i

The Wicks Family History

&

Document Collection

Including Documents for

Barber and Hahn Families

Collected by

Joan Jarnigo

Woodard-Peake

ii

Copyright © 2007 by Joan Jarnigo Woodard-Peake

All rights reserved.

Note that not all the documents in the collection are included here.

Compiled and edited 2007 by Howard L. Brady.

iii

Contents

Part I

Great Grandfather George Wicks ..................................................................... 1

Early Wicks Documents ...................................................................................... 3

The Florence Bridge ............................................................................................ 4

Letters from Iowa Territory ............................................................................... 7

Moving to Wisconsin Territory ........................................................................ 11

Cornelia Taylor ..................................................................................................................... 14

Caroline Barber Moldenhauer Wicks ............................................................. 18

The Wicks Homestead .......................................................................................................... 28

Peshtigo Fire ......................................................................................................................... 37

Death of George Wicks: ....................................................................................................... 38

Frank Barber Wicks .......................................................................................... 40

Part II

The Hahn Family .............................................................................................. 43 Genealogical Biography of Frank Barber Wicks .................................................................. 53

Part III Frank Barber Wicks (Continued) .......................................................................................... 65

The First RV ......................................................................................................................... 67

Miscellaneous Photos of the Wicks Farm ............................................................................ 74

Part IV Later Years ............................................................................................................................ 75

Appendix A: Ancestry of Joan Jarnigo Woodard-Peake .......................... A-1

Appendix B: Revolutionary War Service Records for Reuben Barber .... B-1

iv

Comments by Howard Brady are in italics.

1

Great-Grandfather George Wicks

(Brief biography written by Joan Woodard-Peake, 1990)

George Albert Wicks was born July 10, 1810, I think in Rhinebeck, New York. An

elder brother, William was also born there in 1809, but I cannot find any record of these births

in N.Y. George was the son of Samuel Wicks of Catskill, N.Y. and Margaret Pearsall Wicks

who was from Nova Scotia. They are buried in the "Old Cemetery" in Afton, N.Y.

George first married Mary Hyde of Masonville, N.Y. They had a small farm on the

Susquehanna River and lived there until they moved to Wisconsin about 1843. George and

Mary had three children, Monroe, Albert, and William (who died at a young age). Mary Hyde

died in 1857 and a year later, George married Caroline Barber Moldenhauer. She bore him

four more children: Orrinday, Florence, Frank and Carrie. George owned three pieces of

property in Kenosha County, including a farm on highway 50, one mile west of the Silver

Lake corner. The house built on this farm we can remember; it was built for Caroline.

Since George was an immigrant from the East, he was considered to be a "Yankee".

He embraced no particular religion, although member of his family were Universalists. He

was a Mason and was a member of the Hall of Washburn Lodge No. 45 in Bristol, Wisconsin.

Considered by some people to be a stubborn man, he was thought to be a careful

thinker who had great ambitions. Despite the fact that he had but a meager grammar school

education he was very knowledgeable. As a young man he had served in the 193rd Regiment,

32nd Brigade of the 17th Division, New York State Militia where he achieved the rank of

First Sergeant.

In 1871, about two years before he died, he took a trip back to New York for a final

visit to all of his relatives. Besides the brother William previously mentioned, George had

four other brothers and three sisters. One brother, Samuel, lived in De Witt, Iowa and

implored George by letter many times to join him in those fertile lands. Another brother,

John, went to Florence, Alabama to build a bridge at Muscle Shoals. He married there, fought

in the Civil War and was never heard of after that. The other two brothers, William and

Orrinday, both stayed in New York close to Afton. One of his sisters, Cornelia Wicks Benton,

married David Taylor who owned The Taylor Soup Company in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania.

Cornelia often visited the farm in Wisconsin. She reputedly was obese, weighing over 200

pounds. Another sister, Clarissa was married to a Mr. Griswold, and lived in the Afton, N.Y.

area. The remaining two siblings, a brother Hiram and a sister, Polly, both died while very

young.

There is much written about George Albert Wicks on microfilm in the Kenosha,

Wisconsin Courthouse. However, his death record has never been found.

2

Descendants of Samuel Wicks

1 Samuel Wicks 1778 - 1851 .. +Margaret Pearsall 1776 - 1845

........ 2 William Wicks 1809 -

........ 2 George Albert Wicks 1810 - 1873

............ +Mary Hyde 1821 - 1857

................... 3 Albert Wicks 1841 -

................... 3 Munroe Wicks 1849 -

................... 3 William Wicks 1850 - 1854

........ *2nd Wife of George Albert Wicks:

............ +Caroline Celina Barber 1830 - 1901

................... 3 Orrin Day Wicks 1860 - 1948

....................... +Winifred Prosser

................... 3 Florence M. Wicks 1861 - 1888

................... 3 Frank Barber Wicks 1863 - 1951

....................... +Katherine Otilla Hahn 1869 - 1917

............................. 4 Aurelia Catherine Wicks 1895 - 1992

................................. +Lawrence Edward Jarnigo 1897 - 1986

........................................ 5 Joan Jarnigo 1925 -

............................................ +John J. Woodard 1925 - 1986

........................................ *2nd Husband of Joan Jarnigo:

............................................ +Bernard C. Peake 1911 - 2009

........................................ 5 Laurence Edward Jr. Jarnigo 1927 -

............................................ +Anna Zego 1927 - 2016

............................. 4 Raymond Frances Wicks 1897 - 1997

................................. +Florence J. Rasmussen

................... 3 Carrie E. Wicks 1865 - 1888

........ 2 Samuel Wicks

........ 2 John Wicks

........ 2 Cornelia Wicks

............ +David Taylor

................... 3 Delia Taylor

................... 3 Elnora Taylor

................... 3 Helen Taylor

................... 3 Charles Marlin Taylor

................... 3 Nellie Taylor

................... 3 David Taylor

................... 3 George Taylor

........ 2 Orrin Day Wicks

............ +Catherine ?

........ 2 Clarissa Wicks

............ +? Griswold

........ 2 Hiram Wicks

........ 2 Polly Wicks

3

Early Wicks Documents

The Wicks family is unusual in the quantity of documents retained by family members

over the years. It seems that almost every piece of paper that came into their possession was

carefully saved—letters, receipts, even such things as report cards and school papers.

The earliest documents for George Albert Wicks relate to his life in South Bainbridge,

in New York State, and include:

1834 Warrant appointing him first sergeant in the New York Militia (below)

1836 Invitation to a Cotillion, addressed to George

1836 Letter to Samuel Cornwell of Bainbridge, Chenango county New York, from Joseph

Wood regarding potential land purchase by Mr. Wicks (assumed to be George Albert)

December 1837 Invitation to New Year’s Ball in South Bainbridge, N.Y.

Starting in 1837, a series of letters from brothers Samuel and William about working on

the railroad bridge across the Tennessee River in Florence, Alabama.. These letters are

transcribed on pages that follow.

1839 Warrant re-appointing him as Sergeant in the New York Militia.

South Bainbridge, where the family lived at this time, was northeast of Binghamton a

few miles, in the south central part of New York State.

4

The Florence Bridge

The railroad bridge across the Tennessee River at Florence, Alabama was a

enormous engineering achievement at the time it was built. Huge trusses built of timber

spanned nine piers, spaced 234 feet apart, with a total bridge length of about 1250 feet.

Three of George Wicks’ brothers worked on this bridge: William, Samuel (who later

immigrated to Iowa) and John (who stayed in Alabama). According to letters from sister

Cornelia Wicks Taylor, included in this collection, John married a local girl in Alabama.

Family lore says that he fought on the side of the Confederate States during the Civil War.

Cornelia later made a trip attempting to find him, but was unsuccessful, and he was thereafter

lost to the family.

An on-line article by the Alabama TimeDaily.com gave a brief history of the bridge:

From the first planning phase that led to the establishment of Florence in 1818, there

was a dream of building a bridge across the Tennessee River. This was seen as an absolute

economic necessity for the future of the town. Also, its existence was deemed as vital to a

social connection with life on the other side of the river, as well as with the lower part of the

state.

A bridge at the Shoals became a more significant goal when the people of Florence

learned of the completion of a railroad from Tuscambia to Decatur in 1834. In that era, every

town struggled to have a linkage to this new mode of transportation.

