The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-05-27
CANE WEST IN
THE YEAR 1854
Death of Mrs. 3. F. Wicks at Inde-
pendence, Mo-, sunday,Last, Re-
moves Old Time Settler.
AMONG FIRST TEN FAMILIES
Mr.. and Mrs. Wicks Built First Home,
Where Deloit Now Stands
Winters Full of Hardships

Deloit, May 2G-Special-
1t is with sadness that we note the
death of Mrs. b. Il. Wicks. A dis
patch was received by j. l.. Miller that
Mrs. Wicks had passed away at 1894
Sunday evening at the home of her
daughter, Mrs. VIM. McKim, at hide
pendence. Mo-, after about a three
days illness of penumonia Funeral
services were held at the home Tues
day morning ut 10 o'clock. 1t will be
remembered that Mrs. Wicks and hus-
band, who preceded her to the grave
few years ago, were among the
early settlers here and resided here
for many years. They have host of
friends who revere and hold in hon
orable remembrance their life here.
The sympathy of all is extended to the
bereaved family.
b Mrs. Christiana klock-Wicks was a
resident of ChautauQua county, New
York. and was married to B. T.. Wicks
Dec. 25, 1852. She, with her husband,
moved to Sheffield, H., April /, 1853.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wicks wishing a home
Of their own, and as the homestead
land was all taken up near Sheffield,
lIey COllCluuCu w 81 lul lllcl NeSl,
and late in the year 1854 they pur-
chased an OK team and wagon and
started in company with Clark Win
ans, Sr., headed for Nebraska or some
other place in the west. When they
reached Panora, in this state, they
were told that the Boyer valley i'll
Crawford county, was one of the most
fertile localities in the west and would
be an exceptionally fine place for them
to settle. Mr. Wicks and Mr.. Winans
left their families at PanOra and
started out on horseback across coun-
try to visit this Boyer valley land.
They were so much impressed with
the country that they returned to Pa
nora for their families. When the
family reached Deloit or Masons
Grove there were only ten families in
the vicinity and there were no other
settlers nearer than Buck Grove. The
Wicks family purchased claim be-
longing to Mr.. Calvin tHorr and until
the housC.was crectefllthey lived with
the Levi Skinner family. The first win
ter in Crawford was full of hardships
and, after purchasing the claim, they
had very little money with which to
purchase clothing and provisions. Corn
was selling for $3.50 per bushel that
winter, but the family was able to re-
plenish the larder with fish, prairie
chicken and deer. Their first home
was a log house 1G feet square, which
was made by Mr. Wicks from timber
on his claim In 1866 the family built
the large and comfortable house and
barn which are still standing at De-
lott. The family lived in the town OF
Deloit for twenty-six years. At the
beginning OF the civil war the Indians
became quite troublesome and Mr..
Wicks joined posse Of settlers and
started off in pursuit Of a band that
had stolen four or five head Of horses.
They overlook the Indians somewhere
near Maple Grove and engaged in
running fight with them, but the In
dams managed to get away with the
horses. In 1S63-Gi the Indians be-
came still more troublesome and Mr..
and Mrs. Wicks returned to illinois
for visit until the scare was over.
They remained there two years, re-
turning in the spring of '65.