Monday, June 30, 2025

Hicks Ancestors - Generation 3 - Charlotte A Hicks

Charlotte A Hicks was born 15 March 1879 in Hardin County, Tennessee, and died 20 January 1956 in White County, Arkansas.

Charlotte (called 'Tot') was the daughter of John Henry Hicks and Malisa Evelyn Burns (our family records have Evaline for her middle name).

Charlotte Hicks married Albert Franklin Williams 07 September 1899 in Independence County, Arkansas, son of John W Starnes and Susan Adaline McDougal. He was born 01 May 1876 in Floral, Independence County, Arkansas, and died 10 August 1960 in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas.


Children of Charlotte and Albert Williams are:

i. Albert Earl Williams 1907-1962, married Myrtle V Hindman.

ii. Thomas Henry Williams 1909-1947.

iii. Dona Williams (died in early childhood)

iv. Charlene Williams (died in early childhood)

v. Dorothy Lena Williams 1917-1921.

PHOTO: Tom Williams

This is the only picture I have of any of Tot and Albert's children.

* * *

Charlotte Hicks Williams died 20 January 1956, age 76, in White County, Arkansas.

Albert Franklin Williams died 01 August 1960, age 84, in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas.

They are buried in Providence Cemetery, Judsonia, White County, Arkansas.


Sunday, June 29, 2025

Hicks Ancestors - Generation 3 - Nancy Ellen Hicks

Nancy Ellen 'Nannie' Hicks was born 05 May 1874 in Hardin County, Tennessee, and died 06 January 1965 in Fayette County, Tennessee.

Nancy was the daughter of John Henry Hicks and Malisa Evelyn Burns.


Nancy Hicks married George Woodson Sandefur 06 January 1900 in Floral, Independence County, Arkansas, son of Leonard Henry Sandefur and Sarah Jane McDaniel. He was born 19 February 1871 in Arkansas, and died 19 October 1953 in Tennessee.


PHOTO: George and Nancy with some of their grandchildren.

Children of Nancy Hicks and George Sandefur are:

i. Ida Mae Sandefur 1901-1961, married Cielco Weatherford

ii. Charlotte Viola Sandefur 1906-2000, married William Ralph Solomon.

PHOTO: Back - Mae and Viola Sandefur. Front - Malisa Hicks, Nancy Ellen Hicks Sandefur.

PHOTO: Nancy Hicks Sandefur (center) with Annie and Ulysses Hicks. Ulysses is Nancy's brother.

* * *

Nancy Ellen Hicks Sandefur died 06 January 1965, age 90, in Fayette County, Tennessee.


George Woodson Sandefur died 19 October 1953, age 82, in Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tennessee.



They are buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Liberty Hill, Fayette County, Tennessee


Saturday, June 28, 2025

Hicks Ancestors - Generation 3 - Joseph Pinkney Hicks

Joseph Pinkney Hicks was born 17 January 1872 in Mississippi, and died 16 October 1948 in Arkansas


Pinkney (the only thing I ever heard him called was "Uncle Pink") was the son of John Henry Hicks and Malisa Evelyn Burns Hicks.

Joseph Pinkney Hicks married Ann Mirah VanWinkle 22 October 1893 in Arkansas, daughter of John VanWinkle and Mary Elizabeth Decker. She was born 06 December 1874 in Missouri, and died 20 December 1952 in Arkansas.

I don't have a picture of Ann VanWinkle Hicks.

Children of Pinkney and Ann VanWinkle Hicks are:

i. Travanion Hicks 1894-1895. (NOTES: Travanion was a few months old, playing on the floor. The adults were eating popcorn or nuts -- something like that -- and a piece got dropped onto the floor and they didn't know it. Travanion got it and choked on it. That's how he died. -- Source: Cleffie Hicks Burford)

ii. Herbert Hicks 1896-1967, married Willie Pearl Roaseau

iii. Violet Mae Hicks 1899-1972, married Romeo Elmer 'Rom' Miller

iv. Infant boy Hicks 1901-1901

v. Bessie Arabella Hicks 1903-1994, married George Record Wheetley

vi. John Henry 'Jack' Hicks 1909-1986, married Floy Elizabeth 'Bill' Castleberry

* * *

Joseph Pinkney Hicks died 16 October 1948, age 77, in Arkansas.