The bridge was finally completed in 1839, although its charter had been issued seven

years earlier. After serving the town for some 10 years, it was damaged by a tornado in 1850

and again in 1853, requiring extensive repairs. At last, in 1860, this crossing over the river was

opened once again to the public.*

Letters in the collection relating to the bridge are transcribed below. These

transcriptions follow the original in regards to spelling, capitalization and punctuation as

closely as possible. Letters written by most ordinary people in the 19th century used little or

no punctuation of any kind, except that abbreviations were often indicated by partial

underlining. “Fever and ague” was caused by malaria, a huge problem at the time. —ed.

Florence, Nov. 20th 1837

My health and Labor is very good at present and the Weather is Extreamly fine and Warm we

have had Some Smal frost but no cold Weather yet

We have Lost our friend Farnham he did on the 14th Oct After an Illness of 17 day he came

fromm the North [indecipherable word]

I Remain yours

Samuel Wicks

* http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20070715/NEWS/707150306/1004/RSS02&source=RSS

5

Smithsboro Dec 17 1837

Mr Geo. Wicks

Dr Sir your Bro Samuel informed me that you wished to go on South to

work on the Florence Bridge for Mr Thomas Pearsall I have directions from Mr. Pearsall to

Employ you & will do so provided you come down. I will employ one or 2 more men of your

trade if they are first rate workers please enquire for such & bring on some with you. I should

want you to start immediately. If you do not come have the goodness to write me on rect of

this

In haste, Yours

L. T. Thustin

Florence May the 20th 1838

Dear Brother

I now take the opportunity of informing you that we are all well I came here on the sixteenth

Inst and found the boys enjoying tolerable good health

But I find that the country is vary unhealthy so much so that if I had known it you would not

Catched me here I find that a many may have the ague & fever here for three months on a

strech by brakeing the agues Does not get rid of it you are as liable to have it the next Day

I cald and seen uncle Charles and found him sick a bed he and his rich brother has Disolved

Partnership Leroy & Lorenzo are living with their uncle and the rest of the boys ware living at

home Charles is vary much Dissatisfied with the country and People too

The Bridge is not half Done yet it is a bout twenty-one hundred and fifty feet long and thirty

feet wide/ from on e Pear to the other it is 234 feet that is the length of the arches

Now George I want you to write to me as soon as you get this letter and let me know how

things goes on at home

As I was along time getting here I supposed you would have wrote to Samuel I was quite

Disappointed when he told me that you had not wrote

I Remain Youres Wm Wicks

Florence April 7th 1839

Dear Brother I Rced your Letter on the 29 of last month and I am happy to hear that you

and the family is all in good health—

We are all in good health at present I and William Keep hous by our Selves Cook our own

Bread and Meat—

you Request me to Let you Know when we would be at home I now State to you When I

think we Shall be at home I think by the first of Sept Next the Bridge will be Landed on the

Oposit Bank of the Tense River We have 4 Reaches up and the 5 Reach Reddy to Rais and

there is 9 Reaches in this Bridge

6

our work Progresses very Slow on the Account of the Timber not coming a cording to

contract

I think that if the Bridge is not completed by the first of November that William will come

home then and I will come when ever it completed We may not get the Timber in Two or

three months yet the Rivers is very Low now

[The next section of the letter is difficult to decipher, but deals with a dispute over a

promissory note for $11.00 for money loaned by the letter writer].

I want you to Sell them Rops that I have at home for anything that you get for them

George Wicks I remain you Brother

Sam l. Wicks

******

The brief bridge history posted on the Internet by TimesDaily.com tells of the

destruction of the bridge during the Civil War:

Two days after the surrender of Fort Henry on Feb. 6, 1862, two Yankee gunboats, the

U.S.S. Lexington and the U.S.S. Conestoga, arrived at Florence. They were met by anxious

citizens pleading for the safety of the town and its women and children. Not only did the

gunboats spare the town, they turned and went back down the river without destroying the

bridge, which was considered a strategic crossing for the Confederate Army. The townspeople

could hardly believe their good luck.

Yet, there was little time to rejoice. Two months and one week later, Col. Benjamin

Hardin Helm's First Kentucky Calvary [Confederate] set fire to this important river crossing.

There is no known record as to how the colonel went about his work, but accounts of the

burning of the Decatur bridge by the Union Army tell how rags and cotton soaked in coal oil

and turpentine were used to ignite its huge timbers.

Col. Helm was in possession of a secret order from Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson to

destroy the bridge "as soon as the enemy's gunboats may pass Eastport or the enemy approach

Florence from the north side of the river."

On May 14, Helm wired Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard that the enemy at Decatur expected

reinforcements of several thousand and "I have only 500 effective men."

Thus, without further thought, he did what he believed he had been told to do.*

* http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20070715/NEWS/707150306/1004/RSS02&source=RSS

7

Letters from Iowa Territory Letters in the collection that came from Iowa territory are remarkable in their

description of this part of the frontier. After working on the Florence bridge, Samuel Wicks

settled in Iowa and spent the rest of his life there.

Clinton Co. April the 28, 1839

Dear Sir [Addressed to Mr. Stephen Landers]

I receivd a letter from A W Benton Informing me of the death of my wives

Father And that he has lef money to the amount of seven hundred dollars for her and that

some of our friends has been out there and I want to know who it was that was out there and I

want you Or some one of my friends in that town to acertain The fact concerning the money,

and send me word As soon as possible for it is a great ways to come upon uncertainties I

want you to give my [?] respects to Mr Benton for the favor he as done me I have recd a

letter from Hugh Dauson My Brother in Law stateing the property was divided Among six

and he had bought two shares for One hundred and nnty five dollars And that is so small an

amount I did not think It was worth traveling twelve hundred miles For we are all well at

present. Belsey [Betsey?] is married to Elisha Crosby and live on Rock Rivr About two miles

from dixons Ferry on the west side of the river and John Crosby and Emily lives on the same

farm John Crosby Rased last year above A thousand bushels of Corn Nathaniel Barber lives

here With me my wife sends her respects to your wife and Mrs [Dutton?] and Mrs [Cirtland?]

and Mrs Thorne Landers wife this I wrote to pleas my wife We got here on the

wapisapinacon [Wapsipinicon] river The first day of last June I think it is A fine Country it is

know [now] as green as a wheat field in the month of june we shall expect you to write to us

as soon as You receive this letter You will except of best wishes for your And your families

welfare Yours Respectfully Direct your letter to Davenport Ioway Territory Scoat [Scott] Co

William Pearsall

Mr. Stephen Landers [One convention in this period was to put the name of the person to

which the letter is addressed at the end of the letter.]

Washington County, January 8th 1840

Mr. George Wicks

Sir I presume you will be somewhat surprised at the length of time that

has elapsed since I promised to write to you. My health is good as common at present though

I have just recovered from a severe fit of sickness which brought me the nearest the grave that

I ever was. We are now in Iowa Territory within two miles and a half of the western boundary

line between the United States and the Indians, near skunk river, sixty miles north west of

Burlington, the capitol of the territory. The country is not yet surveyed and the nearest post

office is twenty six miles at Mount Pleasant in Henry County Iowa Territory.

When we started for this country we went to Pittsburgh then down the Ohio to its

mouth then up the Mississippi to St. Louis were we staid some time then up the Missouri to

the mouth of Grand river two hundred and sixty miles west. We staid there some time and

looked through the country it is a most beautiful country Prairie and Timber. Prairie just as far

as you can see. The timber though near the prairie is short and scrubby. That was the reason

8

we did not stay there.

We built a keel boat and came down the Missouri to its mouth then up the Mississippi

eighty miles where five of us were taken sick and lay there till the eighth of December before

we could move again. Then we started and came to where we are now. We got here on

Christmas.

This is a first rate country here, there is no better in the world. I should advise you to

come as quick as you can it is a first rate place for a young man. Wages as near as I can find

out is from twenty to twenty five dollars a month and provision cheap—deer, turkeys, wolves

and panthers & Indians thick as fog. You can go on here to a piece of land, half section if you

want to and hold it by doing twenty dollars worth of work evry six months or make a claim,

put a house on it, split a few rails and sell it for two or three hundred dollars.

I hope you will make up your mind to come next spring if not before. If you will next

fall we will go a hunting away toward the [illegible] skunk river, they say game and furs are

verry plenty up there. You may depend on it George that I believe you cannot do better than

to come to this country. It is entirely new, we are the frontir settlers in this part of the country

though it is settling very fast.

Since I was sick I have been so nervous that part of the time I could hardly feed my

self so you must excuse my poor writing. If any one inquires about us tell them [illegible].

You had better come by the northern route to Chicago from there to Burlington from there to

Mount Pleasant & we are twenty six miles up skunk river. As I have scribbled enough I will

end with assuring you that

I am your friend

Harvey Stevens Jr.

