William Edward Hickey

Born 26 Aug 1831 in Mount Carmel, Wabash, Illinois, United States

ANCESTORS 

Son of James Hickey and Mary Jane (Ulm) Risley

[sibling(s) unknown]

Husband of Eleanor (Baird) Hickey — married 30 Apr 1854 in Belmont, DuPage, Illinois, United States

DESCENDANTS 

Father of Julia Elizabeth (Hickey) Baldock and Ella Hickey

Died 22 Sep 1899 at age 68 in Pretty Prairie, Reno, Kansas, United States

PROBLEMS/QUESTIONS

Profile last modified 25 Feb 2021 | Created 2 Aug 2013

This page has been accessed 477 times.

Biography

From the Youngs at the Millennium by Laura May Young Fansher and Jane Young Nuttall revised 1/1/2000

Their wedding was held at the home of bride's parents, John Baird. Carolyn Gilkinson was the maid of honor, Malinda Rigg was bridesmaid, and L. Pease was Justice of the Peace. Some of those attending were J.A. Baird, brother of Ellen, Sarah Ann Rigg, and Casandra Midleton.

William Edward Hickey was a farmer. He lived in the Wabash River Valley, where the soil was very fertile. His main crop was corn. He raised hogs, cows, and chickens. Because of the flooding of the Wabash River, he often lost his entire crop. Malaria was a very common illness in this river valley. Hogs were sometimes wiped out by cholera.

William enlisted on 25 Sep 1864 and served as a private in the Company G, 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry. On Nov 1864, he contracted erysipelas (skin infection). In April of 1865, he was disabled by mumps, which resulted in the loss of a testicle. He also had diseased eyes. Because of his illness, he worked in and around the hospital at Camp Butler. During his lifetime, he told of cleaning bullet wounds with a silk handkerchief. Alfred W. Gilkinson stated he was a neighbor and was also with him at Camp Butler when he was sick with erysipelas. William was discharged May 29, 1865.

About 1881, he and his family came to Kansas in a covered wagon and took a claim. The claim was located about two miles west of Mt. Vernon, Kansas, which is located in the Northern Part of Kingman County near the Ninnescah River. Their claim was located on a hill, because they were tired of the floods in Illinois. This hill was poor farming in dry years. They lived in a dugout. Drought cased to family to return to Wabash County, Illinois. Their sons were away from home most of the time helping build the "Old Orient Railroad", which is located east of Harper, Kansas and is now part of the Santa Fe Railroad.

The family returned to Kansas in 1898, about a year before William's death and made their home with their youngest daughter Ella and her husband D. Dickerson at Pretty Prairie, Kansas until their deaths. The Dickersons and Hickeys are buried in the family cemetery near the distinctive round barn which marks the site near Pretty Prairie.