WILLIAM H. HICKOK
William H. Hickok, a well known and successful
resident of Humeston, was for a number of years identified
with education interests as a school teacher and also worked
at the painter’s trade during his active business career but
is now living retired, having accumulated a competence that
supplies him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries
of life. In
addition to his home at Humeston he owns one hundred and sixty
acres of valuable land on section 34, Union township, Lucas
county.
Mr. Hickok was born in Mercer county, Illinois, on the
1st of December, 1845, his parents being Ambrose
Nelson and Eliza Maria (Wright) Hickok, both of whom were
natives of New York. Harry
Hickok, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in
the Empire state and passed away in Illinois. Representatives of
the family were among the earlier settlers of both Ohio and
Illinois. Ambrose
N. Hickok, the father of William H. Hickok, whose birth
occurred in 1816, was the eldest child of his parents and at
the age of twelve years was left an orphan. He became an
agriculturist by occupation and was engaged in the work of the
fields both of Illinois and Iowa, taking up his abode in Union
township, Lucas county, this state, in 1873. His demise occurred
in Humeston, Iowa, in 1907, while his wife passed away on the
old home farm in Lucas county in 1896. They were the
parents of five children.
Hannah Alvira, born in Mercer county, Illinois, in
1843, passed away in Lucas county, Iowa, in 1910. William H., of this
review, is the next in order of birth. Elizabeth Jane, a
native of Rock Island county, Illinois, born in 1847, passed
away in Humeston, Iowa, in 1911. Daniel Nelson, born in Rock Island
county, Illinois, in 1850, passed away in Lucas county, Iowa,
in 1905. He was
one of the prominent citizens of his community, being held in
high esteem by his fellowmen, and was well known in fraternal
circles, having attained the highest rank as an Odd Fellow. He had two sons,
Harry V. and Arthur, both of whom are deceased. Clarence Alvin, a
native of Mercer county, Illinois, born in 1853, resides at
Aledo, within a few miles of his birthplace, and at the
present time is sheriff of Mercer county. His children are
four in number, namely:
Burton O., Robert A., Mrs. Grace A. Brown, and C. Earl.
William H. Hickok grew to manhood in his native county
and obtained his early education in the graded schools,
subsequently attending the high school at Rock Island and the
Illinois Wesleyan College at Bloomington. After the family
home had been established in Iowa he returned to Illinois and
followed the profession of teaching in the latter state for
about five years. Altogether
he spent about fifteen years in the schoolroom and became
known as a successful educator, imparting clearly and readily
to others the knowledge that he had acquired. In addition to his
labors as a school teacher he worked at the painter’s trade,
being busily engaged at that occupation until recently
incapacitated by physical disability. As the years have
passed he has prospered in his undertakings and has gained and
maintained an enviable reputation as one of the substantial
and public-spirited citizens of the community.
In politics Mr. Hickok is a republican, while his
religious faith is indicated by his membership in the
Methodist Episcopal church of Humeston, with which
denomination he became identified when but twelve years of
age. Fraternally
he is connected with the Masons, joining Lodge no. 755 at
Preemption, Illinois, and enjoying the distinction of being
one of the most rapidly advanced men in the history of the
order, for he completed the work in three successive nights. For about five
years he served as secretary of Preemption Lodge. At the present time
he is a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 228, A. F. & A. N.,
of Humeston. His
life is exemplary in all respects and he has ever supported
those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit
humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of
highest commendation.