John A. Hicks

HICKS, CONNON, SMITH

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 4/7/2009 at 15:25:06

JOHN A. HICKS, an active farmer and stockraiser of Exira Township, was born in Canada West, February 11, 1843. He was reared on a farm, but when he had reached his nineteenth year he was bound to learn the blacksmith's trade, and served an apprenticeship of three years. He is the son of James and Margaret (Connon) Hicks, the mother only surviving. After he had finished his trade he worked as a journeyman for seven years in the State of Wisconsin, having come to the United States in his twenty second year. In June, 1871, he came to Audubon County, stopping at Exira. There he had a shop for eight or nine years, doing work for the country for miles around. He continued this occupation industriously and with profit to himself. At the expiration of nine years he bought a farm of 200 acres, west of Exira. He has placed most of this under cultivation, and has a fine young grove of thirty acres. He has erected a good, substantial, two story frame house, which is nearly surrounded by a natural grove, and other buildings necessary for the protection of livestock. In 1874 Mr. Hicks was married to Mary B., the only daughter of Samuel and Gertrude Smith. Mrs. Hicks was born in Ross County, Ohio, January 6, 1854, and when she was three years of age her parents removed to Audubon County, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have been born five children James A., Samuel A., Ethel G., Clarence and John. Mr. Hicks began the struggle of life without a dollar, but by pluck, hard work and economy he has laid something by for a rainy day. His political sympathies are with the Republican party. His brothers and sisters all reside in Canada.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 749-750