Ann Mirah VanWinkle Hicks died 20 December 1952, age 78, in Arkansas.

They are buried in Gracelawn Cemetery, Tuckerman, Jackson County, Arkansas.


Friday, June 27, 2025

Hicks Ancestors - Generation 3 - David Anderson Hicks

David Anderson Hicks was born 25 March 1866 in Alabama, and died 19 April 1949 in Ohio.


David was the son of John Henry Hicks and Malisa Burns Hicks.

David Hicks married Millanda Isabelle ('Belle') Hindman 03 January 1886 in Hardin County, Tennessee. She was born October 1867 in Illinois, and died in Canton, Ohio.

Children of David Hicks and Belle Hindman are:

i. John Timothy Hicks, born November 1886 in Tennessee, married Rachel Bell Williams.

ii. Mary Viola Hicks, born August 1890 in Tennessee, died February 1935. Married Edward Ramelow (or Romalow).

PHOTO: Viola 'Ola' Hicks Romalow with three of her children.

* * *
David Anderson Hicks died 19 April 1949, age 83, in Canton, Stark County, Ohio


He is buried in Melscheimer Cemetery, Pike Township, Stark County, Ohio.

I don't know when Belle died. She is supposed to be buried in Canton, Ohio, but I can't find a picture of her grave or memorial for her on FindAGrave website.

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Hicks Ancestors - Generation 3 - Ishmael, Timothy, and John Ransom Hicks

John Henry and Malisa Burns Hicks had 9 children -- Ishmael, Timothy, David, Pinkney ("Uncle Pink" is the only thing I ever heard him called), Nancy ("Nannie"), Ransom, Charlotte ("Tot"), Felix, and Ulysses ("Ulys").

Three of the children died in childhood -- Ishmael, Timothy, and John Ransom. I don't know anything more about them. John Ransom is mentioned in the 1880 census, age 4, and that is the only documentation I have been able to find for any of these three children.

So I think right here is a good place to post the rest of what my great-grandmother wrote about this family (some of it was posted yesterday, so I'll just post the rest of it today) --

Nannie’s husband (George) lost his mind and had to go to an institution and died there (1952).  He had practically lost his mind from old age when he left Nannie and went to live with his sister and family.  In a year or so they sent him to the institution.  He lived a year or so and died in the institution in Tennessee.  Nannie and her youngest daughter lives together.  Nannie is 83 and in a wheel chair.  She fell three or four years ago and broke her hip.  That was about 1954.  Nannie went to a T.B. sanitorium in about the year 1919.  She stayed a few months and got it arrested, but she never worked any more.  That is why she has lived to be 83 years old.  

Ulys' Grandmother's maiden name was Black (on his Father’s side).  Ulys’ Grandmother on his mother’s side separated from her husband in their old age.  That apparently was a custom. The most of Charlotte’s (Tot - Ulys’ sister) children died in babyhood, but two of them lived to be grown.  But one (Tom) died at the age of about 30 years.  He lost his mind, I suppose from a lick on the head.  He fell from upstairs straight down and hit the floor with his head in babyhood.  Then after he was 25 years old someone hit him on the head and left him for dead and someone else found him in a corn field, unconscious.  So all that, I guess, injured his mind and caused a blood clot on his brain or something, maybe a tumor.  Anyway, he died in the asylum in Little Rock, Arkansas in about the year 1947.  His older brother (Earl) is still living now, 1957, in Ohio.   

-- Annie Arnold Hicks, 1957

PHOTO: Ulysses and Annie Hicks

Here are pictures of the people she mentioned --

PHOTO: George and Nannie Hicks Sandefur with some of their grandchildren

PHOTO: Charlotte Hicks ("Aunt Tot")

PHOTO: Tom Williams (Aunt Tot's son)

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Hicks Ancestors - Generation 2 - John Henry Hicks

John Henry Hicks was born 22 August 1844 in Walker County, Alabama, and died 22 February 1919 in Cleburne County, Arkansas.

