Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-18
David Hickman.

called the circuit superior SouIt
of Law and Chaucery. 1t was
held by judge Smith of Clarksourg
and the judge appointed the Clerk
and Prosecuting Attorney of that
court. The judge brought with
him from Clarksburg, quite a
young man and appointed him clerk
of that court. 1t was said that he
was smart, gifted and we'll qualified
for the Office. That yonng man
was David Hickman. He filed
The Office well under the different
judges until 1851 when the new
constitution made the flee cleo
tive by the people. He was then
elected by the people and served
until 1865 when the bright State of
West Virginia, took her place in
the galaxy of American common
wealths. In the beginning of the
county, the county court was held
by the magistrates from all over
the county. They elected James
Birkhead the first clerk of the
county court, Mr.. Hickman did
most of the work of the Office dur
ing the irst term and was then
elected by the magistrates and held
both Offices all the time until 1868
On account OF his age he could not
serve In those two important offices
any longer.
David Hickman was very re-
markable man, and In his day and
generation was a great man. AS a
man, no other one In the county
was as we'll known and as popular
as he was. While yet young, he
was married to Miss Nancy Wells,
of a prominent family. a sister Of
Uncle Docket Wells, a former sher-
If, and a cousin to Sheriff Oliver
P. Wells and Aunt Amanda Hard
man. She was often spoken of In
her day by men and women who
knew her as a very good woman.
They raised eleven intelligent and
respectable children, all of whom
have passed over but Mrs. Mercy
Wells, Mrs. Resale Stealey and
the youngest, David, whom we all
know and like so we'll. Mrs. Hick
man died In the last of the forties
and about 1851 Mr.. Hickman was
married to Miss Mahala Harrison,
of Monongalia county, another
good woman. 1t was good match,
his weight 200 plus $40 her weight,
equal 500 and in all other ways 1t
was good match. He was strong
Wing and she was strong Demo-
Graf, and many good Democrats at
the clerks election as an excuse for
voting for him said they were vot-
ing for Aunt Mahala. OF the very
few good step mothers that ever
lived she was one. Not one of his
eleven children was ever known to
say a disrespectful word of Aunt
Mahaia.
He was every day on his life de-
voted to the good of himself and
family and the interests of all the
people of the county. As clerk
he had no superior-not even an
equal in all northwestern Virginia.
He was benevolent all over,-he
seemed to be all the time thinking
about and looking after those In
need of his good counsel and sub
stantial help, No other one was
his equal In that kind of work.
No other man In his time helped
and done so much. Were all the
items of his good work-his say
ings and doings, his fun, his jokes
and advice all gathered and print
ed In a book 1t would be a big
book, full of interest to all the
people of Tyler county and to
others too. 1t ought to be done,
much has been lost by time,
but much could be gathered and
printed that would be worth the
time and work. Two men yet live
who could do that work we'll. His
long time deputy and devoted
friend Christian Engle and our
David. Mr.. Hickman lived to
see West Virginia formed into a
new State on the 29th OF June, 1863,
and few days afterward he died.
His remains rest under a beautiful
monument In full view of the old
court house In Middlebourne where
his life work was we'll finished.
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