Yavapai-Cochise County AZ Archives Biographies.....Hickey, M. J. 1853 - living in 1896
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/az/azfiles.html
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 5, 2005, 6:54 pm

Author: McFarland & Poole

p. 491

  THE HOTEL BURKE. The poet who found "his warmest welcome at an inn" must have
had in mind one of those hostelries in which the conveniences of a home are
forever present without the disagreeable and exacting duties that make home life
domestic slavery. Such a house is that of the Hotel Burke, a family hotel, in
which the proprietors and owners, D. A. Burke and M. J. Hickey, are widely
experienced and recognized authority in the difficult art of modern hotel
keeping. The hotel was built in 1880 and is 50x125 feet, four stories and a
basement and has stone trimming, mansard roof, etc., and was built at a cost of
$40,000. This fine building is located on the corner of Montezuma and Gourley
streets. Prescott, Arizona, and is lighted throughout with electricity. It has
electric call bells, and the rooms, large and commodious, are nicely furnished.
This is one of the most modern as well as one of the most popular and well
managed hotels in the Territory. Last, but not least, a bountifully supplied and
recherche table is kept and all the delicacies that can possibly be obtained are
served in liberal abundance. M. J. Hickey, one of the genial proprietors, is a
native of County Clare, Ireland, born December 27, 1853, and the. son of Patrick
and Mary (O'Halhanan) Hickey. The parents came to this country at an early date
and located in New York, which city they left when the Civil War broke out. The
mother returned to her native country, but the father remained here and enlisted
in the Sixty-ninth New York Volunteers, being one of the few of that regiment
who returned alive. He is now living in McKeesport, Pa., but his wife died in
Ireland. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are now living,
and named as follows: Kate, Stephen, John, who was drowned: Bridget, Hugh,
James, Michael J. and Mary. Michael J., our subject, received limited
educational advantages in his native country, and when but twelve years old
decided to cross the ocean to America. He reached this country a poor boy with
no friendly face to greet him, and for some time resided in the city of New
York. Later he went to Boston, found employment in the National Tube Works
there, and made his home in that city for four years. He received a small salary
and managed to live on that and save a few dollars. Thinking that he could
better his condition, he went to Allegheny County, Pa., in 1868, and worked in
the McKeesport Tube Works one year. This was a branch of the same concern he had
worked for in Boston. Later Mr. Hickey was seized with the Western fever, like
hundreds of others, and made his way to California, where, although a young
tenderfoot, he engaged in prospecting, and also followed the -same occupation
throughout the West. He was thus engaged for about twelve years, and has
experiences during that period which would fill a good sized volume. He came to
Arizona in 1879 and first located at Tombstone, where he worked in the Grand
Silver Mine for one year. From there he went to Tiptop, was engaged, in
prospecting for two years, and the two years following were spent in mining.

In 1883 he came to Prescott, spent some time in prospecting in the hills and
mountains of Yavapai County, and became quite popular as a genial, whole-souled
man. In 1882 he was made deputy sheriff under Jake Hinkle, Mulvenon and W. O.
O'Neill. While serving in this capacity, he made a record for bravery and
fearlessness in the discharge of his duties, being active in the capture of the
noted desperado, D. W. Dilda, who was hung in Prescott February 5, 1886. This
man killed Deputy Sheriff Murphy while being taken and was a desperate
character. Mr. Hickey also assisted in the capture of Sisto Lucero, a Mexican
desperado, and in whose capture there was a long and fierce struggle between
Lncero and our subject. Mr. Hickey captured him alive and thus showed his
kindness of heart and fearlessness, for he could have saved himself a desperate
struggle had he shot the villain. Mr. Hickey has had other exploits equally as
exciting, and in every one he has displayed remarkable nerve and fearlessness.
He is a liberal-hearted, public-spirited citizen, who has great hopes of
Arizona's future and who contributes liberally of his means to all worthy
enterprises. He is a favorite with all and has a host of warm friends. On
Thanksgiving Day, November, 1887, he was married to Miss Catharine Wall, a
native of Canada, and they have two bright little children, Mary J. and Catharine.


Additional Comments:
From:

A Historical and Biographical Record of the Territory of Arizona
Published by
McFarland & Poole, Chicago, 1896


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/az/yavapai/bios/gbs61hickey.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/azfiles/

File size: 5.2 Kb