John was the son of John Hicks and Mary Polly Black.

John Henry Hicks married Malissa Evelyn Burns 25 June 1865 in Jefferson County, Alabama, daughter of Charles Burns and Nancy Thomas. She was born 13 March 1845 in Walker County, Alabama, and died 03 April 1920 in White County, Arkansas.

Children of John and Malissa Hicks are:

i. Ishmael Hicks

ii. Timothy Hicks

iii. David Anderson Hicks 1866-1949

iv. Joseph Pinkney Hicks 1872-1949 (married Ann Mirah VanWinkle)

v. Nancy Ellen Hicks 1874-1965 (married George Woodson Sandefur*)

vi. John Ransom E Hicks 1876-1883

vii. Charlotte A Hicks 1879-1956 (married Albert Franklin Williams)

viii. Felix Hallmark Hicks 1881-1932 (married Ida Mae Sandefur*)

ix. Ulysses Fillmore Hicks 1886-1965 (married Bertha Ann Arnold)

(*George and Ida Sandefur were brother and sister.)


* * *

Here is some information my great-grandmother Annie Arnold Hicks (wife of Ulysses Fillmore Hicks) wrote:

 Ulys’ Father’s Family:

His Father and Mother was born about the year 1844.  He was born in Alabama.  She was also born in Alabama.  They married at the age of about 20 years. They moved to Tennessee and had all their children.  David, Nannie, Felix, Pinkney, Charlotte and Ulysses, and four other children that died in childhood.  They moved to Arkansas when Ulys was about 3 years old, and spent the rest of their lives in Arkansas. He died at the age of 74 years.  He had had a stroke of paralysis, then a year or so had another one but he was feeble for two years before he had the last stroke, but was up walking around.  He died in February 1919.  She died in March 1920, with a heart attack.  She was as well as usual and just fell over out of her chair and was picked up dead.  David died about the year 1948, at the age of 83 years, with cancer. Started in his prostate gland.  Felix died about the year 1932 with intestinal parasites from a dog - some kind of real small worms in his bowels, the worms were so small that they couldn’t be seen only with a magnifying glass.  Pinkney died with a heart attack in about the year 1947, at the age of 77 years.  Charlotte died at the age of 77 from a heart attack in 1955, but she was sick and feeble at least a year. January 20th, David was buried at Canton, Ohio.  Felix was buried in Tennessee. Charlotte was buried at the old Providence Church cemetery in Arkansas.  The father was buried at Pine Grove cemetery near Floral, Arkansas.  The Mother was buried at Providence...

Ulysses’ Grandmother on his Dad’s side was named Black before she married Hicks.  His Grandmother’s maiden name on his Mother’s side was Thomas, then she married Burns.  I don’t know what killed them.  I think they lived to be pretty old. Ulys’ Grandmother and Grandfather on his Mother’s side separated in their old days. So did his Father and Mother, at the age of about 70 years.  They didn’t seem to have much trouble or arguments.  They were living with us when she left him.  I think from what she told me, it was mostly because he was feeble and half paralyzed, and almost lost his mind.  He got oversexed and he was just killing her.  He couldn’t do anything and would keep her awake practically all night, and she was a very weakly woman.  So I guess it was more than she could stand and live.  They were both very good people.  Nannie (Uly’s oldest sister) and her husband separated in their old days for about the same reason.  They were also good people.

* * *

John Henry Hicks died 22 February 1919, age 74, in Cleburne County, Arkansas. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Floral, Independence County, Arkansas.

Malissa Burns Hicks died 03 April 1920, age 75, in White County, Arkansas. She is buried in Providence Cemetery, Judsonia, White County, Arkansas.

Here is what my grandmother Cleffie (Ulysses and Annie's daughter) wrote about Malissa Hicks' death:

There is one other thing that happened in 1920 that I faintly remember.  My Grandma Hicks died and I remember of us going to her funeral. She died in April of that year before I would turn three in August.  She was my father’s mother. Grandpa had died a little over a year before but I don’t remember that.  But I understood now that Grandma was dead, and I remember of us walking into the church house and there was her casket up in the front not far from the pulpit.  I knew she was in it.   I remember that I felt a little strange; numb, or tense, or scared, or just not quite comprehending the whole thing.  I know I was very quiet and ill at ease and I would be glad when we got home again. I don’t remember anything else about the funeral, I just knew that Grandma was gone.  And the funny part about it is that I don’t remember anything about her before that.  

