Calvin Hickman

    Calvin Hickman, general farmer, Richland Township, was born in Greene County, Ohio, near Xenia, October 23, 1834, his parents, Laban and Catherine (Price) Hickman, being natives of Greene County, Tennessee, and Greene County, Ohio, respectively. The father was born in 1806, and when a year old his parents removed to Madison County, Ohio, and a short time after settled in Greene County, Ohio, where he remained until after his marriage. He subsequently went to Peoria County, Illinois, but as his health was poor while there he soon returned to Greene County, remaining there until 1855. In September of that year he came by team to Indiana, and located on 200 acres of his land for which he had contracted before coming here. About 100 acres of his land had been cleared, and a poor one-story brick house, and a double log barn had been built. Mr. Laban Hickman made his home in this house until his death, January 7, 1878. His widow died July 4, 1857. Both were members of the Primitive Baptist congregation at Mississinewa Church in Delaware County. In early life they were both members of the Protestant Methodist Church, being members of that denomination some time after coming to Indiana, but finally joined the congregation mentioned above, and were active Christians until their death. In his younger days while in Ohio Mr. Hickman was quite a hunter, but after he came to Indiana, finding large game scarce, he devoted his time to his farm. Like his father, he was  a life-long Democrat. His grandfather was killed in the war of the Revolution.

    Calvin Hickman, whose name heads this sketch, grew to manhood in his native State, being reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his neighborhood. He accompanied his parents to Jay County, remaining with them some five years after coming here. He was married January 24, 1861, to Miss Hannah Fulkerson, a native of Greene County, Ohio, but of Virginian ancestry. Five children have been born to this union -Orville Elmer, Joseph William, Lewis Laban, Catherine Jane and one who died in infancy unnamed.

    After his marriage Mr. Hickman started in life on his own account, settling on land east of Dunkirk, which his father had purchased, where he followed farming some twelve years. He then removed to his present location on section 28, Richland Township, where he had previously bought sixty acres, the only improvement on the place at that time consisting of a log house and a log stable. His farm now contains eighty acres, about sixty acres being cleared, and his improvements will compare favorably with the best in his township. He has on his land 300 rods of tile drainage, and two fine orchards. He has a large, substantial barn, which was erected in 1881, and his handsome and commodious residence was built in the summer of 1886, and is surrounded with shade and ornamental trees.

    In politics Mr. Hickman is a Democrat, and although his party is largely in the minority in Richland Township, he has been elected to official trusts. In 1872 he was elected township trustee, which position he filled for two years. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, belonging to Richland Grange, No. 116, in which he has filled various positions, including secretary, treasurer and overseer. Mrs. Hickman is a member of the Baptist Church.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.