My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

J. F. Hicks, a fixture in the affairs of Jefferson County, first established the Distilled Water, Ice & Coal Company, at Pine Bluff in 1885. Upon starting this industry, he put in a five-ton machine, but the business increased so rapidly that he was soon forced to have a larger machine, in order to supply the demand, and he now owns a twenty-ton machine in addition to the original one, manufacturing about twenty-four tons of ice per day. The machinery is all of the latest pattern and perfect in its work. About one-third of the product of this industry is kept for home consumption, while the other two-thirds is shipped to various markets. Mr. Hicks is the sole proprietor of this business, and also owns another ice factory at Marshall, Texas. His birthplace was in Ballard County, Ky., and when only ten years of age he went to Memphis, Tenn., alone, where he worked at different employment for some time. When still quite young he occupied a subordinate position on one of the river steamboats, applying himself closely, until in time he was promoted to the post of engineer, and then captain, which position he held for thirty-five years, and in 1852 he built a steamboat of his own called Falcon. During his life Mr. Hicks has built upwards of fifteen or twenty steamboats, owning at one time about forty, among them being the famous but ill-fated Mary Bell, which was burned to the water’s edge at Vicksburg, and also the steamer Frank Pargoud, which met with the same fate above New Orleans. The last named boat was the champion cotton carrier on the Mississippi River, having been loaded with the largest cargo of uncompressed cotton ever carried by any other steamboat—9,226 bales. The writer happened to witness that event, and can remember the day she steamed into the levee at New Orleans with nothing visible but the top of her pilot house and her smoke stacks. Every space was covered by cotton bales. It rose tier upon tier, and the cotton on the lower deck was swept by the river, so heavily was she loaded down. It was a grand and imposing sight, and was observed by thousands who thronged the water’s edge to await her coming, and rent the air with such a rousing cheer that the sound must have been carried out past the swamps to Lake Pontchartrain. The Mary Bell was one of the largest steamers on the Mississippi, and in fact in the United States. Among other prominent boats owned by Capt. Hicks were the Daniel Boone, Kate Frisby, John Simons, the latter being one of the largest boats before the war. Capt. Hicks was one of the most popular and experienced steamboat men that traveled the Mississippi during his day. Since the war he has owned the Vicksburg, Di Vernon, Majetta, Belle Lee, Henry Ames, John A. Scudder, Carondelet, Mary Belle and Henry Frank, these being the principal ones, and he virtually controlled the traffic between Memphis and New Orleans. The advent of railroads ruined the river trade, and when fire destroyed his finest boat, the Captain became disheartened and determined to abandon steamboating forever, since which time he has carried on his present business. He was first married in 1850, to Miss Sarah Carter, by whom he had seven children, of whom four are yet living: Ralph M. (at Marshall, Tex.), Jeff, Nellie, and Mamie. The Captain’s second marriage occurred, in 1878, to Miss Anna Tally, by whom he had one son, Frank. During his day Capt. Hicks has been the largest steamboat owner in the country. His finest boat alone cost $165,000, the Mary Bell, and only carried $50,000 insurance when she was burned. Among other famous vessels he owned was the Kate Miller, the first boat he was ever master of himself; the Pittsmiller, Bluff City, Harry Bluff, Julia, John Swazy, Martin Walt, Excelsior and Sam Cloon. Outside of his ice manufactory, which is one of the best paying industries in Jefferson County, he handles about 200 car loads of coal annually, and is worth considerable, although he has met with many reverses.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 136 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Jefferson County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.