She had been living with Aunt Tot and Uncle Albert.  They said she had eaten a good meal that evening of pork and sauerkraut and whatever else they had. Later she belched up some of the sour juices and got strangled on it.  I guess she had quite a time getting over it; did a lot of coughing and gasping for breath.  After it was over and she seemed to be alright, she sat down in a chair, got her box of snuff out of her apron pocket and was getting ready to take a dip of it when she fell over dead onto the floor. I suppose the ordeal had been too much of a burden on her heart, which wasn’t very strong in the first place. That’s where my father got his weak heart, he inherited it from her. My father never used tobacco in any form even though his parents both used it.

Monday, June 23, 2025

Hicks Ancestors - Generation 1 - John Hicks

My great-grandfather on my mother's mother's side was Ulysses Fillmore Hicks. 

We don't really have much information about his forebears. I have definite information about his father and mother. And I have a lot of information about his mother -- Malisa Evelyn Burns -- and her ancestors. That is the branch of the family my mother was able to trace back to the Revolutionary War that qualified her to join the Daughters of the American Revolution. But the Hicks line only goes back as far as my great-grandfather's grandfather. Well, I mean, obviously it does go back farther than that, right? But I can't find any records about any earlier generations. The information I do have came from FamilySearch, which is mostly reliable but not always. So I'm going to post that information here with the caveat that I don't have much official corroboration.

* * *

John Hicks was born about 1810 in Abbyville District, South Carolina. I don't know his date of death, and I can't find any information about his burial. He married Mary Polly Black about 1843 in Jefferson County, Alabama. She was born in 1815 in Abbyville District, South Carolina. I don't know who her parents were.

[NOTE: FamilySearch says her name was Mary Polly Jones, but there is essentially no documentation to prove it. So I'm going to take my great-grandmother's word for it that John Hicks' wife was Mary Black.]

Children of John Hicks and Mary Polly Black are:

i. John Henry Hicks  1844-1919 (my great-great-grandfather)(married Malissa Evelyn Burns)

PHOTO: John Henry Hicks and Malisa Evelyn Burns Hicks

ii. Elizabeth Hicks, born 1847 in Jefferson County, Alabama.

iii. Joseph Hicks, born 1849 in Jefferson County, Alabama

iv. Anderson Hicks, born 1850 in Jefferson County, Alabama

v. Allen Hicks 1854-1929 (married Mary Jane Strickland, married Sarah Elizabeth Davis)

vi. Julia Beatrice Hicks 1855-1920 (married Robert Bedford Dennison)

PHOTO: Julia Hicks and Robert Bedford Dennison and their children.

vii. Mary Caroline Hicks, born 1858 in Alabama

viii. Bellzora Hicks, born 1865 in Mississippi


Sunday, June 22, 2025

Thomas Ancestors - Generation 9 - Cecil Myrick Hurlbut

Cecil Myrick Hurlbut was born 31 October 1888 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, and died 04 July 1972. 


PHOTO: Cecil and Ethelyn Hurlbut

Cecil was the son of Etta Eunice Thomas and Myrick Henry Hurlbut.

PHOTO: Etta and Myrick Hurlbut with children Ethelyn and Cecil

Cecil Hurlbut married Nina Katherine Naftzger 11 February 1916 in Bangor, Michigan, daughter of Jay Dow Naftzger and Sarah Hoffman.  She was born 20 August 1895 in Indiana, and died 23 December 1971 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan. 

PHOTO: Cecil and Nina Naftzger Hurlbut

PHOTO: Jay Dow Naftzger and Sarah Hoffman Naftzger, parents of Nina Hurlbut.

