Wicker

Wicker, Lewis

Martha Jane's Maternal Grandfather

Books

"I will and bequeath to the children of my daughter Minerva Ann Marbury dec'd. (Five in number) namely,Martha Ann*, Thomas, Lewis, John P., and Josephine twenty dollars each, said sum to be paid to their father John Marbury for said children by my Executor herein after named, at my death."

~Lewis Wicker Will - 10 Apr 1872 - Hempstead Co. AR -
Will Bk. C, p. 354-355

*NOTE: Martha Jane is her correct name!

Place of Birth

Lewis was born about 1800 in North Carolina. His parents have not been proven.
Some research leads us to believe his father was Pleasant Wicker of NC, a possibility
because Lewis named one of his sons, Pleasant. Lewis migrated to Missouri from
North Carolina, probably with his father, year unknown. By 1817-1818, Lewis
was in Hempstead Co. AR. Lewis and Pleasant Wicker served together on a
Jury in Hempstead, 24 Apr 1822. Pleasant served again 27 Jan 1823.

Arrival in Arkansas

"Lewis Wicker came to Arkansas in 1817, and first stopped at Lost Prairie, on Red
River, but only remained there one or two years. He came upon the Ozan, near
Nelson's old place, where he lived to the good old age of 88 years, dying last year.
Some eight or ten years ago he married the widow of Uncle Nelson, who now mourns
the loss of a good husband.

"Uncle Wicker (this writer called them Uncle by their last name) was a good and true man, a
member of the Baptist Church, and died in the faith. His son, W. B. Wicker is
living some three miles from here, at the age of 60, beloved and respected for his
worth as a man and his genuine good sense and conservative views on all subects."
~"Sam Williams: Printer's Devil" by Wm. H. Etter (IV) - p. 220 Published by Etter
Printing Co., Hope, AR 1979

"Lewis Wicker was one of the first settlers on the Ozan, if not the very first settler on
the North Fork. He also came from Missouri at a very early day. He was always
counted as an honest man, and was much respected by everybody."
~Ibid - p. 218

First Marriage

Lewis married the first time in the early 1820's. The marriage date
has not been found to my knowledge. His wife's name is unknown
but she could have been a White, possible daughter of Joseph White.
Joseph White served on the Jury with Pleasant Wicker in 1823.
Lewis' first wife was born abt 1800 - 1810, died abt 1840. Her death
possibly from childbirth with son Joseph J. Was he named for her father?

**Children of Lewis Wicker & 1st Wife**
William B.	Jul 1828*** Hempstead Co. AR	1904 Hempstead Co. AR	30 Dec 1848 Hempstead Co. AR	Malinda Clingan **	abt 1829 TN	1866 - 1880
Name	Born	Died	Married	Spouse	Born	Died
Minerva Ann*	Abt 1831	1860 - 1872	20 Jul 1848 Hempstead Co. AR	John P. Marbury	25 Aug 1823 Warren Co. TN	7 Sep 1881 Clark Co. AR
Pleasant S.	Abt 1836	1 Oct 1862 Arkansas Post, AR - Civil War Casualty	27 Jul 1858 Hempstead Co. AR	Margaret Hampton	abt 1834 AL	aft 1880
Joseph J.	Abt 1839	20 May 1862 Holly Springs, MS - Civil War Casualty	Never Married	-	-	-

* Martha Jane's Mother
** Malinda Clingan was the daughter of James Cowan Clingan and Jane Marbury Clingan.
*** "William B. Wicker 1828 - 1904 Co. B, 33 Ark. Inf. CSA" (Tombstone)
Merrell Cemetery, Row 2, Redland Township, Hempstead Co. AR
~"Hempstead Co. AR Cemeteries Book 4" The Hempstead County Genealogical
Society, publisher, 1998

NOTE: The 1900 Hempstead Co. AR Census shows William B. as 79 years old,
born Jul 1826. The Census was Enumerated 22 Jun 1900, meaning William would have been
80 years old the following month, making his birth date about 1820. This is an error. In 1830,
William was "under 5 years old," 1840, he was 10-15. Therefore, the Jul 1826 date of birth could also
be in error. This compiler chooses to go with the tombstone birth year until further proof is forthcoming.

Accumulated Land

Lewis accumulated around 400 acres in the Red Land Township area. It seems
he stayed in the same area from the time he migrated from Missouri until his death.

His Stock Brand

"Territory of Arkansas, County of Hempstead

Lewis Wicker this day appeared and entered his stock mark as follows, A crop
and a Split in the left ear, and an over bit in the right ear. Brand L. Given
under my hand this 7th day of November 1835. A. M. Oakley, Clerk"
~"Wills - Marriages - Pre-Emptions, Etc., Bk. BB - Hempstead Co. AR

Sons In Civil War

Confederate Soldier

William B. served in Etter's Battery - Sixth Arkansas Light Artillery. Etter
recruited the men in the spring of 1862 and they enlisted at Washington, AR on
June 14th. They saw action in Helena and Little Rock, AR...Pleasant Hill,
Grand Ecore and Alexandria, LA.

