My Genealogy Hound

JAMES A. HICKEY.
James A. Hickey, one of the original settlers of Topeka, in 1854, and the only one now living here, has been one of its well-known and valued citizens for its half century of existence. Mr. Hickey was born in Ireland, October 28, 1833, and is a son of Owen Hickey, who died on the way to America, his son being then about 12 years of age. Our subject’s venerable mother, now aged 98 years, still lives, making her home with a cousin in Allegany County, New York.

Mr. Hickey, after coming to this country, lived in Clinton County, New York, for a time and then came to Topeka in 1854. By a mere chance he was absent at Lawrence when the city was organized, but he was given a share in the Topeka Town Association, 100 shares being issued. The original settlers were: Milton C. Dickey, Enoch Chase, George Davis, Jacob B. Chase, Cyrus K. Holliday, Daniel H. Home, Fry W. Giles and Dr. J. F. Merriam, and to this list must be added the name of James A. Hickey. They were the first settlers to become squatters here and the four first named built the first house here, the others following. This house was made of logs and was covered with prairie grass and sod.

Probably no man in this section knows better the ups and downs of Topeka’s early days than Mr. Hickey. Quail and prairie chickens were very plentiful and a few deer were still here as were also prairie wolves, but the nearest trading point was Kansas City, and desperate characters infested the whole border. Mr. Hickey’s land was the quarter section which is now the Ritchie Addition to Topeka. Business houses started up one after the other, the first merchant being a man named Jones, who was soon followed by Allen & Gordon, of Lawrence. Rev. S. Y. Lum, of Lawrence, came to minister to the settlers and frequently had to sleep in hay stacks. The first subscription school was conducted by Miss Harlan in a frame shanty on Madison street, but later the New England Emigrant Aid Company built a school house on Harrison street, where Jacob Smith now resides.

Mr. Hickey dealt in real estate and for 19 years lived in his old home on Van Buren street. He also clerked in dry goods and implement houses for some years. During the Civil War he was an official and has served as under sheriff under A. H. Hale, Sherman Bodwell, H. E. Bush, A. M. Fuller, Chester Thomas and John M. Wilkinson. He can recall many of the most interesting events of those early days, saw the first railroad enter the town—the Union Pacific—on January 1, 1866, and can remember when the mails were brought from Lawrence by anyone who happened to pass along and was willing to take the trouble. For the past eight years he has lived in the southeast of the city where he has a productive fruit farm.

In 1870 Mr. Hickey was married in Kentucky to Mrs. Ophelia (Allan) Deming, widow of Dr. Augustus Deming, who left two children, Mrs. A. D. Gray, and Caroline, who lives at home. The late Dr. Deming came to Topeka in 1859, practiced here and during the Civil War served as surgeon, with the rank of major. He died at Leavenworth, January 8, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Hickey have four grandchildren, sons and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gray: Arthur, David Deming, Philip, Augustus and Gertrude Caroline.

Mr. and Mrs. Hickey are among the oldest members of the First Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Hickey’s name appearing as one of the 20 charter members. Rev. Mr. Steele was the first regular pastor.

Mr. Hickey is a member of the Old Settlers’ Association and was its president one year. With his wonderful memory and vivid descriptive powers, Mr. Hickey can easily bring to life the intensely interesting occurrences which marked the founding of this great capital city of Kansas. In all that she has grown to be he bore his part in the early days, helping to lay business foundations and to preserve peace and order.