Point Pleasant [Iowa Territory] Sept 10th 1841

Dear Brother:

I received your letter with pleasure and am happy to learn that you and

your family is all well for health is a grate blessing in any county. I never in my life enjoyed

better health than I have this summer. Uncle Williams & Charles folks is all in good health.

In your letter you request me to give you a description of the country. I will as near as

possible. Commencing at Davenport which is 18 miles from where I live the land is rather

rolling with some wet and marchy [marshy] places in the hollows. But there is hundreds of

acres of land that has not a drop of water on it, good plow land as ever was. It can be broke up

in the spring and crop plowed in the month of Sept and sowed to wheat and you have an odd

farm at once.

It is not like going in to the woods to make a farm where it will take 10 or 15 years to

clear up a farm. Here in this country the land is all cleared by nature. A man can fence and

brake 50 acres in one summer and he has a better farm than any in the town of Bainbridge

[N.Y.].

The land that I have in pass [?] from has no water on it unless I extend my claim two

miles from the river, which I can at pleasure. Then I shall come to the brook where there is

water enough to run a grist mill the year round. The land is covered with long grass. You can

cut hay any where you please.

I have sowed 8 acres of wheat and I got in the ground 8 of Sept. I have timber enough

to fence three large farms and 66 acres paid for. Cattle and hogs can be raised very cheap

9

here. A cow five years old wont cost more than six dollars if you raise her your self. When I

come to this country Uncle Charles Dutton had one sow & five pigs and now he has 63 head

and corn one thousand bushels and what one hundred bushels wheat is worth 50 cents Corn

25 cents in trade at the stores.

Mills is very convenient both saw and grist. There has been several built this summer

from 6 to 9 miles from where I live.

I am [Calculating?] to build a home this winter 30 by 43 and if I can lett out my place

I may come to Bainbridge next spring, but if I cannot I shall go to farming it my self.

This country is verry good for a poor man to live in, much better than Bainbridge ever

was. The rise of land in this country must be verry grate in 10 or 15 years which all ways

makes the first settlers rich if they settle in good country.

But I want you to come and see the country for your self and be satisfied. I shall write

of John to come to country. I have had two letters from Thomas Pearsoll [this] summer stating

that John was there and well.

I want you to have Mr. Hyde to come [to this] country.

Brother George I send you by and with the consent of Uncle William Pearsall the

receipt of A. K. Gregg Esq. and I want you to get the money if collected and deposited in the

Bank of Elmira and send me a Certificate of Deposit, and if not collected you will write and

let me know what the prospect is of get the money.

Yours with Respect

Samuel Wicks

The following letter is not signed, but is obviously from Samuel. Note that the letter is

addressed to:

Mr George Wicks

Salem Township

Racine County

Wisconsin

Territory

Olive Township Clinton County December 17 1844 Iowa

Dear Brother George

After a long delay I take the opportunity to Send you a few lines to let

you know that I am in good health my neglect for not Writing Sooner is that I Expected to get

threw with my work by the first of December and then come out to See you but I Cannot

Come out to See you this Winter I Was Elected Last August County Treasurer and Collector

Which has taken up about thirty five days of my Time this fall and Winter and I have not

Collected more than one half of the County Revenue and my Corn is all in the field yet and

about four hundred bushels of wheat to [Clean?] up and hall off to market which will take me

all winter So I shall have to give up the idea of Coming out to see you this winter So I think

that you had [faster?] Come out here and see how you like the country and If you Do not Like

it Well Enough to stay here I will Let you have money Enough to Bair your expenses back

again and if [you] Like it I will send a team to fetch your familie to this Place If you was here

I could help you to any thing you Should want Uncle Charles Dutton wants Mr Hyde to

Come to this Place and See how he likes the Country and to move to this Country if he

10

Should Like it.

Wheat is Worth 50 Cents in Cash in Davenport Pork is Worth $300 per hundred pound uncle

Charles Dutton had three hundred Bushels of Wheat Burned up last fall by the Prairie Get on

fire am [Runing?] to the [Stacks?] this all I have to Write I want you to come out if you can

and if not to Write to me and I Will Come out Next Spring

These letters are remarkable evidence of the rapid development of the Iowa frontier,

and the enthusiastic optimism and success of those who settled there.

11

Moving to Wisconsin Territory

A letter written March 24th 1844 from William Wicks to his brother Samuel states:

This is the first documentary evidence of George’s intent to move to Wisconsin.

“Father Hyde” referenced here is Edward Hyde, George’s father-in-law. At this point

George is married to Mary Hyde, and they have one child, Albert. Obviously, based on the

last letter from Samuel in Iowa (pp 9-10), by December 1844 George has moved his family

to Wisconsin.

Incidentally, William has the best handwriting in the family at the time. The entire text

of his letter to Samuel:

South Bainbridge March the 25th 1844

Dear Brother

I received your letter yesterday, and now hasten to give you an answer.

we are all enjoying a usual degree of health except Mother. She is on the decline fast the Old

Man still remains the same Orin Day has gone down the River. He has lumber in Company

with O. Benton to the amt. Of 150.000 thousand [sic] which must fetch them some money.

Cornelia has a fine little daughter about 2 Months Old Clarrissa now lives with her – George

was up here last winter and offered his land for sale and says he and Father Hyde is going to

Wisconsin he cannot sell his Land for half what it cost him. He has lost about 65 Dollars by

Old Sayers failure. there is abundance of evry thing in the line of Produce in this place Crops

came in vary well last season. I will here note some Deaths which has occured in this place

since you left. Gilbert. Church. & his mother . Jane. Clapper. & her mother . Stephen Preston.

four woman Died since last August on the back street Old. Mrs. Burlingame. Mrs. Owens

Mrs. H. Kertland and Miss. Athalia Landers. who lived at Rufus Burlingames in her

nineteenth year Miss. Susan. White. Old H. Long & Co Money is getting a little more

Plentyfull in this place then it has been I think if you will come out here about the midle of

June. I can help you to the two hundred Dollars as I have Six hundred Due me by the first of

that month. if I cannot probably O. D. Wicks can or between us both. I think there will not be

any failure about the money if your will come after it. As to my Coming in that Country, I

cannot tell when it will be . but as soon as I can come I will. I long to leave this place and go

where I can do better.

Tell Nathaniel I have seen to the Division of his Land, which took place last October . as his

power of Atty cam to North Bainbridge I did not get it till the last of August the hoole

expences for him will be about Sixteen Dollars he has 15 acres remaining through the Center

North and South Land is very low not feching its value yet if he want it sold he must send

word out by you

12

You will see by the date of this letter that it was 34 days before yours reached this place.

youre letter of Sept. I got in 15 Days it has been a long time Coming Owing likely to the

navigation. this is all I have to write

I remain youre Brother

Samuel Wicks William Wicks

This letter documents one major inducement for western migration—the poor

economic conditions in New York State at the time that George migrated.

******

A letter to George and Mary, signed by E. L. Hyde and L. Hyde (Edward and Lydia,

Mary’s parents) describes the death of George’s father, Samuel Wicks. The letter is very

difficult to read because of the handwriting. Regarding the reference to Monroe and the baby

at the end; Monroe/Munroe was born 24 January 1849, and William probably 17 June 1850.

Excerpts:

West Bainbridge Oct 18, 1851

Dear Children

…we are very anxious to hear of your welfare if you and the Children are well tell

them their granpa and gran ma wants to see them all, we are well Except your mother and I

have a hard Cold, our friends here are well.

I wrote to you from here Some two weeks ago. I think I did not Say any thing about

your father Wicks being sick. I had not seen him then, neither heard he was sick, but while at

South Bainbridge the [illegible] he told me your father was sick. I went immediately to see

him quite low unable to talk but very little, he enquired after you, & told me he thought he

Could not live ling, he said, tell George I have Enough to live on and Bury me & a little left,

that will be some Consolation to him; I was there again [?] see he had faild in strength &

Could not talk above breath & seemed inclined and unable to say anything, he died the next

Monday in the forenoon & was buried on Wednesday following. [Illegible] Smith & his wife

were there through his sickness and took care of him; your brother William was there. I saw

him the Saturday before your father died.

