George J. Hickey - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

New York State was the birthplace of George James Hickey, son of James and Eliza Hickey.  Their first born son, George, was born on March 14, 1842, and was enumerated in his first census on August 9, 1850.  They lived in the town of Avon, Livingston County, New York, where James Sr. was a laborer supporting his wife and four children: George J. - 8; Mary F. - 6; Hellen M. - 3 and Albert O. - 8 months.  Living with them was Alexander Eggwood, 33, also a laborer.

By 1860, George J. was off on his own in the same county and state, living at the boarding house of Amos and May Fowler.  At 18, he was working as a machinist.



On August 7, 1862, he decided to enlist in the 115th New York Volunteer Infantry, Company B.  According to his obituary, he was wounded at one of the Battles of Cold Harbor, just north of Richmond, Virginia.  In that battle, General Grant tried to prevent the Confederates, led by General Lee, from reaching Richmond.  The list of casualties and wounded were especially high for the Union Army when Grant finally decided to retreat to the James River after nine days of fighting in early June, 1864.  George stayed with his unit until his discharge on June 17, 1865, at the end of the war.

On June 5, 1865, George's family was enumerated on the New York Census, enumeration district - Canajoharie.  His mother, Eliza, was head of the household at 46, only her surname was now Alpaugh.  Apparently, George's father had died and so had her second husband, Mr. Alpaugh, as Eliza was listed as a widow.  With her, lived George, 23, a machinist; a stepson, William Alpaugh, a soldier; James Hickey, 15, a clerk, and two young children, Amanda and Harvey Alpaugh.  They lived in a wood framed house worth $1000.

Elizabeth Jane (Lizzie) Flint became George's wife in 1867 and soon after, they started their life with a move to Buchanan County, Iowa.  George found work as a machinist there.  In June, 1880, they were settled in at 6 Water Street, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa.  George had advanced himself to superintendent of the gas works.  The birthplaces of the children indicated a brief move back to New York around 1877 - 1880), as Frank G. (the oldest at 6) was born in Iowa, while younger sisters, Cora B., 3, and Maud, 4 months, were born in New York.  However, that information changed in a later census! 

George joined the local G.A.R. in Iowa and their records gave insight into his life as a soldier.

 The record showed that George was captured in action soon after his enlistment in 1862 and paroled soon afterward.  Later he was wounded in the left thigh on June 4, 1864 during the Battle of Cold Harbor.

Dates vary as to when the Hickey family may have moved to Defiance, but George was here for the 1890 Veterans' Census.  In 1900, his family lived at 622 Jefferson Street, and George worked as a machinist; they were renting that home.  In this census, it would seem that they moved to Ohio sometime between 1880 and 1886 based on the birthplaces of the children.  Frank was already gone from home, so Cora, at 22, was the oldest at home and she worked as a dressmaker.  Her birthplace on this census was Iowa, born on February, 1877.  Maud, born February, 1880, a waitress, also was born in Iowa, while little sister Myrtie, 14, was born in Ohio in May, 1886. So for real proof, birth records should be located for everyone.

Another rental home was occupied for the 1910 census at 414 Washington Street.  George was 68 by that time and Lizzie, 62.  George continued to work as a lathe operator at the Defiance Machine Works. 

Lizzie Hickey died on May 2, 1927.  By that time, she and George had moved to Norwalk in Huron County, Ohio, to live with or near their oldest son, Frank.  They could not be located in the 1920 U.S. Federal Census.  Her death certificate noted that she was senile, perhaps the reason for the needed move and more help from family.  She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Norwalk, Ohio.

www.findagrave.com

 About a year and a half later, George passed away in Norwalk and was buried beside his beloved wife.  

As a side note, George and Lizzie's daughter, Cora, married Willis Stever in December, 1900, and they had one son.  Unfortunately, she died in 1909, so apparently the family remained close to Willis and the grandson and a new wife.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)