George W Hickman, Rapides Parish, Louisiana 
Submitted By: Kay Thompson - Brown 

**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
********************************************** 

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana               
Nashville and Chicago: the Southern Publishing Company 1890    

GEORGE W. HICKMAN  
George W Hickman, planter, Faimount, La. This prominent citizen was born 
eight miles from Alexandria, in Rapides Parish, La. March 10 1842 and is 
the son of William P and Mary Ann (Ballio) Hickman, natives of North Carolina 
and Rapides Parish, La respectively. William P Hickman moved from his native 
State to Hempstead County, Ark and from there to Louisiana at a very early day. 
He opened the farm on which Colfax now stands and was a successful planter. 
He resided principally in Louisiana but wanted a place to spend his summers 
and educate his children and went to Kentucky to buy a place but before he 
was suited his death occurred in the town of Shelbyville, Ky July 4, 1842, 
the same year the subject of this sketch was born. The mother is still living 
is seventy-six years of age, and is a member of the Catholic Church in which 
faith she has reared her family. They were the parents of six children, only 
three now living: Mrs. JM Rhorer, John W and George W (who is the youngest) 
William P Jr (died in South Louisiana, during the war; he was in the commissary 
department and died from exposure), Mrs. T. K. Smith (died recently), and 
Thomas (died when quite young). George W Hickman received his education in 
Parker's school in Rapides Parish and at St Vincent's College at Cape Girardeau, 
Mo. After this he attended the Louisiana Military Cavalry in which he served 
until taken prisoner at Winchest Ky. He was retained at Camp Chase, Ohio first 
then at Fort Delaware and was exchanged a short time before the close of the 
war. He participated in the battle of Richmond (Ky), Murfreesboro, and several 
smaller engagements. He was in active duty all the time and often escaped 
death in a miraculous manner at one time having his hat shot through and at 
another time a ball went through his cartage box. After the war Mr. Hickman 
returned to Louisiana and commenced his career as a planter. He is the owner 
of 350 acres under cultivation the land bing above overflow on the Red River. 
This is called Fairmount plantation and is beautifully situated containing a 
fine residence, etc. In 1868 Mr Hickman was wedded to Miss Rosa Ballio, a 
native of Rapides Parish and the fruits of this union are ten children viz: 
WP, Mary Stella, Annie, George J, Ora Emily, Gervais, John Ashton, Effie Julie, 
Jennie Elani and Sadie H. Mr and Mrs Hickman are members of the Catholic 
Church and in his political views Mr Hickman affiliates with the Democratic 
party.