Children of Cecil and Nina Naftzger Hurlbut are:

i. Cecil Myrick Hurlbut, Jr. 1917-1917

ii. Elizabeth Ann Hurlbut 1918-1965 (married Francis August DeVeirman)


iii. Robert Kenneth Hurlbut 1922-1989 (married Shirley Cella)


* * *

Cecil Myrick Hurlbut died 04 July 1972, age 83, Cook County, Illinois.

Nina Naftzger Hurlbut  died 23 December 1971, age 76, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan

They are buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan


Saturday, June 21, 2025

Thomas Ancestors - Generation 9 - Ethelyn Hurlbut

Ethelyn Hurlbut was born 31 January 1876 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, and died 24 December 1918 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.

Ethelyn was the daughter of Etta Eunice Thomas and Myrick Henry Hurlbut.


Ethelyn Hurlbut married Loren D. Wood 28 November 1912, son of Polk Alphonso Wood and Ida Jane Burke. He was born 14 May 1875 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, and died 05 January 1956 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.

Children of Ethelyn Hurlbut and Loren Wood are:

i. Ida E Wood 1912-2002 (married Basil Henry Beedle)

ii. Densie May Wood 1914-1995 (married Dr. Frank Robert Christopher)

iii. Myrick Polk Wood 1916-1991 (married Eva Ginelli)

* * *

Ethelyn I. Hurlbut Wood died 24 December 1918, age 42, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.

Loren D. Wood died 05 January 1956, age 80, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.

They are buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.


Friday, June 20, 2025

Thomas Ancestors - Generation 9 - Ralph Thomas

Ralph William Thomas was born 28 June 1903 in Bendon, Benzie County, Michigan, and died 29 November 1941 in Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Michigan.

Ralph was the son of William G. Thomas and Jeanette 'Nettie' Durren.

Ralph married Frances Kibler 05 August 1925 in Berrien County, Michigan, daughter of Robert Kibler and Marie Schreiber. She was born 30 July 1907 in St. Joseph, Berrien County, Michigan, and died 04 June 1987 in Berrien County, Michigan.

After Ralph's death, Frances married Frank Dykas. I have not been able to find any information about when they were married.

Ralph and Frances Thomas had one child, Joyce Ann Thomas, born 15 October 1927, died 08 November 2024. 

* * *

Ralph Thomas died 29 November 1941 in Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Michigan.

 He is buried in Watervliet Cemetery, Watervliet, Berrien County, Michigan.

Frances Kibler Thomas Dykas died 04 June 1987 in Coloma, Berrien County, Michigan.
She is buried with her husband in Saint Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Watervliet, Berrien County, Michigan

* * *
Joyce Thomas died just a few months ago in November 2024 (I just found out).

Joyce Thomas Obituary

Joyce Ann Thomas, 97, of Coloma, Michigan passed away Friday, Nov. 8, 2024.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 am Friday, Nov. 22, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Watervliet. Burial of ashes will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Watervliet. In lieu of flowers, please give to North Berrien Senior Center or St. Joseph Catholic Church. Those wishing to leave an online message of remembrance may do so at 
www.duffieldpastrick.com.

Joyce was born on October 15, 1927 to Ralph and Frances (Kibler) Thomas. She graduated from Watervliet High School in 1944 and Western Michigan University in 1948 as a teacher in Business Education. She later obtained her Master's Degree from WMU and finished out her teaching career with Coloma Community Schools.

Joyce is survived by a son John (Susan) Thomas of Kalamazoo; five grandchildren, Matthew (Jenny) Thomas and Marya (Adam) Inman both of Traverse City, Ryan (Noreen) Thomas of Kalamazoo, Dr. Lindsay (Kevin) Dodd of Naples Florida, and Alysse Thomas of Vicksburg. Also surviving are six great grandchildren; Ryan's children, Liam and Una Thomas, Lindsay's children, Macy and Brooks James Dodd, and Marya's children, Weller and Jackson Inman, and close relatives Judy (Ed) Messal of Evansville Indiana, Charles (Sharon) Watts of Benton Harbor, and Bonnie (Scott) Kibler-DeJay of South Haven.

She was preceded in death by a son Dr. Jeffrey Thomas in 2002.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Kalamazoo Gazette from Nov. 13 to Nov. 14, 2024.