JOHN & SARAH HICKEY MEMORIAL

John (b. 1764/5 in Old Halifax Co., VA) and Sarah (b. 1760-1770) Hickey and three of their five sons, Charles,William R., and James were among the earliest white settlers of Pope County, Arkansas. Census and tax lists indicate that this tightly knit family was living on land claimed by Charles Hickey, located along the banks of Little Piney Creek in an area that would become Johnson County in 1833. John and Sarah are listed in the household of Charles in the 1830 Pope County, Arkansas census. Sarah then appears as a widow on the earliest surviving tax rolls of Johnson County in 1834 and 1835. She does not pay taxes on a dwelling, indicating that she continues to make her residence with Charles. Sarah apparently died c. 1836/37 because she is not listed on later tax rolls.

The earliest real estate transaction in Perry Township, Johnson County, Arkansas was made in 1838 between Col. Charles Hickey and Adkins and May, for a land claim that includes the site of a frontier cemetery. This old cemetery, with many fieldstone markers and cairn-style burials, was already in use as a community burying ground in the mid-1800s according to deed records. Many members of the Hickey family lived in the immediate vicinity of this cemetery and intermarried with other families who later owned this land. Because of this, we believe that this cemetery is the most appropriate site for a 
memorial to John and Sarah Hickey and their branch of the Hickey family.
 

Proven children of John and Sarah Hickey are:

                          Preston Hickey, b. 1788, m. Elizabeth Barnett
                          Charles Hickey, b. 1791, m. Lucinda England
                          John Hickey, b. 1795, m. Sarah Meek
                          Margaret  Hickey, b. 1797, m. John O'Neal
                          William R., b. 1802, m. Louisa __?__
                          James Hickey, b. 1805, m 1) Nancy Baker & 2) Elizabeth Ann Allen.
 

        If you know of other children of this family, please send your information to Carol B. Wahl. 

• Karen Brantley, Carol Wahl, and Debra Blackard announce the installation of the Hickey family memorial marker. Contributions from descendent lines of Preston, Charles, John [III], William R., and James have made this project a reality. The next phase of the restoration of this historic cemetery is to enclose the cemetery within a fence in order to provide some protection from recreational vehicles. 

   A small contribution from each descendant will quickly provide necessary funding for this project.

Please contact Debra Blackard, for a surface mailing address.