Wm. told me your father had made his will & made Philo Kirby his Executor & that

after paying his debts & expenses what there was left he gave to Cornelia; Some say he had

four or five hundred dollars in notes & stock [?] but I have not been able to [ascertain?] the…

whole facts in the matter but perhaps I shall Wm. told me of his troubles in Settling your

brother Samuels estate, he said he had done all the business as agent for his father & he said

in the course of telling me what he had got there he said he found your note among their

papers; that your father never had it he died with a disease of the lungs was sick about two

weeks he had Ulsers break he told me about every 48 hours

[At the end of four pages total]

Kiss that dear little Monroe & baby for us

From your affectionate parents

E L Hyde

[To] George & Mary Wicks L. Hyde

13

Gravestones of Samuel Wicks (d. 1851) and his wife Margaret (d. 1845), in old Afton, N. Y.

Cemetery.

The first document in the collection originating in Wisconsin is this one (Kenosha):

14

Cornelia Taylor

Cornelia Wicks, sister to George and the other Wicks brothers, married David Taylor,

owner of the Taylor Soup Company in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania. A number of letters of hers,

spread over many years, are part of the collection. The earliest letter from Cornelia in the

collection is addressed to George’s first wife, Mary Hyde Wicks, whom she apparently had

never met at this point. The letter is undated, but since she asks, “…How many children have

you...”(?), the letter was almost certainly written to Mary after George and Mary moved to

Wisconsin, and had been living there for some time. The original letter has faded to the point

of illegibility, but scanning and contrast enhancement has made the text more visible:

15

George wrote his father-in-law a long letter in 1852. This was unusual, since he was

apparently a reluctant letter writer. His son “Wille” (William) died two years later, July 10th

1854.

Wheatland Feby 18the 1852

Dear Father

your welcome letter of the 2nd inst. come duly to hand and we were glad to hear that you

were all well and likewise all our friends on seely-Creek. We are all well. I have not seen a

sick day since you left here nor none of the family except wille and he was unwell last

summer with the summer complaint but he is a hail fellow now and so is Munroe, We

weighed them last night and Wille weighed 30 pounds and Munroe 34 pounds so you can see

that he is giving Munroe a hard run he makes me think of the Wilkensens family in West

Bainbridge, or Mrs Bundy of seely Creek, We want to see us as bad or worse than you want

to see us, and we expected to seen you more than six months ago But the time has gone by

that you promised to return and no father or mother or Adelaid yet you say the distance is so

great and money so scarse with you or you dont know but you would seen Wisconsin [air?]

this winter, Now father if you had wrote to me only last fall that you wanted to come back the

money would been sent to you in time for you to come in warm weather, But in your letter of

May 14th 1852 you said that your Brother Elizahen [?] wanted you and mother to stay 2 or 3

years and then he would come out with you for he wanted to see the Country once more you

said you supposed that I could tell wheather I could pay what was due that present summer or

not, and I could not tell there-fore I posponed writing but I thought that if you was going to

stay 2 or 3 years that you could Earn Enough to pay your friendly visits amongest your family

as they live nigh together And in your letter of August the 24 you said if the Lord let you live

you would spend another short season with your children and grand children full fill that

word, Father, by coming for I want to see you very, much, and shake the friendly hand with

you, & you say in the same letter that you have concluded that I did-not want to pay you any

thing as I have not wrote any thing to you concerning it now father I believe that I never

manifested any such disposition as I have always been willing to pay debts when I have

money and could I shall pay you every thing I owe you except love and good will and that I

never will finish paying so long as we both shall live you doughtless must have known that I

was considerable in debt at the time you left Wisconsin and the priceses of all Kinds of

produce was so low that I only mad a liveing but this last season has been a great deal better I

had 15 acres of Oats and I had 314 Bushes and I had 15 acres corn and their was a fair growth

but the Ears did not fill out some half some 2/3ds therefore I did not have more than half a

crop I had the corn crib santy [?] half full If it had not ben for my pork I could not paid what I

was oweing I had to keep a hired man 7 months and a hired girl some 9 or 10 months But we

keep neither one now nor have not this winter so far and I think I shall not have no man nxt

summer - - -

Now concerning your cows you want to know if I have sold them and if I have not to Sell

them and send the money to you this is the first time that I knew that yhou wanted your stock

sold, for I supposed that you was comeing back to Wisconsin and then you could do with

them as you thought best I rather you would come out this spring for the first of summer and I

will pay you all for the land next fall for I shall pay all I owe in Wisconsin this spring and

have money left to send you to come back with if you wish to come back you don’t say in

16

your letter of Feb 3 wheather you want to come back or not Pleas write and let me know what

the prospects is about comeing and money shall be sent at the time and place you say I will

send you in this letter twenty one Dollrs $21.00 which will pay the note according to your

figuering and something more for I cant make the change I wish that mother would come

back next summer so to make cheese for I think she could make some good ones for there will

be 12 cows on the farm this summer all the News that I have to write is that they have had a

protracted meeting in Carpenters nabourhood and they have got two converts and that is

Davie McDaniel and John Turner and they were Baptised last sunday

If you should see Chancy G Troop tell him that I thank him for his love which he sends me

and also Mr [indecipherable] I want you to tell all my friends in Bainbridge and on seely

Creek that I want to see them very much and talk over past things I could set up three nights

and talk with Mr John Stevens and Thomas Landres

Now Father I want you to write as soon after receiveing this as it is convenient for to do so

Pleas to pardon my neglect for not writing to you before and I will try to do better for the

Future. I must close my letter for the want of room it is now 4 O’Clock so I must bid you

good night______ I remain yours with good will George Wicks

******

In 1853, a deed included in the collection transferred 40 acres of land in Wheatland

Township, Kenosha County to George Wicks from Edward L Hyde and Lydia Hyde, his wife.

The payment for this was two hundred dollars. This document is part of the collection.

The deed says that the Hydes were “of the town of Masonville and the County of

Delaware and the State of New York.” George’s in-laws went to Wisconsin with George and

Mary, although they didn’t stay long. They likely bought the land while they were there, and

held title to it until this document was executed, so George was probably already farming the

land.

******

George’s wife Mary Hyde Wicks died April 4, 1857. His sister Cornelia wrote this

consolation letter:

Lanesboro July the 12. 1857

Dear Brother George

I feel to write a few lines to you to Console you in time of deep

affliction, trusting in providence it may reach you finding you prepared for the great trouble

which has been caused by the death of, Mary, and the mother of your children This is the

greatest affliction perhaps God has ever visited you with but George you must trust in our

Heavenly Father and pray to him to sustain you and keep your children under his cair and he

will in nowise cast you off

I have been a mourner George and have been plased as you are without any Companion and I

can sympathise with you and the best I can say to you is to give your heart to God and lay up

your treasure in Heaven where your wife and child are that you may meet them there with the

rest of our friends which have gone before us.

This is a holy sabath morning and I have stayed home from church to write to you and you

17

must not be offended if I say you did not do your duty in not writing to me and let me know

your trouble and not let me wait two months and hear a flying report of it

If you think this worth answering I would like to hear from you and family and know how

you all do and are getting a long write a bout Mary and her sickness and if she was willing to

leave this wor[l]d or not and who keeps house for you

We are all well at present my little boy has been sick but he is better now, Delia went to

Bainbridge the fourth and the report is that Brother William is to be married soon to a Elisa

[Seix?] of South Bainbridge. Orrin D is a building for Mr Taylor this summer and he thinks of

visiting you this fall if his health is good do write to me and let know when you will come and

if you can come this fall and fetch your two boys with you I would like to see you all and

have a good chat with Monroe I had a letter from John Wicks he is well and doing well if you

would like to write to him Direct, Maysville PO Madison County Alabama.

if you do not write to me in a few weeks I shall to you so good by

From your sister Truly

C. B. Taylor

To George Wicks

Based on a letter from Cornelia in 1859 in the collection, the report of William’s

planned marriage to Eliza somebody was either incorrect, or the wedding was called off.

18

Caroline Barber Moldenhauer Wicks

(Brief biography by Joan Woodard-Peake, 1990)

Caroline was our great-grandmother; she was born in Ohio on September 5th, 1830

and died at the home of her sister in Alden, Illinois on April 17, 1901. She reportedly died

from complications related to a strangulated hernia.

Caroline's father, Osborn Barber, was born in Harwinton, Connecticut, December 17,

1793. He emigrated to the Western Reserve in Ohio from Connecticut. In Ohio he met and

married his first wife, Caroline Thorpe, who after bearing him three children, died. Osborn

then married Caroline's sister, Lydia, and they had four daughters and one son from this

marriage. Lydia died June 8th 1890. She and Osborn are both buried in Twin Lakes,

Wisconsin, Highway P, Mound Prairie Cemetery. Osborn died February 13, 1881. It was from

this second marriage that our great-grandmother, Caroline Barber Moldenhauer came.

