Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-09-11
REAvI HlCAAMGs.

The eccentric individual who boro
his Understanding name was for over
~ cuarter Of q century well known at
Washington as Pennsylvania Avenue
fop. He was sort of Beau Brummel,
only lie was less fortunate than that
celebrated London dandy in securing
aotoriety at the hands Of the penny-a.-
liners of his day. Good birth and
breeding, combined with profligate
habits in his youth, made him a mark
cd man wherever he took up his tenn
porary abode, for he led wild and
dissipated career in all parts of the
country, but particularly at the South.
About the year 1916 he appears to
have drifted to the National Capital,
and here he commingled in various
grades of society, and remained one OF
the notable fixtures of the place until
Lis death, which occurred on the Both
ultimo. During the various phases OF
his career, in the extremes Of prosper
ity and adversely, he became tamil-
lar object to residents and frequent
visitors at Washington. 1t is said
that he was proud to boast of having
been on intimate terms with every
respectable member Of Congress from
the palmy days when Webster and
Clay swayed the minds and feel
ings Of men by their matehless elo-
quencc.
H is full name was Robert Singleton
Hickman. He was native of Mary
land, and at the time of his death he
was sixty years old. His ruling pass
ion was for dress. ii was his highest
ambition to be the most respondent
fop of his day. His manners had be-
come easy and polished by contact
with society. AS he was also person
Of some means he was enabled to
crafty his extraordinary passion for
dress. He spent money lavishly, and
soon occupied the social position and
distinction which he sought. Some Of
his boon companions in sensual pleas
ures at the gaming table were among
the more brilliant members of the
Senate. In those days social vices
were more popular and fashionable, il
possible, than ia the case to-day in the
intellectual circle Of the nations
chosen representatives, and Hickman
was soon regarded as genius in his
way Of fully as much consequence q;
men distinguished for higher endow.
ments.
AS he advanced in years, having
sQuandered his fortune of $4,000 il
gambling and debauch, he became
merely walking advertisement fol
the fashionable tailors and stool
pigeon for gamblers. Finally, he be.
came dependent in a measure upol
charity tor his subsistence, and III
levied upon the generosity Of strang
ers with the coolest impudence. Tht
notoricty which he acquired was sucl
as few men could covet, but he pr0ba
bly, profited by the advertising -.whicf
| it gave him. Few visited Washington
but became curious to see Beau Hick
man. He was constant frequentel
Of the bars and.tippling houses, but i
is said he invariably refused TO "tak,
a drink !" always. however, wheI
asked to do so expressing willingness
to take a cigar instead of liquor.
Beau Hickman was stricken will
paralysis somewhat over week ago
and died at one Of the city hospitals
His real name and place Of birth arr
secrets, and it is surmised that hi
| family was one of the wealthiest il
Virginia or Maryland, who discarded
him on account of his dissipated hab.
its. He may have received some as
sistance from them, but the principa
part Of his revenue was derived by
leyying upon people for sums o.
twenty-five cents and upwards, accord
ing to the liberality or standing of tho
individual. At the time of his death
he was q pitiable wreck, although
during the last few years of his lift
it had not been his custom to partakt
of intoxicating drinks, as before
stated. This was owing to his being
subject to inf1ammatory rheumatism
His passion for dress and his desire tt
follow the -Acisssre,y occupation of d
foppisll gentleman" contributed Ia
make his life miserable failure
1t may be said of him that he wa;
Of no use to himself or anybody
else.