McDonough ILGenWeb

HICKMAN, Eliphalet. — Among the extensive owners of farming lands in McDonough County, and one who has been long a resident of Emmet Township, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Hickman was born in Floyd County, Ind., March 13, 1831. His father, James Hickman, was born in the State of North Carolina, and his mother, Elizabeth (Sisloff) Hickman, was born in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pa. The paternal grandfather, James Hickman, was a native of North Carolina. Philip Sisloff, the maternal grandfather, was born near Philadelphia, Pa., and the maiden name of his wife, who was a native of the same State, was Hinckle. James Hickman, the father of Eliphalet, was a farmer by occupation. After living sixty years in Indiana, he returned to Virginia, near Stanton, where he died at the home of his daughter.

Eliphalet Hickman, who is the seventh of a family of eight children, attended the district school in his boyhood and remained with his parents in Indiana until 1861. At that period he spent a short time in McDonough County. Returning to New Albany, Ind., he enlisted August 12, 1862, in Company A, Eighty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was sent to Kentucky and followed Gen. Bragg's forces through the mountains. Mr. Hickman was discharged on account of an affection of the lungs, in March, 1863. He returned to Indiana, and as soon as he was able, came to McDonough County. In the fall of 1863, he bought his present farm of 230 acres in Section 4, Emmet Township. To this he has added from time to time until he now owns 1,000 acres, one tract of eighty acres lying in Walnut Grove Township. He has bought the Davis Clark farm of 212 acres on which was a fine modern home. The tract lies In Sciota Township one mile from Sciota, and here he lives.

On February 3, 1864, Mr. Hickman was married to Tacy Wilkinson, who was born in La Harpe, Ill., where in her youth she attended the district school. This union was the source of eight children, as follows: Elizabeth (Mrs. P. H. Hickman); Ruby (Mrs. F. P. Kellogg); Lilly M. (Mrs. F. G. Knight), deceased; Ona (Mrs. A. M. Brown); Luella, at home with her parents; Charles L.; Grace (Mrs. F. G. Wilson), deceased; and Frederick E., who remains under the paternal roof. Politically, Mr. Hickman belongs to the Democratic party. He has served one term as Township Collector, and held the office of School Trustee for several years.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 908, extracted 09 Mar 2019 by Norma Hass.