Biographies: J. B. Fick, 1932, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: August 5, 1932 Winn Parish Enterprise or Winnfield News-American Passing In Review This Week We Have J. B. Fick by R. W. Oglesby One Sunday morning about the year 1907 as I was passing the Colvin Hotel on my way to Sunday school Mr. Patterson of the Tremont Lumber Company stopped me and said he had a man in charge who was looking for the Methodist Church and wanted me to pilot him to that good institution. I told him that I would be very glad to do that kind of a good deed and was introduced to Mr. J. B. Fick who had just arrived from Chicago to assume the duties of auditor for the Tremont & Gulf Railway Co. In a short time he was joined by his wife and children and they soon became full fledged citizens of Winnfield and entered the heartily into the activities of the community. Mr. Fick descended from German parents and was educated for the ministry. He spent some time in Germany putting the finishing touches to his education, but when he got back home he decided that he had not been called to preach and got a job with a railroad company which calling he followed as long as he lived. However, he took an active interest in church work especially the singing. He was a fine choir director and a good baritone soloist. He appreciated the fine points in music and reveled in the great hymns of Charles Wesley and other great hymn writers of that period. The family consisted of four boys, the eldest, Clarence, having matriculated in the University of Illinois remained behind when they moved to Loiuisiana, the other three, Everett, Curtis, and Harold, accompanying their parents to Winnfield and were enrolled as students in the Winnfield school where they took high rank. It was a great treat for them to get out of the city into the country. Their parents saw to it that they had plenty of wholesome exercise as well as work none of which was ever shirked due to the example set before them by both parents. It was my pleasure to become intimately acquainted with the family, frequently visiting in their good home and partaking of their splendid hospitality. After Everett graduated from high school he came into my office to study law. He took a few private lessons in shorthand from Miss Kate Hargis and with diligent application soon became an expert stenographer. He remained with us four years and then matriculated in Tulane Law School from which he graduated with honors in 1916. He opened an office in Winnfield and was just beginning what promised to be a brilliant career as a lawyer when we were suddenly plunged into the World War. Immediately Everett volunteered his services and went to Camp Pike to the Officer's Training School from which he emerged as a lieutenant. It was not long before he was on his way to France and lost his life in the second Battle of the Marne. Harold, the baby boy, in the meantime entered the Naval Academy and by intensive training took a four year course in three and graduated in time to participate in that wonderful feat of transporting four million American soldiers across the Atlantic in record time. Curtis was also a soldier and died from injuries received in the army, that is, the injuries he received hastened his going. Clarence, the oldest, would have been in the army if he hadn't had a family dependent upon him. The patriotism of the Fick family was tested to the limit when one considers that both parents were of German parentage and were sending their boys to fight against their own kith and kin, and against the country in whose bosom rested the bones of their fore-parents. Mr. Fick did his bit at home traveling all over Winn Parish over the roughest roads working for the Red Cross and other activities to get money with which to kill his own people. He hadn't been in Winnfield long before he knew everybody. He was jovial and always willing to lend a helping hand. As a test of his popularity, he was twice elected to the police jury from the Winnfield ward and rendered excellent services to the whole parish. Being an auditor, he knew the value of keeping the records straight, and under his leadership and direction the voucher system was adopted and followed to this day. He accepted a position with the Texas & Pacific and was stationed at Amarillo when he passed away after a short illness. His remains were brought back to Winnfield and buried beside Everett, to be followed in a short time by Curtis, leaving Mrs. Fick as the only resident of the once happy and united family to suffer in silence the effects of a cruel and remorseless war. Most people who talk about patriotism and sacrifice do not know what they mean but this little gold star mother has drained the cup of sorrow to the very dregs. With Spartan like courage and with a faith that will take no denial she looks through her tears to the day when other mothers may be spared the sorrow and suffering she had so bravely endured; to that day when "they shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."