Hicks - Martin
Source: Bowen History Montgomery Co, Indiana p 1088 (1913)
To such gentlemen as Martin Hicks, well known agriculturist
and stock raiser of Ladoga, Montgomery Co, is the locality of
which this volume treats indebted for its high rank as a farming
section, its prestige and high standing as a rich and fine
developed community. Mr. Hicks is adept at farming and has one of
the best managed and most orderly farms in his township. He is
known to his neighbors as a man of sensible views and sound
convictions on all subjects with which he is conversant and,
taking a great interest in the general development of his
community while he is laboring for his individual advancement, he
has won and retained the respect and good will of all who know
him. Mr. Hicks was born in Clark Twp, this County on August5 29,
1862 and is a son of Preston and Martha A UTTERBACK) Hicks. The
father was born two miles east of Russellville In on June 28,
1830 and was a son of Thomas Jefferson Hicks and Lucinda Ragsdale
Hicks. These parents came to the state of In from Ky in pioneer
times prior to the year 1830. Probably about 1828 they entered
government land in Sec 25, Clark twp, Montgomery Co and on this
they set to work to establish the family home and develop a farm,
but the elder Hicks' work was interrupted by death, which
overtook him a few years later. His widow survived him just 50
years, having spent all that half century on the home farm. 3
children were born to them, namely: Eliza, who married Gabriel
DAVIDSON ; Preston and Samuel S. Preston Hicks grew up on the
home farm. His first start for himself was on 40 acres of land
which he bought from Silas Davidson in the west side of Sec 25,
Clark Twp. he went in debt for the same, but working hard and
managing well he succeeded in paying it out in due time and
purchased additional land from time to time until he became the
owner of 1500 acres and was one of the most extensive farmers and
substantial citizens of his township. He followed general farming
and stock raising all his life. He was very successful from a
financial standpoint and was a stockholder in the Bank of Ladoga
and also in the Ladoga Electric Light plant. Politically, he was
a Democrat all his life and was a loyal supporter of the party.
Religiously, he belonged to the Christian Church. He was an
excellent financier, prudent and thrifty, far-sighted, bought
land when it was cheap and improved it well, assisted by a large
family of children. He was a public-spirited man, progressive in
his ideas and took a great interest in the good of the community
for which he did much in various ways, being always ready to
assist in any movement for the good of those concerned. He marr.
Martha A. Utterback, a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth
(McDowell) Utterback. Martin U. was a native of Va, born in the
Old Dominion in Dec 1798 and was a son of Henry and Tabitha
McDOWELL) Utterback. When Martin was young the family moved to
Henry Co, Ky, where his parents spent the rest of their lives,
dying when their children were young and they were all bound out.
Martin having been bound out to learn the carpenter's trade.
There he grew to manhood and marr. Eliz. McDowell. in was in 1830
that they removed to Mont. Co, locating in the southeast part of
Clark Twp, near the south corner of the County. In 1831 Mr. U.
entered 160 acres from the government in that locality and in
1832 moved thereon. It was totally unimproved, wild and
presenting a discouraging prospect, but he was a man of true
pioneer courage and grit and he went to work with a will, soon
having part of it cleared and improved. In connection with
farming he worked some as a carpenter, and reared his family
there. he worked at his trade before there were any saw mills in
this locality. Such lumber as there was, being riveted out. He
was an elder in the Christian Church of which his wife was also a
member. Preston Hicks and wife became the parents of twelve
children of whom two died in infancy; Jesse d. when about 14;
Mary Etta d when 19; Melissa, married Harrison BRITTON and lived
near her old home and d. early in Dec 1885, leaving one child,
Grace A now the wife of Walter Harris of Ladoga, the seven living
children are William, who lives in Boone co, five mi. north of
Pittsboro; Samuel lives near the old home in Clark twp, this co,
Martin, subject of this sketch; Henry A, lives in Denver, Col;
Thomas J resides near the old homestead in Clark Twp and Robert F
and Charles. The father of the above named children died Feb 27,
1895, when nearly sixty-five years old, his widow surviving him
17 years, passing away Oct 9, 1912, when past 77 years. She had
been a member of the Christian Church since 16 years of age. She
was greatly interested in Church work and she lived her religions
every day, was good o to her family, sparing no pains to rear her
children in the proper way. Martin Hicks of this sketch grew up
on the home farm and he received a common school education In
1884 when 22 years old he married Arnetta PECK, daughter of
Samuel C and America LOGAN) Peck and a granddaughter of Jacob and
Maria LANE) Peck who came from near Lexington Ky and located int
he southeastern part of Clark Twp, near the Putnam Co Line and
there entered land from the government. America Logan was a
duaghter of James and Jemima VORHEES) Logan. The grandmother was
related to the great criminal lawyer and US Senator, Dan Vorhees.
The Logan family came from near Logansport In to Hendricks Co
locating near the Mont Co line, just across from Clark twp,
before the Civil War. It was in that co that Mrs. Hicks grew to
womanhood and received a common school educ. Martin Hicks has
devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. He has
been very successful and is now owner of a finely improved and
valuable farm of 296 acres in the home place and also other good
farms in Clark Twp. He has a pleasant and attractive home and
everything about his place denotes good management, thrift and
prosperity. After his marr. he spent one year in Boone Co, then
removed to the farm where his wife was born in Hendricks Co and
lived there about 12 years, or until 1897 when he moved to his
present farm a mile and a half south of Ladoga. He is a
progressive and scientific farmer, keeps all kinds of improved
farming implements and an excellent grade of live stock, is
always to be seen in his fields and large barns. Our subject and
wife are members of the Church of Christ. They are the parents of
four children, namely Otis C who married Viva GOSLIN, lives in
Scott Twp near his father and he and his wife have one child,
Geneva Florence; Jesse H married Julia Edith Osborn, a native of
Peterson, Iowa and they have one daughter, Ethel Arnetta. Jesse
lives on part of his father's farm. Forest L, third child of
Martin and wife, is at home with his parents, as is also the
young child, Ewell Vernon Hicks.
=================
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Fri 13 April 1900 p4 c 2
On last Tuesday, S.F. Ashby sold his farm of 316 acres to
Martin Hicks for $17,000 cash. This is one of the largest land
trades ever made in this part of the County. Mr. hicks also owns
174 acres in Hendricks Co. and a farm of 80 acres just south of
Ladoga. Mr. Ashby has been one of the most successful farmers in
the township but for a number of years has lived in town. he did
not wish to be bothered with the care of the land any longer and
sold it at a good price.