California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


STEPHEN HICKS. A highly intelligent and prosperous farmer of Tulare county, residing three 
and one-half miles south of Dinuba, Stephen Hicks is well known in this vicinity for his varied
interests, and he and his wife are held in high esteem as people of worth and integrity. A son 
of William Hicks, he was born November 3, 1851, in Scotland county, Mo., of Scotch ancestry, 
being the descendant of one of three brothers that emigrated from Scotland to this country 
in colonial times. His great-grandfather on the paternal side served as a soldier in the Revolution. 
Stephen Hicks, his grandfather, served as captain of a company in the war of 1812. He 
subsequently removed from Tennessee to Missouri, settling in Schuyler county as a farmer and 
there spending the remainder of his life. 

Born in east Tennessee, William Hicks removed when a young man to Missouri, and 
when ready to begin farming on his own account located in Scotland county. In 1852 he 
crossed the plains to California, coming with an ox team train, and for three years sought 
for wealth in the gold fields. Returning to Missouri in 1855, he lived on his farm until 
after the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Union army for three years, 
becoming a member of a Missouri regiment. Returning to his farm at the expiration of his 
term of enlistment, he continued there as a tiller of the soil until 1881, when he settled near Han- 
ford, Cal., where he resided until his death. He married Nancy Pell, who was born in Missouri, 
a daughter of William Pell, a German by descent and a farmer. She survived her husband 
and now resides near Hanford, and all of her eleven children are in California and live not 
far from her. 

The second child in order of birth of the parental household, Stephen Hicks, in common 
with his neighborhood companions, was educated in the district school and early taught to 
work on the farm. He remained at home until becoming of age, but the following spring bade 
good-bye to family and friends and started westward in search of fortune, being the first of the 
family to come to California, although the others followed him in due season. Arriving in Mo- 
desto on April 23, 1873, Mr. Hicks worked as a farmer until the fall of that year, when he 
borrowed money to procure an outfit and began farming on his own account, for six years there- 
after being engaged in grain raising on a ranch lying between Lemoore and Hanford. For a 
short time he lived on land at Mussel Slough, but while there was between two fires, fearing 
to buy from the Settlers' League and realizing that if he staid the railroad company would 
bring judgment against him. Selling his house he came away, having lost nearly all of his 
possessions between the league and the company, and began life anew. 

Locating in Tulare county in 1879, Mr. Hicks homesteaded eighty acres of his present farm, 
improved it. and rented other land, at one time carrying on seven hundred acres, which he de- 
voted principally to grain. When the ditch was put through he sowed alfalfa, one of the best 
paying crops that can be raised here now. He has two hundred and forty acres now in his 
farm, lying in sections 32 and 33, township 16, range 24. He carries on general farming, mak- 
ing a specialty of dairying and stock raising, keeping about seventy-five head of stock. He 
has made valuable improvements on his place, in 1902 building his fine residence, which is  
commodious and attractive. 

In Missouri Mr. Hicks married Eliza Mullinix, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of John 
and Alzira (Brandon) Mullinix, the latter of whom died February 7, 1903, when seventy-four 
years of age. Mr. Mullinix is a farmer and makes his home near Hanford, Cal. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hicks have two children living, Albert S., in the Dinuba high school, and Leah Ethel. 
Their oldest daughter, Alzira, died when six weeks old. In July, 1885, three children died 
from diphtheria, their names being Alzira, Eliza and John W. In his political relations Mr. 
Hicks is independent, voting with the courage of his convictions. For the past twenty years 
he has been one of the trustees of the Wilson school district, and is one of the trustees of the 
Dinuba Union High School. Both he and his wife are active members of the Baptist Church, 
of which he has been one of its board of trustees.