I've "rescued" two HICKMAN Family letters, the first is from Will &
Lide
HICKMAN to Will's parents and is dated 1876. The letter contains the
following clues:
-Judson BELL gives us the news
-Lide got home with the grapes
-Kate GASKILL was very much tickled with the grapes
-SMITH Family moved and the KISTLER Family has moved in
-Arch had a fever and Will wants to write him
-Sol named his boy after Will
-Will asks his Father to sell his sleigh possibly to Cyrus ROADS in trade
for blacksmithing
The second letter is one from Solomon HICKMAN Jr. to Sol. G. HICKMAN and his
wife and is dated 1880. The second letter contains the following additional
clues:
-Abel & Stephen have been "lawing" suggesting to me that they are both
lawyers
-horse borrowed from Billy HIGE
-deaths of Jack BELL, Birt CASE, Sam Rice MARTIN's wife and son Tom, and
Miss THOMAS of Jefferson
-Mike & Louisa and the children are well
-Jake GREENLEE bought Denny's place
-Frank BRADLEY is living with Aunt Barbara HICKMAN in Wooster
-Mrs. BUNEGARNER moved into Peora HANSA's with her boys Dave & Sam
-Dave married Milla HUGHES daughter of Charley and Sam married Joe GWYN's
daughter
-Arch is well
-Visited with Will in Virginia
-bought land in Mannington, Marian Co., West Virginia
-Morgan BELL is dead
-Tom VERNON testified against John R.
Based on limited research I believe that the first letter was written by
William HICKMAN b. about 1846 at Jefferson, PA to his parents Solomon Crabel
HICKMAN & Elizabeth or Eliza CAREY. William (age 31) and his wife Frances
(age 28) were living in Whiteley, PA with two children during the 1880
census. The children included are Charley B. (age 6), and a daughter Jessie
(age 2), all having been born in Pennsylvania.
I believe that "Arch" referenced in both letters is a brother to Will and
Solomon G. HICKMAN, Archibald HICKMAN b. 1842 at Jefferson, PA and the son
of Solomon Crabel HICKMAN and Elizabeth or Eliza CAREY. Archibald HICKMAN
married Ellen GOTCH in 1871. The second letter was written to Solomen G.
(Solomon Goldsmith) HICKMAN who in 1880 (age 38) along with his wife Mary C.
HICKMAN (age 30) were living in Troy, Iowa with their four children
according to the 1880 census.
Their four children include, Allice E. (age 10), Solamon (age 8), Jonathan
(age 6), and William (age 3). Solomon Goldsmith HICKMAN was b. 30 Nov 1840
at Jefferson, PA to parents Solomon Crabel HICKMAN and Elizabeth or Eliza
CAREY, Solomon Goldsmith died 14 Nov 1939. His wife Mary Cynthia SEAMAN
place of birth is listed as IA, the couple married on 5 Sept 1869.
Their two oldest children were born in Dakota Territory, and the youngest
two children born in IA. I believe that the second letter was written by
Solomon Crabel HICKMAN b. 29 Nov 1807 at New Salem, PA, the son of Solomon
Goldsmith HICKMAN and Elizabeth MCCOMBS. Solomon Crabel was married 6 April
1834 to Elizabeth or Eliza CAREY and Solomon Crabel HICKMAN died 20 Sept
1901.
Their son Abel C. HICKMAN referenced in the second letter was b. 1844 at
Jefferson, PA, married Jennie MICHAELS in 1871 and was living in Chariton,
IA with Jennie (age 26) and a son Joseph B. HICKMAN (age 8) during the 1880
census. Jennie MICHAELS HICKMAN was born in Illinois and their son Joseph
B. HICKMAN was born in Kansas.
Abel C. HICKMAN died 25 May 1916. Another son referenced in the second
letter appears to be Stephen Decatur HICKMAN b. 10 July 1836 at Jefferson,
PA, died 27 June 1902. Stephen married Elizabeth Lavey TEAS on 7 March 1868
and was living in Chariton, IA with Elizabeth L. (age 38) and five children
during the 1880 census. The children included, Stephen D. (age 11),
Elizabeth (age 9), Charles V. (age 6), J. Harlan (age 3), and Ida (age 1),
all having been born in Iowa.
Tracking others that are referenced in the two letters I find Barbara A.
HICKMAN (age 80) living in Wooster, Ohio with her housekeeper Jane E. MANN
during the 1880 census. I find Samuel MARTIN with his wife Elizabeth MARTIN
and a daughter Allice living in Jefferson, PA during the 1880 census.
Joseph GWYNN b. about 1824 of Greene County, PA is the son of James GWYNN
and Hester CREE. Morgan BELL b. 24 Dec 1808 in Greene County, PA to parents
John BELL and Mary PHILLIPS, he died May 5th, 1880. Referenced in the
second letter could be Thomas J. VERNON (age 39) of Richhill, PA who along
with his wife Dorcas B. VERNON (age 39) and three children were included in
the 1880 census of that town. The VERNON children included, John Mc. (age
14), Leonas L. (age 5), and Flora E. (age 10 months).
I'm hoping to locate someone from this HICKMAN family so that these
wonderful old family letters can be returned to the family and cared for as
history should be. If you are a member of this family or know someone who
might be, please contact me.
Thanks,
Shelley