When Caroline was about 17 or 18 years old, she met and married Augustus

Moldenhauer who had emigrated from Frieburg, Germany and they had one son, Augustus,

who they nicknamed "Bub." This son died from Diphtheria at the age of four. He died in

Connecticut and it was always Caroline's wish to have his remains brought to Wisconsin to be

buried next to his father and grandparents, but it never occurred.

Augustus Moldenhauer died at the young age of 31 years and Caroline, deprived of

support went to live with her parents on a farm in

Mound Prairie, Wisconsin, near Twin Lakes.

Caroline then hired out as a housekeeper for eight

years in different homes. She became employed to

run George Wicks' home and to take care of his two

sons, after his first wife, Mary Hyde, died, in 1857.

After a year, in 1858, George married Caroline,

which was termed at the time, "a marriage of

convenience". However Caroline produced four

children, Orrinday, Frank, Florence and Caroline.

Fifteen years after their marriage, George died.

Caroline and her sons ran the farm and prospered.

Caroline had Auburn hair, as did her father.

She was quick tempered, a trait attributed to the

Thorpe side of the family.

.

19

Caroline Barber Moldenhouer Wicks

Descendants of Reuben Barber

1 Reuben Barber 1728 - 1815

.. +Sarah Merriman 1728 - 1819

........ 2 Zebulon Barber 1789 - 1851

............ +Amy Osborn 1795 - 1841

................... 3 Osborn Barber 1793 - 1881

....................... +Caroline Thorpe

............................. 4 Amy Malvina Barber 1825 -

............................. 4 Eliza Henrietta Barber1826 -

............................. 4 Sarah Elizabeth Barber 1827 -

................... *2nd Wife of Osborn Barber:

....................... +Lydia Thorpe 1804 - 1890

............................. 4 Caroline Celina Barber 1830 - 1901

................................. +Augustus Moldenhauer 1821 - 1850

........................................ 5 Augustus Moldenhauer 1848 - 1852

............................. *2nd Husband of Caroline Celina Barber:

................................. +George Albert Wicks 1810 - 1873

........................................ 5 Orrinday Wicks 1860 - 1948

............................................ +Winifred Prosser

........................................ 5 Florence M. Wicks 1861 - 1888

........................................ 5 Frank Barber Wicks 1863 - 1951

............................................ +Katherine Otilla Hahn 1869 - 1917

........................................ 5 Carrie E. Wicks 1865 - 1888

............................. 4 ? Frances Barber 1832 -

............................. 4 Margaret Celesta Barber 1835 -

............................. 4 Lucnia Gertrude Barber 1839 -

............................. 4 Orville Zebulon Barber 1845 -

Reuben Barber, the grandfather of

Caroline, was a Revolutionary War veteran,

serving with Capt. James Morris' Co., 5th

Connecticut Regiment of Foot, commanded by Col.

Philip B. Bradley, serving from July 1, 1780 until

December 13, 1780.

Documents giving details of his service are

in the Appendix.

Grave of Reuben Barber, in Harwinton,

Connecticut. His wife Sarah and the parents of

Caroline are buried nearby. (Photos of other

Barber gravestones are in the collection)►

20

Perhaps the most poignant document in the entire collection is this anguished note

written while Caroline’s son “Bub,” the only child of her first marriage, was dying of

diphtheria, probably about 1852: The first part of the note was written before his death,

apparently the last part after he died. Note the change in handwriting that suggest the

emotion of the writer.

October the 17 Saturday noon

Oh Mother

Caroline wantes me to pen to you a few words that is to say that bub is worse he was

taken yesterday and is sinking very fast we thought getting better all the while, Mother I am a

fraid that he wont live the day out

Mother God takes him

It seems that Caroline will go crazy what shall we do with her for we cant pacify her

E. Curtiss

21

The Marriage of George to Caroline, September 19th 1858:

These photographs of

Caroline and George

Wicks appear to have

been taken at about the

same time, and may

have been done near or

at the time of their

marriage. The photo of

George is the only one

of him in the collection.

At the time of their

marriage, she was 28,

he was 48 years old.

22

Two letters that follow, written on opposite sides of the same paper, are the first in the

collection dated after the marriage. This letter is from Caroline’s older sister Amy:

Nekimi [Wisconsin] December 26 58

Distant Sister

It is with pleasure that I attempt to address you a few lines by the still voise of the pen, we air

all well at preasint and hope that you and youres are enjoying the same blessing for it is a

blessing we all ought to appreciate I understand that you have entered into the bands of

matrimony again; as Mrs Davis livs in site of our place I hope you and youre husband will

come up hear and make us a visit we all woud be pleased to have, you; Brother will you

gratify our wishes. Sister we hav four Children three Boys and one girl a name sake of youres

our youngest is 15 months old – we had a letter from Uncle Orville a few weeks ago they

wear well I hav not heard from Eliza and Sarah since last spring. our winter so far is quite

mild No more for this time; I [wish?] you both to write as soon as you get this without fale

my love to all

Youre Affectionate Sister

Amy. M. T. Porter.

On the back of Amy’s letter, Mrs. Davis (George’s Aunt?) wrote a letter signed by her and her

brother(?), George’s uncle George C. Wicks:

January 4, 1859

George I receivd a letter from uncle Schyyler stating you

wer again married and I am glad to hear it for I do think you needed a wife to keep your house

& see to the children so I think you have got a woman that will do all that is required of her to

do for Mrs. Porter is a very smart ambitious woman and you have married her sister she called

here to day & reminded me to fill out this sheet I should have done it before but I have had no

time for since she sent it here George has had the [inflammation?] of the lungs & my baby has

been burned on her face and neck& Chaney has had the mumps so you see we not all quite

well but better I hope your children are more fortunate than mine for they are sick a great

deal my health is good & I hope you can say so all of you for...you have always had

afflictions in your family since I knew you & it is my desire that pain and affliction will leave

your abode for there is nothing more trying to mental & physical power than sickness.

I want to see you George & the children I have thought of writing to you a great many times

but I could not seemingly put it in force but I will write to you if you will answer this & do

come & see us Caroline will want to come & see Melvina & we can all have a good time

together we are having a exelent School this winter & a lyceum every Saturday evening I

attend three some weeks they have them in every district in the town & good ones two I

should think for the men are coming & going to find histories or reading matter to sustain

their arguments I wish you would come up here & help them for I dont believe they have yet

any smarter men to talk than you are. Munroe Geo speaks of you often & would like to see

you. write to him wont you he can write & will answer a letter from you I think I would like

to read a letter from your hand wont you please write to your aunt [Em?] I will set right down

23

and answer it I must close good night if you direct to us when you write direct to Oshkosh box

no 6001

E. A. Davis George C. Wicks

This letter from Cornelia is typical of many from her. Most of the first page of every

letter from her to George scolds him for not answering her letters. Note that the letter makes

no mention of his marriage to Caroline.

Lanesboro Feb, the 5, 1859

Dear Brother

I feel grived to think that you donot write to me oftener as I have written to you

and requested you to do, I think you must have forgotten your old friend Cornelia or you

would think to write and let me know you get along in this unfriendly world, do George write

as soon as you get this and tell me all about Albert and Monroe tell Monroe, Aunty wants to

see him mutch and would be glad to have him Come and go to School with, Elnora we live a

few rods from the school house Delia, Benton is at Montrose Academy where she will stay till

May next Brother William was married last August to John, Champlin widow she was

Alvina, Loop you probiley knew her she had, 4, chilren and the old Bach[elor] thinks she is

perfect and I hope it will always last, We had a big Universlist meeting hear and Aunt Clarra,

Steevens and Aunt, Leafy, Landers and , Truman her son was hear and made me a good visit

they inquired a bout you and said they would be pleased to see you, and not more than I

should, And now George. I want you should come and see me as soon as you Can, Hellen,

health is very poor, but she and her husband are Good Methodist and he is an exorter in the

meeting and they seem to enjoy themselves vary well the last time I heard from hear, Orin

Day Boards with , me which makes it very pleasant for me we are all well at presant and as

my little Hellen sits on the floar, and wants me to take her I must close by saying goodby

George

From your sister

Cornelia, B, Taylor

1859 Letter from Eliza Barber to her older sister Francis. They are sisters of Caroline.

Apparently the letter was forwarded to Caroline:

Tuesday Naugatuck Sept the 20 1859

Dear Sister

How are you and your family is Father Mother Brother & sister

are they all wel cant I hear your voice say yes , sit down as soon as you get this letter Sister

