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Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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.

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Chasteen Hicks, an early settler of Washington County, is the son of Charles and Rebecca (Thomas) Hicks, both of whom were born in Albemarle County, Va., where they grew up, married, and lived until about 1826, when they came to Missouri by wagon and located in the southern part of the State. Later they came to this county, where the mother died in 1836. The father died in the southern part of the State after his second marriage. He was a farmer, a Democrat, a soldier in the War of 1812, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. By his first marriage he had eight children, three sons and five daughters; and by his second marriage he had two daughters. Chasteen was the second child born to the first marriage. His birth occurred in Albemarle County, Va., about 1820, and he was brought to his State when a mere lad. His early education was extremely limited, not attending school more than two months. When about fifteen he began learning the blacksmith trade, and afterward went to school a short time, being almost a man. From 1840 to 1856 he worked constantly at his trade, and then bought the place where he now lives. In 1841 he married Miss Mary Sloan, a native of this county, who died in 1849 leaving three children, all daughters. Three years later he married Margaret E. Cowan, a native of East Tennessee, born in 1824, and the fruits of this union were five children, three sons and two daughters. Mrs. Hicks and the children are all members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hicks was a Whig before the war, a strong Union man during that struggle, and has since been a Republican. When he married Mr. Hicks had nothing; he is now one of the well-to-do farmers of his community, owning 400 acres of land. He has lived in this county for fifty-eight years, and has spent thirty-two years of his life engaged in farming. [Since the above was written Mr. Hicks has been called from earth, his death occurring March 7, 1888. He left many friends to mourn his loss.—The Publishers.]

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This family biography is one of 138 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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