Re: Need information on Richard Adolf Hicks family
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In reply to:
Need information on Richard Adolf Hicks family
Jacque Johnson 3/29/08
Jacque,
My name is Kelly James Hicks (male)....the person who called you.My dad, Clarence James Hicks, passed away about a year ago at the age of 75.He had 2 older brothers, Richard And Albert, who also both have passed away.....Richard about 5 years ago and Albert quite some time ago.His little sister, my Aunt Cecelia, is still alive (not in great health) and lives with her children (my cousins) in Manteca California.My dad was always close to his sister and us cousins still get together frm time to time.
I never met my Granfather (Richard Adlof Hicks) or Grandmother (Maude Hicks) since they passed away in about 1955 and I was born in 1961. My dad told me only a few stories about them...not very good regarding my grandfather.I always discounted them because those days (mid 1850's in CA) were rough days and only the strong survived. He always talked fondly of his Mom Maude who protected him from his dad and the terrible beatings he would give him.Richard was about 58 when my dad was born and Maude about 44 so it was hard for my dad to relate to his parents given the age difference.When my dad turned 18 he enlisted in the Marines (he called the marines his second set of parents)which helped him turn around his life around and he later earned his college degree, Married my mom and bacame a teacher here in CA.
From what I know fom my dad, his family grew up dirt poor on a farm in Pleasonton.No hot or running water...terrible!!!.I always wondered why so poor since my great granfather had much land and money?Thinking out loud, it wouldn't surprise me if Richard was hiding out fromm the law or even the Swift (your) side of the family.Someone once told me that Richard made Maude leave her previous family by threatining to kill one or more of her Children.Given he may have killed a man and based on what my dad had told me about how cruel Richard was, it wouldn't surprise me if this was true.
I've also been told Richard married a black woman who ended up passing away; they had no children but this was unthinkable at the time and made him the "black sheep" of the family.After this, legend has it Richard killed a man (possible Sherriff)here in CA and went down to Mexico for 7 years.When he came back, he settled down on the farm in Pleasonton, CA where he started his family with Maude. I was told MAude had a previous family (7 or 8 children) and was 100% Irish....her parents were very relgous(her dad a preacher or something)and they cam from Ireland to the US.Up until the time Richard and Maude died, my dad thought they were married and always sent $$$ to him from the $$$ he earned in the marines.When he went to bury his mom with his dad in Pleasionton, CA he was told he couldn't because it was a Catholic plot and His mom and dad were not legally married.This hurt my dad terribly and another reason he never wanted to talk about his family history and wrote of the church!!!
Putting the pieces together, I have no doubt Maude Maggie Kearns Swift Hicks is my grandmother and yours too.My Aunt Cecelia sent me an article about a man with the last nme of Swift who she said was my cousine....I never undretsood the connection until now.I was told Maude had many children (7 or 8) before she started her second family with my grandfather Richard Adolf Hicks. My mom is still alive and has met your grandmother (she was at my parents marriage) and my aunt Cecelia was raised by your mom here in CA and still has a good memory despite her other health problems.
I'm Sorry if this responce is a little scattered....it's amazing I read it and made the connection as I have never used this service.