Francis & tell me wont you it will be easyer for you to write a letter if you will, please tell me

all about [Heather?]; does she get along any better than she did, with them all, Celestia

Especially, Oh I pray & hope that she does, what a unhappy life they all must live if she don’t,

&, my heart aches for fear, so I will try to forget it for the present; is Father in good spirit,

how is his health does he look old is his hair turned white; I don’t know as I shall ever see him

again or any of you I feel as though I was completely tied up in Naugatuck & here I have got

to stay; if I were an eagle or rather had Eagles enough it [begin second page] wouldent be

long before I should see home & those that are dear to me. Where in the world is Caroline is

she in Wisconsen or has she taken her head and departed whither I hope she will take the

24

trouble to write six line & send them in some ones letter ask her if she ever intends to take up

Sigustin [?illegible word] remaing Curtiss wants to know for he wants to level down the lot

if she does not & get him a set of stones she left $25 with Curtiss; if I knew where to direct to

her I believe I would write to her; is her name ,Weeks, or Wicks. & how does she get along;

she was 29 years old last Thursday wasent she? I was 33 last month and I believe you was 26

or 7 which is it? How old is Celestia & Zebulon; Father will be 66 the 16 of Dec & Mother is

52 next month, Sarah 32 in November Amy 34 last March per family Record. Good night for

I am going to bed I feel very tierd tradging all day doing nothing

Note at top of second page, different handwriting: Frank cut this sheet apart & burn this part

as soon as you have read it do not let any one see it.

******

George’s second family begins at this point:

Orrin Day, born 2 February 1860

Florence M., born 3 August 1861

Frank Barber, born 8 September 1863

Carrie E. born 21 September 1865

******

The next document in the collection is the 1863 purchase by George Wicks, for six dollars, of

cemetery lot No. 85 in Salem Mound Cemetery.

******

25

The next letter from Cornelia preserved in the collection, written near the end of the Civil

War, indicates her strong support for emancipation of the slaves and the Union cause:

26

27

28

Another letter from Cornelia. This one gives news about brother John in Alabama:

Lanesboro Jan the 21 66

Dear Brother

I will once more write a few lines to you hoping in future you will be more

punctual in answering them As it is rather discouraging business to write letters then never get

a reply I have rebuked you on this george and you should by this time consider me in earnest

when you wrote last you thought you would come and see me by the first of July but I have

not only been disapointed in your not coming but have not heard the caus by way of letter

which I think you mint of done before this however I will forgive you for this if you will do

better for the future I have just got a letter from Brother John Wicks he lives in Alabama is

married and has four Children And, I should presume to say is full of Southern Sympathy but

I was glad to hear from him think I shall go and se him some time, O. D Wicks was hear to

day and says he will pay the little he owe you when you come hear he has a fine boy which he

has named, George, Albert After you and my little boy that I lost so you are not forgotten by

us John named his girl after me Helen Comfort and husband are going to Missouri in the

spring her health is poor but better than it has been Brother William is well but seems to grow

old fast and so we all do I am in my forty ninth year and have got to be Grand ma Delia has a

little boy she seem to be doing very well we have just sold our old Banton Homestead So the

last of the Banton land has been sold How do you like the president [Andrew Johnson] and

what do you think of his message do you believe in the right of Sufferage to Colord Men I

hope you will answer all my questions in your next Nora Taylor is at Clinton High School in

Oneida, Co N, Y, She has been there one year and I expect will finish in July next tell Your

Monroe to write to her Direct to Nora Taylor White Seminary Clinton Oneida C,o, NY

Business is very lively here but I think there will be a reaction in money maters as that article

is not so plenty as it was one year ago Give my love to your wife and Children and

Remember me as your Sister

C B Taylor

P.S. Dont forget to write as soon as you get this and Oblige

The Wicks Homestead

In 1867 George contracted to have a house built:

Salem Jan 5th 1867

An agreement entered into this day between George Wicks party of the

first part & Rurnam R. Clark party of the second part

Party of the second part does covenant & agree with the party of the first part

to build and finish a House acordin to a plan drawen by the said Clark & adopted by Said

Wicks & now in the hands of party of the first part to wit Main part 24 x 30 18 ft posts first

wing 20 x 24 11 ft posts & second wing 20 x 24 9 ft posts Said party of the second part is to

furnish all materials necessary to complet the same ready for the mason & painter including

Seler [Cellar?] Stairs doors & windows & Lathing excepting necessary (indecipherable) for

the roof Said party of the second part is to furnish good materials & take pains to procure

29

Seasoned lumber as far as [necessary?] and do the work in a good and workman like maner

& in a stile to corespond with such a house

The party of the first part is to draw all materiels from Salem Station & have the wall

redy for the Sills in the fore part of July Said house to be redy to paint in October 1867

In consideration for such work & materiales the party of the first part is to pay Said

Clark the sum of one thousand nine hundred and thirteen dollars fifty cents in payments as

follows ($900.00) on the signing of this article #300.00 in July 1867 $500 one year from the

[indecipherable] the balance as the partys may hereafter agree

George Wicks

Signed in presence R. R. Clark

of

The house, built impressively in Federalist style popular in that region at the time,

became the Wicks homestead. The house was completed in 1868.

30

The following document is not dated, but the handwriting style suggests that it is quite

early. In an age where both doctors and medicine were often unavailable and largely

ineffectual, home remedies were important:

31

The following letter was written by Cornelia in 1867 immediately after returning from a visit

to Wisconsin and Iowa. Extensive railway connections made rapid travel possible by this

time. The area in Iowa she visited was about 20-30 miles north of the Quad Cities, and east of

Clinton. There she visited friends and went to the grave of her brother Samuel.

Lanesboro Nov the 17 __ 67

Dear Brother

When I parted with you at the Depot we fell in company with a Gentleman

from Free port who was going to speak the next day at Bristoll I think he was some Judge but

we did not ascertain his name And off him we learned the fate of our State that it had gone

Democratic this made me blush with shame and feel some what uneasy as I had to ride all

night it give me plenty of time to think off the past and Brood over the future destiney of our

distracted Country But we got to Sublette all right at half past five in the morning found our

friends all well and looking for us, we stayed two days and then we went to Amboy their we

had a very good time visiting our old friend And some of the boys that once lived with us

they done all they could to make it pleasant for us And we enjoyed it much They took their

teem and Carried us to Dixson and from their we went to Fulton found a friend their that

would not let us pass so we had to stay all night Started early in the morning for Dewitte

their we took Breakfast Dewitte is a Beautifull place and growing very fast Now to think

George that our Brother once owned the land where that flourishing County seat of Clinton

County now stands And it was soled for a mear trifle for fear it would benefit some of the

family besides the one that had the power to sell it Nathaniel Barber lives six Miles from

their We reached his house about ten found them all in good health and well to do he is the

same Barber he was when young onley more disagreeable with the loss of one Eye which

makes him rather repulsive his house is very poor And his wife Mary has grown old faster

than Myself and they live as Uncle William Pearsall did 40 years a go But She was very glad

to see me She could not look at me that afternoon without weeping it was so strange that we

should meet again I felt very sorry for her to think she had no oppertunity of ever rising above

her present position But this is the fortune of some to be contented with their present lot but

with me it was different I must read and try to keep up with the times as much as possible

don’t you think that is best we went to Charles Duttons took Dinner I think his better half is

not very Neat And on the whole Charles and Lorenso looked rather gloomey and as if they

had some trouble they talked free about Samuel and think his land was Soled less than its

value I went to his grave and Oh what a train of thoughts pass through my mind that lonely

grave with no stone to tell who sleept so quietly beneath the sod and a few wild flowers but

one lone and heart sick Sister who had Sought that lonely spot to Shed a tear over the last

resting place of her Brother she loved so well

Write soon and oblige Nora will write to Monroe soon and I will to I have had company all

the time since my return which has caused my delay in writing Yours as ever C B Taylor

32

In the fall of 1868 George took his first trip back East since emigrating to Wisconsin

in 1844. He wrote two letters back to his family, each with sections for his wife and for his

son Munroe:

Lanesborough Oct 4 1868

My Dear Caroline

I arrived in at Susquehannah Depot Thursday morning at half past 4 Oclock in the morning of

the first day of October which made it 36 hours from Kenosha to where I stoped at the Depot

I had a good time comeing altho I got very tired and seepy for to be put through two nights

and one Day and have it rain about all the time is rather more than I could endure my health

is midling good except being lame in one of legs I found Orrin Day after traveling one mile

from the Dep[o]t his health is rather poor but when we saw me he was elevated to the highest

he said George is possible that you have come to see us he lives good style so much that you

would suppose that he was some City Lawyer I have seen quite a number of those that I

