The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-07-27
HIS EARLY HISTORY,
He was Pioneer in ALI That the
Term Implies.


Hon Richard Owen Hickman was
born in Shelby county. Ky, Nov /,
1881. The progenitor OF the family N
America, an Episcopal minister and
native OF England, came TO this country
in the early history Of the colonies and
settled il the Old Dominion. James
Hickman. his grandfather, was pa
triot in the revolutionary war, served .
through that struggle, and after the /
war reared family of 10 children. He
lived to be 90 years old. In the family
OF nine Sons and one daughter, William
the third born, was the father OF Rlcn-
ard O. In 1910 he went TO Shelby
county, Ky, where he subsequently
married to Miss Mary Cardwell, ma
tive Of Virginia and two years young
er than himself. They continued to
reside in Kentucky until 1888, when
they removed to Illinois. where Mr..
| Hickman took a claim Of government
| land and where he resided up to the
time OF his death. He died in Spring
field in 1874 With the early history
OF Illinois he was prominently idehti-
! fed. He served as & member OF the
state legislature and for several years
was a Judge of Sagamon county. For
G5 Years he was q worthy member OF
the Methodist Episcopal church. His
wife died in 1895, soon after their re-
lnoval to Illinois. In their family
there were eight child,85l. Gichard be-
inc the seventh born. Six oE his
brothers and sisters are still living.
The earliest recollections OF Richard
Hickman were OF his life on his father )
farm on the frontier OF Illinois, he be-
ing about two years old at the time OF
: their removal there, He went 10
school in the primitive log school house
: near his home, but for the most part
his youthful days were spent IL farm
work. When he grew older he TOOK !
: course in Esi ier0rook's high school ii
Springfield III this and the deal
: school OF experience he was educated
. IN April, 1852, young Hickman seY
: cred home ties, and, with a party OF 3
: men, started overland for California
D They left Independence, May ., an'
4, after the usual experience on the plain
.. arrived at Nevada plains Aug. Il. II
/ began placer mining on the south Iuh
:, river. IL miles below Nevada City, AM
q after falls work, found himself tn
e possessor Of 81, 500. He continued mil
ing in California, at several place
n with varying success. While mlnln
q 10 miles below Downieville, in jill
1T Crow canyon, he found piece Of Sol
N that weighed - ounces. He was
IS California II years, a part OF the tin
le trading in miners supplies. Vt q
1t leans Flat he invested in a quart mil
n and lost heavily. He and his rattAe
" had invested ali their money and Wet
le $4,000 in debt. Their creditors alloy
I'd ed them sll 900 for the mine ana !"
er of the owners paid the rest, Nj. alc
to man paying $4,000. AZ this time
of friend of his, banker, backed him +
e. 1900 to buy an express route from n
he vada City to Eureka. On this he ca
'c- ried the mails and freighted ana
ul two years he made money enough
IT. pay all his debts. In 1868, on accou
W. of i'll health, he sold out, receiving 5
ess 500 for his business, ana returned
al his home in Illinois, making the .ou.
he ey by way of the isthmus. He reua
al ed in Illinois during the winter and
MS til the month OF March, and finding
on health but little improved. he decid
zen to cross the plains again, and acco
gi- ingly started for st. Joseph, No.
lad Upon his arrival there, MIR Hicim
oa found party preparing for jour-
red to Montana. He joined them. He 2
or. chased three wagons and y yoke Of
to en-, loaded his wagons with miners 5
me plies, and in due time landed in Al
ow gulch. There he disposed OF his go
,ly. at fair profit and returned to lllir
end in order to vote for Abraham Line
OF for president. In April, 1865, he az