BIO: Andrew HICKES, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Denise Phillips

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 112-113.
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  ANDREW HICKES, Coalmont, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Newry, 
Blair county, Pa., June 22, 1820.  He is the son of Peter and Eva 
(Spielman) Hickes.  Mr. Hickes' father, Peter Hickes, a German by 
descent, was a native of Adams county.  While he was quite young his 
father and mother died in Adams county, Pa.  Peter was taken to 
Petersburg, Huntingdon county, and bound to a shoemaker, Mr. Seavers, 
with whom he remained until he was twenty-one.  When Mr. Hickes was of 
age he left Petersburg, and settled in Newry, Blair county, Pa., where 
he remained until his death, working at his trade almost all his life.  
Mr. Hickes was a Whig.  He was a kind-hearted, upright man, much 
esteemed by his neighbors.  He was married at Newry, Blair county, to 
Eva Spielman, of that place.  Their children are:  Andrew, Margaret, 
died in youth; Rebecca (Mrs. Joseph Harling); Elizabeth (Mrs. Captain 
John Beaston), of Huntingdon; Susan, widow of Michael Bergman, Cambria 
county, Pa.; Eliza (Mrs. Frederick George), Lilly Station, Pa.; and 
Mary, widow of Frederick Harling, Newry, Pa.  Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hickes 
died in Newry.
  Andrew Hickes attended a subscription school in Blair county for a 
short time, but is almost entirely self-educated.  Until he was twenty-
one he lived with his uncle, Andrew Helderbrand, working with him on 
the farm.  In 1841 he left the farm and found employment on the 
railroad, working for nine seasons as carman on the Portage Railroad.  
Mr. Hickes was too enterprising to remain long in this position.  He 
removed to Indiana county, Pa., cultivated a farm of 196 acres, 
situated in Pine township, and dealt largely in stock.  He also kept a 
hotel and was very successful financially.  Unfortunately he was 
obliged to pay $3,000 bail for two of his friends whom he had supposed 
to be honest men.  This loss ruined his business, and he returned to 
Blair county.  Two years later Mr. Hickes, not discouraged by his 
former failure, began life anew in Coalmont, Huntingdon county, as a 
day-laborer, shoveling coal and chopping lumber.  He was industrious 
and thrifty, and in three years he had saved money and bought property.  
For the next twenty-four years Mr. Hickes worked as bucker and teamster 
in the Broad Top district.  He then bought a farm in Tod township, and 
was at the time agent for the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad.  Later 
he was made agent for the land, and also for the New York Coal and Iron 
Company, which position he occupied for sixteen years.  Mr. Hickes was 
postmaster of Coalmont, receiving his appointment in 1869.  In 1877 he 
added the agency of the Adams Express Company at Coalmont.  In 1883 Mr. 
Hickes bought a general store in Coalmont and became a successful 
merchant.  He owns and operates a coal bank in Coalmont, where he 
employs twenty men.  The opening of this coal bank cost more than 
$2,000, but it has yielded largely and has well repaid the enterprising 
owner.  Mr. Hickes has twice lost his barn by fire.  He had very little 
insurance, but he has built a large barn, 80x60 feet, the finest in the 
valley, on the site of the old barn; he has also erected a handsome 
dwelling.  Mr. Hickes is an active member of the Republican party, and 
voted for President McKinley.  He is a member of the I. O. O. F. of 
Coalmont, and is highly esteemed in the community as progressive and 
enterprising.  He has been elected to various offices; has been school 
director for three terms, tax collector for two and supervisor for 
three terms.
  Andrew Hickes was married in 1844 at Hollidaysburg, Blair county, to 
Margaret Johnson, a native of Blair county.  Their children are:  
Thomas A., at home; John A., farmer in Hopewell township; Jane E., 
deceased; Catherine, storekeeper; and George, farmer in Tod township.  
Mr. and Mrs. Hickes are members of the Methodist church.  Mrs. Hickes, 
although in her seventy-ninth year, is active in all good works.  Mr. 
Hickes is a genial, kind-hearted gentleman, well liked and influential, 
enjoying in his old age the well-earned fruits of his energy and 
enterprise.  He has never known sickness and neither he nor any of his 
sons has ever touched liquor or used tobacco in any form.