Subjects of Perrin, Battle & Kniffin 1885 Biographies
From: Kentucky, A History of the State. Perrin, Battle & Kniffin. 2nd ed.,
1885, Webster Co.
JAMES J. HICKS was born in Person County, N.C., September 2, 1820, to
William and Elizabeth (Lumsford) Hicks, both natives of North Carolina and
of English descent. William Hicks was educated and married in his native
State, where he owned a farm upon which he resided most of his life, but
was not himself engaged in farming. At the age of twenty-five, he began
the study of medicine and afterward practiced that profession for many
years. Later in life, he became quite a politician, and at one time was
sheriff of Person County. His death occurred February 19, 1849, in his
eightieth year. He and wife were life long and devoted members of the
Primitive Baptist Church. While he was sheriff he lost all his property in
consequence of having levied on some negro property, without taking the
property in possession, or taking a delivery bond. James J. Hicks, the
youngest of his father's family was employed on his father's farm until he
was twenty-two years old. He was then employed at overseeing in North
Carolina for two years, after which, in 1846, he came to Kentucky, where
he was engaged in the same business for some four years. He then bought
a partially improved farm in Henderson (now Webster County), upon which
he resided for twenty-three years. In 1873, he sold this place and bought
another, two miles north of Providence, where he was extensively and
successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until the fall of 1884,
when he sold out and removed to Providence. He was married, November 10,
1842, to Miss Anna Peed, a native of Person County, N.C. Ten children
were the fruit of this union, of whom three sons and three daughters are
living. Mrs. Hicks is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Mr. Hicks belongs to no church, and in politics, is a Democrat.
SHELBY HICKS was born in Henderson County, Ky., January 15, 1854, a son of
James J. and Ann (Peed) Hicks, natives of North Carolina, and of English
descent. James J. Hicks was married in his native State, where he was
engaged in farming for many years. In 1845 he removed with his wife and
family to Henderson County, Ky., where some few years later he bought a
farm, which was afterward cut off into Webster County, upon which he
remained until 1874, when he sold out and bought a farm near Providence,
where he still resides. Our subject received an excellent education at
Lincoln University, in Illinois, and was employed during the summer season
on his father's farm until he was sixteen years old, after which he taught
and attended school until he was twenty-two years old. He then engaged as
a salesman in a drug store at Providence, Ky., for one year, after which he
engaged in the drug business on his own account at Cynthiana, Posey Co.,
Ind. for two years. For the past four or five years he has been engaged
with Prof. W.S. Coleman at Providence Male and Female Academy. The
buildings, which are large and commodious, are situated on the top of a
hill near the town, and are furnished with all modern appliances, and an
excellent library. Prof. Hicks was married, December 26, 1883, to Miss
Sallie C. Givens, daughter of T.K. Givens. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks are members
of the United Baptist Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
and is now, and has been for several years, secretary of his lodge. He is
a Democrat.
HARVEY B. HOLLOMAN was born in Hopkins County, Ky., November 18, 1840, to
Miles B. and Amanda (Headley) Holloman, natives of North Carolina and
Virginia, and of English descent. When only ten or twelve years old, Miles
B. Holloman came with his parents to what is now Hopkins, but was then a
part of Henderson County, Ky., his parents being among the first settlers
of the county. His father bought wild land in the western part of the
county and improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death. On this
place Miles B. was employed until he attained his majority, and in this
county he was educated and married. His father gave him a tract of wild
land some two miles south of Providence, which he improved and resided upon
until his death, March 4, 1852, in his forty-third year. Harvey B., at the
age of fifteen, commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, and served an
apprenticeship of five years in Providence, which has been his home ever
since, with the exception of three years. At the age of twenty he
commenced at the trade on his own account and has been so employed ever
since. For the past ten years he has been contracting. He was first
married in 1862, to Miss Mary J. Kirkwood, a native of Hopkins County. Two
children, Everett G. and Mary J., were the fruit of this union. Mrs. Mary
J. Holloman died in 1865, and Mr. Holloman was next married, in 1867, to
Mrs. Joanne E. (Kirkwood) Washburn, also a native of Hopkins County, and a
sister of his former wife. They have no children. Mrs. Holloman is a
member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Holloman is a Democrat.
STEPHEN R. HORNER, Webster County, was born in Orange County, N.C.,
February 13, 1838, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Murdock) Horner.
He is the sixth in a family of nine children, and is of German-Irish
origin. In 1857 he began serving a three-years' apprenticeship to the
harness-making trade, and afterward continued that business and farming in
his native State until 1867. He then came to Webster County, Ky., and for
thirteen years has been a resident of Sebree. On coming to this place he
opened a boot and shoe store, and also carried on harness-making. In 1875
he engaged in general merchandising, which he has since continued. When
Mr. Horner began business at Carlow, Webster Co., Ky., in 1867, he had only
$70 to invest, and now he is estimated to be worth about $10,000; he worked
at the saddle and harness business there four years, and then came to
Sebree, Webster Co., Ky., about 1871. He is one of the oldest merchants in
Sebree, and is doing a fine business. He was appointed postmaster at
Sebree in 1877, and still retains that position. He was married, in 1866,
to Miss Martha J. Bolin, of North Carolina. He is a Mason and a Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Horner are members of the General Baptist Church.
T.J. JACKSON was born January 12, 1826, in Hopkins County, now Webster
County, Ky., and is a son of Beckley and Martha (Brown) Jackson, natives of
Mecklenburgh [sic] County, Va. In 1815 the family came to Kentucky, and
located about eight miles north of Madisonville, where the father died in
1860, aged seventy-five years. T.J. was reared on his father's farm and at
the age of twenty-one opened a store at Carlow with a capital of $400, and
also took charge of his sister's (Mrs. Ruby) farm, his store being on her
premises. In 1856 he moved to his present location and continued
merchandising. He purchased 100 acres of land, and from time to time has
added other land, and now owns about 1,250 acres, about 850 acres of which
are improved, giving employment to twelve or fifteen hands. He is
extensively engaged in raising and handling fine stock. Mr. Jackson has
been eminently successful in business, having acquired a fortune of over
$100,000. He was postmaster at Carlow for many years. After the
completion of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, the office was
discontinued on account of the transfer of the stage route. He was
married in 1856 to Miss E.J. Morrow, of Hopkins County. This union has
been blessed with ten children, six of whom - three sons and three
daughters - are living. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and
I.O.O.F.
BENJAMIN C. JAMES, Jr., was born in Hopkins County, Ky., November 29, 1844,
and is a son of Benjamin C. and Jane E. (Bone) James, natives of Virginia
and Tennessee, and Scotch-Irish descent. When a small boy Benjamin C.
James, Sr., was taken by his parents to Tennessee, where he was educated,
married, and where he was engaged in farming several years. Later he moved
to Hopkins County, Ky., where he bought a farm and resided until his death
in 1846. He also followed wagon-making to some extent in connection with
farming. Benjamin C. James, Jr., remained with his mother on the farm, and
at Providence, until 1879. He and his brother-in-law owned a farm one-half
mile northwest of Providence, where they were also engaged in agricultural
pursuits for several years. In 1880 he moved to the farm where he now
lives, some three miles northeast from Providence, which he had bought some
time before. Mr. James was surveyor of Webster County for four years, from
1870 to 1874. He was married December 18, 1879, to Miss Helen T. Rice, a
native of Webster County, Ky. One son - Thomas C. - was born to this
union. Mrs. Helen T. James departed this life February 11, 1882. Mr.
James is an earnest advocate of the temperance cause, and in politics he is
a Democrat.
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