In 1895, Judge Hickman's biography was published as part of a local history of the area: "Judge William N. Hickman is one of the representative men of Marion County, where he has dwelt for about half a century. He was elected Judge of the County Court in 1882 and re-elected in 1884 in the western district of Marion County. In this responsible position he had acquitted himself admirably in every detail and has won the warm commendation of all concerned. His home is on Section 10, Township 59, Range 6, which property came into his possession by purchase. The Hickmans were of German origin and our subject's Grandfather Peter was one of the early Virginia settlers and a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Mary Oakwood, member of an old family of that region, and had three children: Jacob, born November 1, 1801; Michael, who emigrated to Knox County, Mo.; Catherine, who died in childhood. The two brothers went to Brown County, Ohio, with an uncle when the older one was ten years of age and remained there several years. Jacob, who was our subject's father, served an apprenticeship to the carpenter and millwright's trade and in 1838 came to Missouri, whither his brother had preceded him a year, settling in what is now Knox County. Jacob also took up land, but then went back to Kentucky, where he remained until 1843. Eighty of his two hundred and forty acres of Missouri land are still in possession of his descendants. The marriage of Jacob to Eliza, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Wiley) Stroube, occurred in the Blue Grass State. The lady was born in Bracken County, Ky., and was married April 5,1831. Her death occurred November 8, 1837, when she left two children: Augustus, born November 17,1834; William N., of this sketch. The father subsequently (February 1842) married Elizabeth Wiley, who was born December 14, 1807, in Bracken County, Ky., being a daughter of Elijah and Martha (Seal) Wiley. By this union there were born the following children: Martha C, February 17,1843; Mary M., August 17, 1844; Sarah C, March 1, 1846; Matilda E., March 7, 1849. With the

exception of the eldest they were all natives of Marion County. Mary became the wife of Edwin Hansbrough and died February 1, 1880. Sarah C. married H. S. Potter of this County and Matilda, who is the wife of John T. May, resides in Vernon County, Mo. For several years the father of these children was County Surveyor of Bracken County, Ky., and also served as Postmaster of Locust Mills for some time. After coming here he was Justice of the peace for twelve years and for three years was Postmaster of Taylor's Mill, Marion County. For many years he was engaged in the milling business, having operated the plant at Palmyra for a short time and in 1847 became interested in Taylor's grist and saw mill, located on the Fabius River. This he operated for three years and in 1848 bought the farm of two hundred acres on which his son now resides. From that time onward he gave most of his energies to agricultural pursuits, raising stock and grain; he had previously owned a farm of one hundred twenty acres in Fabius Township and still retained his Knox County land. His death occurred August 23, 1868, but his widow is still living, making her home with our subject, and is in the enjoyment of good health. The Judge was born May 17,1836, in Bracken County, Ky., and was only seven years of age when he came with the other members of the family to Marion County. His early life was passed on a farm and his education was such as was afforded by the district schools; several times during his youth he visited his own home in Kentucky and once he spent a winter there. In 1868 he took charge of the farm, which he has managed with good executive ability. He raises a general line of crops common to this region and also keeps a number of cattle and horses on the farm. During the [Civil] War he was a member of the State Militia and had horses confiscated on several occasions. He has never married and his maiden sister and mother receive his dutiful care and attention. Since 1886 Mr. Hickman has been a member of Fabius Lodge No. 24, A. O. U. W., of Palmyra and he is also identified with the American Anti-Horsethief Association of Palmyra. In 1876 he went to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia and on the way enjoyed the beauties of Niagara Falls. He returned through Kentucky, having previously stopped at Washington and Cincinnati, and at that time made his last visit to the old home and friends in Kentucky. At the death of our subject's sister Mary she left four children, namely: Ella, John, Elbert and William; three years afterward their father died. Our subject then took and reared three of the children, the fourth and youngest of them having died at the age of about eight months. Two of the children, Ella and Elbert, are still living with our subject." PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORDS OF MARION, RALLS AND PIKE COUNTIES (Co. 0. Owen & Co. 1895), pp. 434-35.

"Judge W. N. Hickman, after gradually failing for several years, passed away at his home in Fabius Township last Thursday evening at eight o'clock. The funeral services were conducted at Mount Olivet Sunday afternoon, of which congregation he had long been a member, and the remains were interred at Bethel Cemetery. Judge Hickman, up to the time of his last illness, was prominent in Marion County affairs, and was counted as one of the honest, substantial men of the community, his title of judge being due to his service on the County bench a number of years ago. He was born in Kentucky in May, 1836, but came to Marion County with his parents when only about ten years of age and has lived on the same farm all of the time since. He was never married, and his near surviving relatives are his sisters, Mrs. H. S. Potter, of this City, and Mrs. John T. Mays and Miss Mattie Hickman, the latter two having made their home with him during the past few years." PALMYRA (Mo.) SPECTATOR, 14 April 1914, obituary provided by Peggy Fusselman, Marion County, Missouri.

Another version of Judge Hickman's obituary: "Judge William N. Hickman was born in Kentucky on May 17, 1836 and came to Missouri when nine years old. At six o'clock on Good Friday, April 9,1914, he passed to the great beyond. His funeral was held at Olivet Sunday morning, conducted by Rev. Mr. Rice, and he was laid to rest in the cemetery at Bethel Church by the side of his parents. The death of Judge Hickman is to us a personal loss, so long and intimately have we known him. He was a man of affairs, of large and varied interests. In his political life he came in contact with many men. He was regarded as a just man, capable and conscientious, unswerving in his loyalty to duty. He was esteemed and admired as all such men must be. But only the little circle of intimate associates knew the man as he was. Only they could know the warm heart, gentle and loving as any woman's. Only they realized his readiness and eagerness to help the young men of his intimate acquaintances. Judge Hickman was never married and his big fatherly heart went out to these young men as though they were in truth his sons. Many a man of mature years can look back and remember with gratitude the assistance and encouragement given him by Judge Hickman in his struggling youth. He now rests peacefully at Bethel. But his memory will long be green in the hearts of those who knew and loved him while yet he was with us." Obituary provided by Peggy Fusselman, Marion County, Missouri.

A few months after the death of Judge Hickman, his estate auctioned his personal effects in a public sale

reported in a news article: "At the sale of the personal property of the late Judge W. H. Hickman on Aug.

29th a great deal of antique furniture was disposed of, among which was a mahogany sideboard brought from Kentucky in the early [eighteen] forties, and a four-poster bed, made by Judge Hickman's father more than a hundred years ago. Mrs. J. T. Mays and Miss Martha Hickman have reserved a room in the old home, in which is stored a large number of heirlooms, valuable both for the association which surround them and their intrinsic worth. Jacob Hickman, the father of the late Judge Hickman, migrated from Virginia to Kentucky, where he was married in 1841. In 1842, he came to Knox County, Mo., and in 1849 moved to the farm in Fabius Township, Marion County, where he remained to the time of his death in 1869 [sic]. He left five children, W. N. Hickman, Mrs. J. T. Mayes [sic], Mrs. H. S. Potter, Mrs. Edward Hansbrough arnd Miss Martha Hickman. Judge W. N. Hickman, Mrs. Mayes and Miss Martha have been of recent years making their home on the farm but after the death of the former in April of this year, the two ladies moved to Palmyra temporarily." News article provided by Peggy Fusselman, Marion County, Missouri.