Harrison County, West Virginia Biography of Charles Lewis HICKMAN ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linda Katalenich, March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc. Chicago and New York, Volume II, Pg. 405-406 CHARLES LEWIS HICKMAN was the first formally to practice the profession of architect in Clarksburg, and to the increasing burden of responsibilities in that vocation he has devoted more than forty years of his life. As a youth he manifested an inclination to the technic of mechanical construction, and while engaged in the practical work of a building contractor he studied and became proficient in the general science and art of architecture. Harrison County has been his home since birth, and he is a member of one of the historic families of West Virginia, his ancestors having fought the Indians before they could establish their homes in peace and security on the western slope of the Alleghenies. His pioneer forefather was Sotha Hickman, who was of English ancestry and was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, June 10, 1748. He settled in what is now Harrison County, West Virginia in 1772. He lived here throughout the period of the Revolution, and in the fall of 1780, toward the close of the struggle for independence, he enlisted at Nutter's Fort in what was then Monongalia County for a period of six months, under Capt. William Louther. He re-enlisted in the fall of 1781 for two months, and again, in the fall of 1782, volunteered for a period of six months, his captain being the same in all enlistments. He did his part toward holding off the Indians in trespassing the frontier. His record appears in the archives of the United States War Department in connection with his claim for a pension, which was granted. Prior to his service as a soldier he and Levi Douglas, another pioneer of Harrison County, were taken prisoners by the Indians and carried to Scioto County, Ohio. While their Indian guards were asleep they slipped away, crossed the Ohio River on a log raft and finally returned home in safety. For a century and a half the seat of the Hickman family in Harrison County has been the little community of Quiet Dell, five miles south of Clarksburg. That was the old home of Sotha Hickman, and he died there April 2, 1832. He married Elizabeth Davies, who died December 16, 1837. Their children were named Thomas, Comfort, Rebecca, Sotha, Jr., Arthur, Cynthia, Nancy, Zachariah, and Elizabeth. One son of this pioneer couple was Thomas Hickman, who was born at Quiet Dell and died there February 8, 1881. He married Love Scranton, who was born in Marshall County, West Virginia, and died April 16, 1856. Her children were named Marshall, James Luther, Hiram, William, Rufus Theodore, Ruth and Rudolph H. The third generation of the family lineage was represented by Marshall Hickman, who was born near Quiet Dell, October 4, 1815, spent all his life in that locality and died November 24, 1864. He married Mary Butters, daughter of Samuel Butters, who came from Ohio to what is now West Virginia. The first home of Samuel Butters was at Morgantown, and from about 1821 he lived at Clarksburg. He was a potter by trade, conducting the first pottery in Clarksburg, and in later life he operated a grist mill near Quiet Dell, where he died. Mary Butters, his daughter, was born at Clarksburg June 27, 1823, and died March 1, 1876. The children of Marshall Hickman and wife were Lloyd, Sarah Love, Laura Ann, Samuel Butters and Charles Lewis. Thus Charles Lewis Hickman comes in the fourth generation of this historic family in Harrison County. He was born at the old homestead at Quiet Dell August 3, 1848, and spent his early life on the farm and had a share in its responsibility owing to the early death of his father. He acquired a common school education, learned the carpenter's trade by apprenticeship, and at the age of twenty began taking contracts as a builder. He had a vision of a wider service than that offered by his success as a building contractor, and he diligently carried on his studies for several years in architecture, until in 1878, when he was thoroughly qualified, he opened the first architect's office in Clarksburg. Nearly forty-five years has passed since then, and he is still active in his profession, and a long list of important buildings and other structures might be mentioned as a glimpse of the miracle work he has done in his profession. He has not only designed, but has supervised construction. He was architect for the Clarksburg Post Office and the Merchants National Bank, Clarksburg, West Virginia, also Science Hall, State Building at Morgantown, West Virginia, and in charge of their construction. Under appointment from the governor he is a member of the State Board of Examiners for licensing of architects in West Virginia. His high professional and business standing is in no small measure due to his integrity of character. He was the originator of the independent telephone service in West Virginia, and he and T. Moore Jackson of Clarksburg installed the first independent telephone exchange of West Virginia, at Clarksburg. Mr. Hickman has been a very busy man, has manifested no disposition to get into politics, is a democratic voter, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce. In 1876 he married Miss Carrie Leach, daughter of Alexander Leach. They have had a most happy married companionship for nearly half a century. No children were born to their union. Mr. and Mrs. Hickman are members of the Baptist Church.