Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-08
CAREER OF MRS. HIcKs-LoRD.
The Late Society Leader was fa-
NOUS as an Entertainer.
New York JournaIJ

New York society has lost one OF It's
most interesting personalities. MRS. An
nette Wilhelmina wilkins Hick-Lord died
AZ her home No 30 Washington square.
west at 1870 o'clock Wednesday night
The nervous prostration from which she
had suffered for nearly four years cui-
minated then in paralysis OF the Draiis
Her physician. DR.. Janeway, reaiizSu at
7 o'clock in the evening that his paueht
could not live through the night ana
her cousin, Mrs. Townsend. of Brooklyn
was summoned, and arrived at her bed
side an hour before death came
Mrs. Hicks-Lord was as popular as she
was eccentric She was born in 1880 IN
Fishkill. Her half-sister, Mrs. Fletcher
of Boston, will be the chief mourner.
Mrs. Townsend and Mrs. Putnam, OF
Brooklyn, will be the only other relatives
present.
Mrs. Hicks-Lord was related to the
Rumbouts the Kips, the Van Court
landts. and the Schenks. Her mother was
n Miss Adeline Schenk, and married
Peter wilkins. Both were exceptionally
handsome and accomplished. Mrs. Hicks
Lord was reared i'm Mattawan, n. j.,
and was noted there, and later else
where. for her fine horseback riding. She
entered society in this city when young
girl. and has been a prominent figure in
IL ever since. She always disregarded
the conventionalities where her better
judgment prompted her 10 do so. and
even the most punctiious OF her neigh
bors respected and admired her for 1t.
Being beautiful. accomplished, rich, and
a leader in the younger social set, Miss
Wikins's hand was sought by dozens Of
sultors. At % she was married TO Thomas
Hicks a wealthy merchant fully 80
Il Tor
tho marriage. and Mrs. Hicks became the
possessor of a fortune. from which she
received $4,000 annually. After two years
Of comparative retirement the widow
again took her position as a social leader.
Her home in west Fourteenth street
was noted for its enjoyable and original
entertainments. Mrs. Hicks suddenly
went abroad. and her social triumrhs ex-
tended all over Europe. Royalty graced
her receptions, and no American woman
Of her day could claim more fame as an
entertainer than could Mrs. Hicks. In
1873 she went with Admiral Alden and an
escort of sixty iacktars of Uncle Sans
Mediterranean squadron to Joppa, and
thence to Jerusalem.
She then returned TO New York. and
in 1877 married Thomas Lord. multi
millionaire 50 years old. The octoge-
narian's children tried to have their IA
Their pronounced a lunatic. but Mrs.
Hicks-Lord and her new husband disap-
peared for time. Two years after the
marriage Mr.. Lord died. and again Mrs.
Lord became an active social leader
After many years her health failed, and
she gave up social activity.
Mrs. Hicks-Lord leaves fortune Of
about 100000. and she managed her
estate with rare judgment. She was
shrewd and cautious. and her specula-
tions were almost invariably successful
She had a business office in her Wash
ington-square home. which is the old
Alsop residence. and occupied for seve-
raj years by General George b. McClel-
Ian and his family. When she took the
old mansion its interior was entirely re-
modelled. She devoted considerable at
tention TO collecting paintings Among
them were a splendid portrait Of herself.
by Healy. fine piece of sculpture,
''The Indian Princess" by Crawford, was
one of the most celebrated pieces OF
statuary in New York. Family portraits
by Church, Dix. Terry. and Rosslter, and
magnificent collection of works of art
covered every inch Of wall-space. Gu
rios and antiques, the presents of no.
table persons she had met. were every
where scattered about the mansion.