Hicksville, Ohio

Hicksville was laid out in 1886, for John A. Bryan, Henry W. Hicks and Isaac S. Smith, by Miller Arrowsmith, then Deputy Surveyor of the county. As thus surveyed the town remained until 1841, when all the lots except those on High and Main streets were vacated. As mentioned before, it was founded by the members of the land companies having large investments in this locality, for the purpose of enhancing the value of their property and enabling them to dispose of it on favorable terms. When Eansom Osborn, whose sketch is given below, moved to Hicksville in 1836, he found only two cabins had been erected by the company; one was occupied by Daniel Comstock, the other by Eobert Bowles. Mr. Osborn's cabin was the third. It stood near the homestead of A. P. Edgerton. When A. P. Edgerton arrived at the village, April 17, 1837, he found here a log cabin in the middle and at the crossing of Main and High streets, where Eansom Osborn kept boarders; a log cabin occupied by Buenos Ayers, in which he took his first meal in Hicksville, on Lot 143, where StuU's store now is; a cabin occupied by Ephraim Burwell, on Lot 139, where Dr. Rakestraw's house stands; a cabin occupied by Robert Bowles, on Lot 202, back of St. Paul's Church; a shanty on Lot 200, where Dr. Bracy's house stands, and a shanty occupied as a store on Lot 216, near the corner where his office is; and a log blacksmith shop where Ben Davis'- house stands, on Lot 17, Auditor's plat. The saw mill was raised on Lot 18, Auditor's plat, on the ground now occupied by John A. Miller's house, and had been running. There were neither provisions nor money here, and nothing but woods and debts everywhere around. Streper Hinkle was the first blacksmith, Ezekiei Mowry the next. Mr. Edgerton found also the white ash tree, sawed down, in front of Lot 208, near St. Paul's Church, with its stump scooped out, wherein Mrs. Osborn, with spring-pole {)estle, pounded corn for hominy to feed her hungry boarders. Mr. A. P. Edgerton was the first Postmaster. A mail route extended from Toledo to Port Wayne along the south side of the Maumee River and its nearest office to Hicksville was at Cranestown, Paulding.

Passage source: History of Defiance County, Ohio. Containing a History of the County; Its Townships, Towns, Etc.; Military Record; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Farm Views, Personal Reminiscences, Etc, published 1883.

The first school at Hicksville was taught by Ransom Osborn in 1830. It consisted of but five pupils - Joseph Bunnell, Sarah Bunnell, Alexander Yaxley and Mary and Caroline Osborn, the two daughters of ttie teacher. Mr. Osborn taught several terms. The school remained a district school until 1873. In March of that year, an election was held at which it was decided by a vote of 59 to 3 to establish a special school district, and shortly after the following School Board was elected: J. D. Phillips, three years; D. G. Huffman, two years; William Warner, one year. Subsequent elections for members of the board have resulted as follows: 1874 - William Warner; 1875 - D. O. Huffman; 1876 - J. D. Phillips, resigned in 1878; 1877 - Rev. S. S. Hyde, resigned in 1878; 1878 - J. C. Clay, three years; U. E. Babb, two years; J. M. Ainsworth, one year; 1879 - A. Summers; 1880 -J. E. Coulter; 1881 - J. C. Clay; 188:^ - A. D. F. Randolph. In 1874, tho main part of the present brick school building was completed. The contract price was $7,400. but with the recent addition, interest, etc., this original cost has been more than doubled. Henry Harris was the first Superintendent in the new building, serving one year. His successors have been F. J. Miller, 1875-77; O. B. Tannehill, 1877-79; F. M. Priest, a few months in 1879; T. Reese Millison, 1879-82; C. A. Fyke, present incumbent. There are now seven departments, and the course em braces twelve years. The last school enimieration gives 4S7 children of school age within the district.

Passage source: History of Defiance County, Ohio. Containing a History of the County; Its Townships, Towns, Etc.; Military Record; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Farm Views, Personal Reminiscences, Etc, published 1883.

Hicksville Presbyterian Church was organized on the 12th of May, 1855, by Rev. J. M. Crabb and Elders Arthur Cleland and Thomas Richardson, who had been appointed a committee for this purpose by Maumee Presbytery. Eleven members had been dismissed from Union Church, to enter, with others, into the new organization. These were Daniel Reason and Sarah, his wife, John Reason, Matthew R. Scott and Sarah Ann, his wife, James Maxwell and Elizabeth, his wife, James Miller and Sarah, his wife. Miss Harriet Reason and Mrs. Jane Freese. With these were Israel Richards and Eliza, his wife; Abraham Miller and Eliza, his wife; Mrs. Sarah Moore and Mrs. Eusebia Tustison. Abraham and James Miller were, elected Ruling Elders. On the following day, May 13, Isaac Hall and Jane, his wife, C. F. Mayuard and E. Frances, his wife, Mrs. Hannah C. Maxwell, Mrs. Sarah S. Reason and Miss Ellen G. Reason were added to the above, making a membership of twenty-four, which had been increased to sixty-three at the close of Mr. Quick's term of service. These churches have had a common history, as they have had, in fact, a common membership. The same ministers have served them both, dividing their labor ec|ually between them, and, with the exception of Mr. Crabb, having their homes vvithin the bounds of om or ihe other of the chui'ches. Those who constituted tlie early member- ship of these churche^i were among the original settlers of the country, and did their full share toward its development, and in giving the community a substantial and honorable character.

Passage source: History of Defiance County, Ohio. Containing a History of the County; Its Townships, Towns, Etc.; Military Record; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Farm Views, Personal Reminiscences, Etc, published 1883.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Hicksville Township - it names this place 126 more 126 times.