Knew when I was young but they were so old that I could not reccondnise [recognize] them

There gas been a great change in the Country and a greater one in my old play mates and

School fellows. It does not seem posable that 24 years can such a great empression – I hope

you have not had such bad weather in Salem as I have had since I left Chicago it has rained

every Day except to Day since I left Chicago tomorrow I shall leave here in company with

Orrin Day and sister Cornelia for Afton where my Brother William lives we shall go with Mr

Taylors team and after I get there you shall hear from me a gain, tell Orrin and Frank that

they must be good Boys and get up the cows and help Munroe dig the potatoes and I will

fetch them some chesnuts when I come home and Florence and Caroline must be good girls

and help Ma was the dishes and I will bring them some thing nice too when pa comes home

My Dear Caroline

Kiss all the children for me and I send one for you

I will write soon so good By this from your Husband

George Wickes

My Dear son Munroe

You must take good care of Every thing and if you have not got a man to help you must get

one at the earleyest Day posable and get the work a long as fast as you can but take good care

of your health I think you had better get the potatoes and manoure out for we can husk the

corn when it is cold better we can do the other work I do not think I can go to all the places

that I want to and get back before the first of November so you can make your calculations

accordingly So good By Munroe and I will write you soon this from your affectionate Father

George Wicks

Munroe is almost 20 years old at this point.

33

Lanesboro Oct 26 /68

My Dear Caroline

I take my Pen this morning to let you know that my health is as good as it was when I

left home and I hope that you and the children are all well and the time is drawing nigh when

I shall be at home once more, I am geting along with my visiting as fast as I expected to I

have to stay longger than I calculated at some places, I stayed two or three Days at Afton

with Brother William on my way to Masonville and I stayed there four Days and back to

Lanesboro and I have been here one week to night, and tomorro I go to Afton and I shall stay

there one week or ten Days and then I shall come back and stay in Lanesboro a few Days and

then I shall start for home, and I shall be glad to leave this [woful?} mountainous country and

come West where I can See something besides mountains and Old saw mills, I think now

that I shall start for home the Thursday morning after Election but I may not start so soon, I

do wish that I could step in this morning and see you all tell Orrin Day & Frank & Florence

and my Dear little Caroline that they must be good Children and that pa will be home to see

them soon please Kiss them all for me and much Oblige your husband

George Wicks

My Dear son Munroe

When I wrote you from Afton I said that I would let you know where you could write me so

that I could get your letter but I stay so little time in one place that it will be difficult for me to

get your letter therefore you had better not write for I shall be home soon, I wish that you and

Orrin would get the calves up and also the Old Black Cow so that you can feed them some

pumpkins for I fear that they will get poor I hope you have gathered the apples and all

vegetables in the garden for if you have had it as cold in Salem as we have every thing must

be froze for it has snowed here and froze so harde that it would bear up a horse ---

I will wite you again in the corse of one week and then I will let you know when I shall start

for home, Grand pa says you must be a good Boy and be stedy and he also send his love to

you with his prayers, he has grode Old so fast you would hardly know him.

this is all that I have got to write this time so good by from your affectionate Father

George Wicks

Please take good care of the stock

Lanesboro Jan the 30 69

Dear Brother

Your long looked for letter reached its destination in due time was

much pleased to learn you had got home all right and found your familey well Hope you may

never regret you visit East You spoke of Helen I have had two letters from her and one from

her husband She arrived at Helina on the 2 of December was well and endured the journy

first rate She thinks the place is very nice and healthy and on the whole will like to make that

their perminent home George has been afflicted with the rheumatism but when last she wrote

he was better hope he may have good health in his far off home. Delia is with me now She

intends staying untill after the Masonic Ball which is to be the 4 of February then A C Hyde

34

will come down and go with her and the next day they will go home The Albany and

Susquehanna Rail Road is completed through to Binghamton and the cars run regular every

day and the suspension Bridge is done at Afton So you can see we live in an age of progress

They have commenced work on the Honesdale and Susque Road that is to run down the

Starencca Creek and up the river and intersect the Albany road at Ninevah and are to have it

completed by one year from next September this will make lively times for us. We have had

good sleighing for six or seven weeks and the Lumberman have improved it But the thaw for

a week past has most used it up but to day it is cold with a North wind and Some snow if we

should get a nough we may have good sleighing again as the roads are not broken up much

Jacob said he would smoke the cigar and think of you all the time Last Thursday night I had a

large party at my house got a oyster supper for 40 of my friends and it filled my house most

full But they all enjoyed it much for it was a light night and very pleasant for the friends from

Susquehanna to come I have been out to five parties this winter and so I thought I would

wind up by giving one Orin Day and Kate are just gay this winter we are all well. Hoping

this may find you the same

Give my love to all and

write when convenient Tell

Monroe to write to me

Good by Your Sister

C B Taylor

This is the last letter from

Cornelia in the collection.

Gravestone of Cornelia Wicks Taylor ►

The Taylor home in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania

35

Two Masonic documents—“summons”—addressed to George Wicks indicate his

active participation in the Lodge, one dated Dec 18, 1869 (5869 in Masonic terms, from the

supposed creation of the earth in 4000 B.C.) and the one below a year later:

36

In 1871, Caroline received a letter from her brother Orville:

Tishlig Feb 25th 1871

Dear Sister

I once more sit my-self down to answer your ever welcom

Letter which I received today as for myself I am around but it is not because I am well for I it

was not for some thing I would not do eny thing in fact I do not do much but I suffer knights

for what I do through the day I get as sore through my brest and shoulders that I cannot

hardely get up in the morning I do not get up very often before seven in the morning. As for

my affairs in Broadstock I am little suspiccious of D. T. he dont tend to it very close and if I

should not get my rent and shold get sick again I do not know what to do if I should catch

cold it would play me out for I think most evry [way?] I will quit I wish if you went don to

Fathers you would ask him if D. T. has got the rent yet and if there is eny doubt about getting

it yet I have Written twice and do not hear from them I got A letter from D T. yesterday but

do not get any satisfaction from him [It?] is all right –

I have not much news to write I received A letter from Seily last week and I must answer it to

night for she has written three or four and I have not answered either of them There is not

much snow here it commenced raining last night and rained all night and most of today so I

have not don much to day the snow is going fast the roads are getting bare and it looks

like breaking up it will unless there is A change in the weather soon. I must close for I do not

know what to write I do not know what to write to Seilly but I suppose I must do something

I thank you very much for the stamps but I think you ought to have sent paper and envelopes

that is a pretty good hin that I dont write offen enough but I think I am as promt as my Sister

but never mind it will be made all right – if life and good health is spared no more this time

you give my love to all the children and best respects to G. Tell Orren to write as son as he

can from your Own Brother

O. G. B

Appended on the same paper

Dear Parents

As I received a Letter from Orvill I send it to you that you may see what he has Wrote do

you think there is any danger of his loosing his rent

I think I shall be down in two or three Weeks with a bag of rags I an to work at them it goes

rather slow how did you get home

Write and let me know if you can find time

and if the Doc has got the rent he might of

got it and kept it

Caroline C

Wicks

keep this letter for me

Caroline’s youngest brother was a police

officer in Chicago, but this card (no date)

suggests he had a side business:►

37

Peshtigo Fire

On October 8, 1871, a massive forest fire in northeastern Wisconsin and upper

Michigan generated hurricane-force winds, destroyed more than a million acres of timber,

and killed between 1200 and 2400 people. It is considered the most destructive forest fire in

American history, but was eclipsed in the national consciousness by another, more famous

fire that happened the same day in Chicago, even though the loss of life in Chicago was far

less. The main loss of life from the forest fire was in the town of Peshtigo, which was virtually

destroyed. Caroline’s brother Orville lived in Peshtigo at the time, and sent this letter to his

parents:

Dear Parents

I once more take pen in hand to answer Francis letter which I received

to night – and Oh it is but sad news that I have to write we have had one of the most terrific

fires that ever could be in this county the City of Pestigo is all in ashes and there is about nine

or ten hundred persons burned I have just got in from helping to Barry them and Oh it is the

worst sight I ever saw there is hole families entirely gone not scarcely eney but what has lost

some it was burned on Sunday Eve it seemed as though the hole wind was in flames I will

close for I mus go to Bed for I have not slept for two nights but am all right – myself no more

this time

O. G. B.

Perhaps I will be home next week if I can get there we have the news from Chicago

send this to Frank and Caroline

******

38

This card was included in the

collection. The A. M. Wicks

is George’s oldest son

Albert, who would have been

31 years old at the time.

