William Hickman
William Peyton "Pate" Hickman (born September 3, 1827 in Jefferson County; died August 9, 1926 in Trussville) was Jefferson County Treasurer for several terms between 1862 and 1888, and a member of the Jefferson County Commission from 1888 to 1892.
Hickman was the son of Jesse Hickman and the former Clarissa Pullen, daughter of William Pullen. He had a farm and a 4-room house constructed by enslaved laborers on Chalkville Road in Trussville.
On February 13, 1855 Hickman married the former Elvira Sims Hamilton, widow of Alexander Oden, and he adopted her son Edley. The couple resided at Montevallo where he had an interest in a mercantile firm. They later moved to Elyton and she bore him six more children: Fannie, Cunningham, Sears, Clara, Jennie and Jessie. Elvira died in 1900 after a long illness.
In 1870 Hickman constructed a dry goods store in Trussville, soon followed by a flour mill on the Cahaba River. He was a founding member of Trussville Methodist Church. Hickman's store burned down on June 17, 1881, but he rebuilt immediately. Hickman also planted the acres around his house, reporting a good yield from sweet potatoes in 1882 and producing some large LaConte pears in 1892.
In 1896 Hickman and Alfred Eubank sold a combined 120 acres on Red Mountain to the City of Birmingham, which became part of Lane Park.
Hickman died in 1926 and is buried at Wilson Chapel Cemetery in Roebuck Springs.
References
- "W. P. Hickman, 99, Dies in Trussville" (August 10, 1926) The Birmingham News, p. 1
External links
- William Hickman at Findagrave.com