lillard was celebrated. She was born in Tennessee., is a member of the Methodist Church, and has borne Mr. Hicks a son named James. Mr. Hicks is expecting soon to make a visit to his parents at Hickman, Ky., whom he has not seen for sixteen years.