Death of George Wicks:

George Barber Wicks died On May 20, 1873, age 62. His Lodge brothers

acknowledged his death:

Hall of Washburn Lodge No. 145 A..F..A..M.

Bristol Wisconsin June 7th 1873.

At a Regular Communication of this Lodge held this evening, the following

Resolutions were adopted.

Whereas: Since in the order of a mysterious though All-wise and beneficent

Providence in the death of Bro. George Wicks Treasurer of this Lodge, his family are called

to mourn the loss of a father and protector, the public of an estimable and upright citizen, and

we as a Lodge the removal of a zealous and consistant advocate of the principles of our

Brotherhood both by word and deed, and whil bowing to the supreme mandate Dust thou art

and to dust shalt thou return, we hereby as a lodge express our sense of the loss of a worthy

member. To his afflicted family we tender our warmest sympathies in greatful remembrance

of the virtues which adorned his life and the hope which crowns his death.

Resolved: Our Lodge be draped in mourning for three months in memory of our

deceased Brother.

Resolved: A copy of these resolutions be sent to the widow of the deceased, with the

seal of the Lodge attached.

Resolved: These resolutions be published in the papers of this County.

Committee. C. I Shumway, Secretary

Hiram Curtiss

Jas. Shumway.

39

In May of 1873, a year after George’s death, Caroline leased most of the land on the

farm to a Mr. Maynard. The elaborate and detailed lease agreement is part of the collection.

In general, the lease was a sharecrop arrangement, with she and her family receiving 50% of

the farm products or revenue. The document describes the land being leased:

…the west half of the south west quarter of sec. 5 and the East half of the South East quarter

of sec 6, except 22 acres on east side of sec. 5; and the large house and yard on Sec 5; and

about 8 acres in the south west corner of the land in sec. 6, and a garden spot near the big

spring in sec. 6…

From a small card in the collection:

Harwinten Aug 28 1875

Mr & Mrs George Wicks

You are cordially are [sic] invited to come to Harwinten Conn to attend the Barber

Picnic that is to be held on the Zebulon Barber place Sept 8th 1875 and to bring a record of

your family or send it by mail if not able to come

Yours Truly

Cyrus L. Barber Harwinton Conn

40

Frank Barber Wicks

This is the earliest photo of Frank Barber Wicks in the

Collection. Frank was born 8 September 1863, so this was

taken in the late 1860s or early 1870s.►

At some point Caroline sent Frank to live with her

parents, Osborn and Lydia Barber, who had moved across the

Illinois border to Woodstock. At age 15 he was attending school

there and assisting his grandparents on their farm. He wrote the

letter home that follows. (The opening reference to John

Rodgers is a bit of a mystery. The reference to “Burr Robins”

refers to the traveling Burr Robbins’ Circus, one of many small

circuses in the U.S. at that time.):

Woodstock April 29, 1879

Dear Mother and all the gals:

John Rodgers you have not wrote to me in a long time. I will

write to you and tell you all the news. The first thing is that we have sold the old horse and

got 65 dollars for her the colts are getting along very well Grandma hired a man to break the

gray colt but we have not done any work with her yet. we do not have no horse to do any

work with so we will have to hire it done I wish we had Kit here to run around with but you

live too far off. Grandma is a going to pitch on Levi hammer and tongs to get a span of Levi’s

horses and then I can plow our corn ground and put it in. I have in the potatoes and expect to

have in the corn next week. I have just turned the cows in the pasture for the first time. we

have built 60 rods of fence, 20 of it is barb wire and 49 rods yet to build of barb wire. You

ought to have some to put on your fence I think it would keep in the cows this barb wire

costs 10 cents a pound Grandma has made her soap.

Grandpa is a failing very fast he goes down town once a day and it make him very tired.

Burr Robins is a going to have a show here the 7 of May.

I am getting along in school very well I always have my lessons and never tardy or absent.

I have all the manure out. Grandma wishes that she had not sold the old horse so I could draw

up the old boards and posts and draw down the wood. Ma it is very busy here for I can find all

I can do it keeps me on the jump all the while.

This is all I can write for this time

From your Son,

Frank

Grandma is not feeling very well she has cleaned house and it made her very tired she

says that she will not write. Write if you are not comeing down [all?]

41

◄Frank was right about his grandfather’s

health. Osborn died less than two years later,

on February 13th 1881. This photo shows his

gravestone in Twin Lakes Cemetery; other

Barber graves are adjacent.

Printed in Woodstock Sentinel, Woodstock,

Illinois on Thursday, March 10, 1881:

OSBORN BARBER—The Subject of this

memoir was born Dec., 17th, 1793, in

Harwinton, Litchfield Co., Ct. died Feb., 13th,

1881, in the 88th year of his age.

In 1823 he moved to what was called the

Western Reserve, with an ox team, being six

weeks on the journey, and settled in

Southington, Trumbull Co., Ohio. Here he married. In a few years his wife died, leaving him

three small children. In 1828 her married his second wife and in 1833 he moved to Perry,

Lake county Ohio, where he lived until the year 1848, when he moved his family to Illinois,

residing in Montalona McHenry county for three years, when he purchased a form on Mound

Prairie, Wisconsin, where he continued to reside until advancing years and the failure of his

wife’s health, induced him to relinquish farming, for a permanent home in Woodstock, Ill. In

early life his religious views were such as are generally entertained by the adherents of the

Christian church and to this religion he was devotedly attached. In later years his views had

undergone some modification and change. In his dealings with his fellow man, the golden rule

was his guide.

For some three years past, his powers of body and mind have rapidly failed, to such an

extent to render him to a great degree helpless. He was the father of eight children, seven

daughters and one son. Of these eight children, six are now living. Twenty-seven grand

children and eleven great grand children survive him. With increasing helplessness came

decreasing desire to live, and a longing to be at rest.

F.B.C.

Connecticut and Ohio papers please copy.

******

The next four documents in the collection are two of Frank’s school papers (science

i.e. the distance of the planets from the sun, and arithmetic) and two report cards, which were

probably sent home to his mother. He sent another letter home in late summer 1881 that is

preserved:

Woodstock Aug. 28 1881

Dear Mother and All:

Uncle and Lottie came out Thursday Clara wanted to go home with

them but we kept her. Uncle is going up north the last of this month or the first of next. He as

42

named the boy James Garfield. Aunt Frank & Cassie are here to-day. School does not

commence to-morrow not until next Monday you need not send my boots you can wait until

you come down.

Orren what have you shot since I come away I wanted to go a hunting with Mr Hunt to-day

but Grandma would not let me. How does Walt like his razor. Uncle was very much

disappoint to thing [sic] that you had gone home. I have been picking pickles.

Mother fetch down the loom next week and fetch along some apples. Orren be sure and get

some squirrels now you get some. Fetch along the cage. Tell Johnny that cigar was “OK”

Mother did you stop and see Mac

This is all for this time

Write immediately,

From your son F. W.

Grandma wants to know if your medicine has done you any good she thinks that hers is

helping her.

******

Printed in the Woodstock Daily Sentinel, Woodstock, Illinois, on Thursday, July 17, 1890:

OBITUARY

Died—Tuesday, July 8th, 1890, in her late home, loc in this city, Mrs. Lydia Thorpe Barber.

Miss Lydia Thorpe was born in the State of Ohio, in the month of October, 1807. In

1828 she was married to Mr. Osborn Barber and continued to live with her husband in her

native state until the year 1848, when he moved his family to Illinois, residing in Montalona,

McHenry County, for three years, when he purchased a farm on Mound Prairie, Wisonsin,

and occupied it until 1860 when they moved to Woodstock. February 13, 1881, Mr Barber

died, and since that time Mrs Barber has lived at the old home in retirement. She had been

failing in health for several months and her death was not unexpected. While Mrs. Barber has

not been identified with any church organization for several years past she was at one time a

member of the M.E. church. She was a lady of excellent character and highly esteemed by her

neighbors. The surviving members of the family are Mrs. Caroline Wicks, of Salem, Wis.,

Mrs. M. C. Sackett, of Galesville, Wis., Mrs. F.W. Cowdry, of Greenwood, and Mr. O. Z.

Barber, who is on the Police Force in Chicago. The funeral services took place from the house

Thursday, The Rev. S. C. Hay, pastor of the Presbyterian church, officiating, after which the

remains were taken to Mound Prairie for burial.

******

William Wicks, George’s brother, died in 1892. His death Certificate is also in the

collection.