HICKEY, Patrick
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 728-730

Patrick HICKEY is the first settler of the town of Dellona and one of the 
most worthy and esteemed pioneers of Sauk County. Though he has passed the 
90th milestone in life's journey, he is still remarkably active in both mind 
and body and recalls many interesting reminiscences of his early life and the 
development and progress of Sauk County. He was born at Ballycroy, County 
Mayo, Ireland, 17 Mar 1809. His parents, Martin and Mary (BARNETT) HICKEY, 
lived and died in county Mayo, where their ancestors had been prosperous and 
respected farmers for many generations. Many members of this family have 
been conspicuous for great longevity. Among those who came to this country 
was Mrs. Alice FADDEN, a sister of Martin HICKEY, who died in the town of 
Dellona [Sauk County, WI] at the age of 91 years. Four children of Martin 
and Mary HICKEY became residents of WI. Besides Patrick, these were: 
Michael, who died in the town of Dellona [Sauk County, WI] in 1850, at the 
age of 38 years; Mary, widow of Michael CONWAY, now living at Elroy [Juneau 
County, WI]; and Honora, Mrs. James McHUGH, who died at Dellona [Sauk County, 
WI].

Like most boys of that time, Patrick had very limited educational advantages, 
but, determined to better his condition in life, he made the most of his many 
opportunities for observation and experience and eventually became one of the 
most [p 729] successful farmers of Sauk County. In company with his brother, 
Michael, in 1837, he left his native land and came to America. Landing at 
Quebec, they proceeded to Kennebec County, ME, where two of their uncles were 
then living. For the next few years he was employed for the most part upon 
public works. While working on a dam in the Kennebec River at Augusta he was 
accidentally knocked from a ladder into the stream and narrowly escaped 
drowning. He was carried by the current for some distance down the river, 
but eventually succeeded in reaching shore. The next year he went to New 
York City and was employed for a time on the construction of the Croton water 
works. Owing to the failure of a contractor, by whom he was employed at 
Yonkers, NY, he was unable to obtain his pay, and in 1840 came to Chicago and 
spent one winter on the Illinois and Michigan canal. His previous experience 
was repeated here, for the contractors became financially embarrassed and he 
and his brother were compelled to take their pay in due bills upon which they 
never realized. Thence he walked by way of Janesville [Rock County], WI, to 
Sugar River. Arriving on the bank of that stream in Mar 1841, he found it 
much swollen and full of floating ice and as there was no bridge he was 
obliged to remove his clothing and swim across. By the time he reached the 
nearest house he was nearly frozen. The following season he worked a farm on 
shares and spent two or three more years in lead mining in Green County.

About 1845 he and his brother, with several other men, went land hunting in 
the interior of the state, driving a team from Green County. Selecting the 
site of his present home they camped there for two weeks while building a 
small shanty. In the meantime the balance of the party returned to the 
settlement, believing this portion of the state too far removed from 
civilization to ever become a desirable place of residence, but the HICKEY 
brothers had great faith in the future of Sauk County, and their foresight 
and wisdom demonstated in due time. Two years later they became residents 
and set about the improvement of their farm. There were a few habitations 
between there and Baraboo, but neighbors were by no means numerous. At one 
time he owned a half section of land, but a portion of this was sacrificed by 
being mortgaged to assist in the construction of the Milwaukee & La Crosse 
Railroad, now the La Crosse division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad. His present farm consists of 280 acres with first-class buildings 
and other improvements. Since coming to this county he has confined his 
attention to agriculture, with the exception of one winter spent as a logging 
contractor on the Lemonweir River.

Mr. HICKEY has always enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors and business 
associates to a remarkable degree. He sometimes acted as agent for different 
dealers in the purchase of farm products from his neighbors, and was 
frequently entrusted with considerable sums of money for that purpose. A few 
years after its erection his log house, which was a substantial and 
comfortable building of the kind, took fire and burned with all its contents, 
including several sums of money belonging to other parties and the funds of 
the school district, of which he was treasurer. Though his own loss was a 
serious one, he did not permit any of these parties to suffer by this 
disaster, but conscientiously repaid them in full, and this action greatly 
strengthened the credit which has previously been reposed in him. He donated 
five acres of ground from his farm for the site of St. Michael's Catholic 
church, now known as All Saints' church of Dellona [Sauk County, WI]. He 
also contributed liberally [p 730] of cash towards the erection of the 
building and was one of the first trustees of the society. He has always 
consistently supported the Democratic party, having cast his first 
presidential ballot for Martin Van Buren in 1840. He has filled numerous 
offices in Dellona and represented the town upon the county board for a 
number of years.

In 1855 he was married to Catherine CROWLEY, daughter of Dennis CROWLEY, an 
early settler in the town of Winfield [Sauk County, WI]. Mrs. HICKEY was 
born in County Cork, Ireland, and departed this life 11 Jan 1866, at the age 
of 58 years. Mr. and Mrs. HICKEY were the parents of three sons and three 
daughters: (1) Mary, the wife of William HAYES, of the town of Dellona 
[Sauk County, WI]; (2) Catherine, died 20 Dec 1894, at the age of 36 years; 
(3) Martin, a well-known business man of Reedsburg [Sauk County, WI]; (4) 
Michael, carries on the homestead farm; (5) John, also in business in 
Reedsburg; and (6) Anna, also resides on the homestead farm. Nine 
grandchildren also delight the heart of Mr. HICKEY, and an extensive circle 
of friends.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly