The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-04-30
JUDGE A. w. 0. HICKS.

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Few men attain such remarkable lon
gevity, He was born in Cannon County.
Tennessee. November 10, 1916. As a
boy he had limited facilities for educa-
ton. In Clinton College, i'll Tennessee.
a free school he attended two sessions
of eleven months. where he acquired the
basis which led him to the attainments
of greater knowledge in literary and
legal pursuits As other men whose
names are enshrined in he history of
their country. he was a self made man.
He was self-reiant. painstating, indus
trious and honest. the essential requisites
upon which honorable manhood is con-
stituted. On leaving tbs Clinton Col
lege he journeyed to New Orleans, i'll
tending TO join the patriots in Texas
struggling for independence, but when
he reached that city the battle Of San
Jacinto had been fought General Santa
Anna had surrendered and the Republic
of Texas was guarantee as a matter of
fact.
As other men who have attained emf
hence he taught school. i'll Lawrence
County. Alabama, where he impressed
his pupils with the example of his splen-
did manliness and cha acter His first
actual responsibility in fe was assumed
on April 81, 1890. when he was married
to Miss Margaret Caroline Dial. sweet
hearts i'll childhood, when they lived in
Tennessee. Since then they journeyed
through life together hand in hand, low
ingly trustfuly, amidst the clouds and
the sunshine; their love strengthening
with the years. till death did part them
in 1902
1t was after they had plighted their
trotf forever that he and his helpmeet,
in the full sense of the word, reached
Shelbyvile, i'll Shelby County. Texas,
where he began the practice of law, in
which he speedily won, distinction. In
recognition of his ability and his manly
character he was elected delegate to
the Constitutional Convention when
Texas was annexed TO the United States
and i'll later years when Texas seeded
with the States which constituted the
Southern Cinfederacy
1t was when he reSidedfin Shelbyvile
that he was elected judge of Shelby
County. and having won the confidence
and the esteem Of the people, he was
promoted by election to judge of the
Fifth Judicial District of the Lone Star
State. During these years Shelby Coun-
ty, as well as other sections of that
State, had its bullies and its rowdies,
who defied all law; its desperadoes who
delighted to kill and murder on the
slightest provocation. but when Judge
Hicks assumed the discharge of his du
ties. these law breakers were soon con-
WINGED that they must face man who
was bent on the enforcement of the law
the court room, crowded with people,
were a number of ruffianS and law
breakers who had determined on intim-
dating the court, but these were awed
by the cool and self-possessed Judge,
who, being ready for the emergency,
directed the sheriff to open court and
command order in court as usual. On
another occasion the sheriff reported
that it was impossible TO arrest man,
a prominent land owner but a reckless
daredevil of a fellow, who had dehed
the authority of the sheriff. On hear
ing the report, Judge Hicks instantly
declared the court adjourned, and ad-
dressing himself to the sheriff, he COM
manded that he, the Judge, be summoned
as posse, and with the sheriff he
arrested the re-devil, who submitted
readily when he faced Judge Hicks and
read in his eyes the resolution of deter
mination unhinching.
In 1866 Judge Hicks and his family
located i'll Shreveport and engaged in
the practice of his profession. For
years he was associated with Mr. Hall,
who died in 1873 of yellow fever. After
this epidemic, his associate was his son,
John N Hicks, a successful and profit
able co-partnership which was virtually
dissolved after his election as judge of
the First District Court in 1884 In 1892
he closed his second term, declining a
reelection, when, being bereft of his
good wife, the hope, the joy, the solace
of his life, he retired gradually from
public prominence. He was then as one
whose right arm had been paralyzed. He
missed the gentle voice, the guiding
hand, the sweet, loving wife called to
her heavenly reward.
In Judge A. w. o. Hicks was the EN-
bodiment of true man. His long life
was consecrated to duty He was I'M
assuming in demeanor, well born we
may say, always peacefully inclined, but
he possessed the cart of lion and knew