During the Civil War, Pleasant joined Company F, Twenty-fourth Arkansas
Infantry. The regiment proceeded to Arkansas Post where it remained through
October, 1862. Pleasant died there the first day of October, leaving Margaret
a widow and two small sons; John Lewis and Rufus W. Wicker. Margaret was still
living with her sons in 1880 in Red Land Township, Hempstead Co. Rufus
was 19 and John Lewis 20.

Joseph J. served in Co. E, Twentieth Arkansas Infantry,
"The Men of the Plough Boys." He died 20 May 1862 at Holly Springs, MS.

Lewis lost two of his three sons to the Civil War.

Second Marriage

He married second 14 Jun 1841 Hempstead Co. AR,
Grizzell Young Gillespie (widow).
Grizzell was born abt 1806 in Kentucky. Was her first husband
Peyton Gillespie? If so, they married 7 Jul 1825 in Hempstead Co.

Lewis Wicker & Grizzell Young Gillespie Marriage License

Marriage Letter Picture
14 June 1841
Hempstead Co. AR, Will Bk. BB, p. 342

**Children of Lewis and Grizzell Gillespie Young Wicker**
Susan Emily	abt 1847	1880 - 1900	10 Jan 1871	John L. Jarman *	17 Jan 1847 AR	13 Jan 1901 Hempstead Co. AR
Name	Born	Died	Married	Spouse	Born	Died
Josephine	Nov 1843	aft 1900	-	John L. Jarman *	17 Jan 1847 AR	13 Jan 1901 Hempstead Co. AR

*John L. Jarman married first Susan Emily Wicker and second
Josephine Wicker. He was the son of John and Jane Marbury Clingan Jarman.
His marriage to Josephine was her first.

Church Church Affiliation

Lewis and Grizzell joined the Ozan Baptist Church in Bingen, AR, by letter August
1848, a year after it was formed in 1847. They're listed as L. & G. Wicker.
Written in the Remarks Column for Grizzell is "Unaccounted for Aug '06."
Elizabeth "Betsy" Nelson Wicker, third wife of Lewis, also joined the church
by letter in Nov 1886, deceased 1903.

Membership Page Picture
Partial Membership Page From the Original Ozan Church Record Book
(I have the full page in my files.)

The Ozan Church record shows that Lewis asked for his letter but the
date is not shown. In the history of Pleasant Grove Church in Redland Township,
written in 1912 by W. H. Eley; the following are listed as organizers in 1851:
Lewis Wicker and wife, Henry and Patsy James,
Jacob and Leviner Brown, Isack Cooley, John A. Eley and Wife,
Frank Leslie and wife, Hesicris Asket (Hezekiah Askew?) and wife.
John A. Eley donated the land for the site.

~"Hempstead County, Arkansas Cemteries Book 4" Published by The Hempstead County
Genealogical Society 1988 - P.O. Box 1158, Hope, AR 71802-1158

Did Lewis and Grizzell join Ozan Baptist Church in 1848 and then transfer
their letters after helping organize Pleasant Grove Church?

Grizzell Died

Died between 1860 and 1876, probably Hempstead County.

Lewis and family are not listed on the 1870 Hempstead Co Census. That isn't
unusual for the time period. The Civil War had ended only a few short years before
and, considering the times, many citizens avoided the Census enumerator.

Third Marriage

Lewis married a third time 9 Mar 1876 Hempstead Co., to
Mrs. Elizabeth "Betsy" Nelson,
widow of Charles Nelson. Elijah Merrill performed the ceremony.

"You are hereby commanded to solemnize the Rite and publish the bans of
Matrimony between Mr. Lewis Wicker of Red Land in the County of Hempstead
and State of Arkansas aged 75 years, and Mrs. Betsy Nelson of Mine Creek in
the County of Hempstead and State of Arkansas aged 58 years...."
~Hempstead Co. AR Marriage Bk. D, p.138

There was no issue by Betsy. The Ozan Church records state she died in 1903.

Lewis Died

5 Nov 1885 in Hempstead Co.

"Mr. Lewis Wicker, one of the early settlers of this county, died Thursday at his
home in the Red Land Township, in the 85th year of his age. He was a good man
and was held in universal esteem."
~Washington Press, Washington, AR, 7 Nov 1885, page 5, col. 3

"Mr. Lewis Wicker, who died in Red Land Township last week, came to Arkansas
in 1819. Very, very few of his old friends in those early times are with us yet."
~Ibid, 14 Nov 1885

Lewis was first buried in either Merrill Cemetery or the Wicker Cemetery.
Merrill Cemetery is located on Highway 371, two miles northwest of McCaskill.
This cemetery, which includes four other family cemeteries, had to be moved from
the Southwestern Proving Grounds area in 1941; Merrell, Parsons, McClendon,
Flavious Porterfield and WICKER Cemeteries. The location of WICKER,
McClendon, Parsons and Porterfield family cemeteries has not been determined,
but they were in Township 10, Range 25, since this was a part of the Southwestern
Proving Ground government reservation from which they were moved. Two
acres for Merrill Cemetery was donated in 1941 by J. L. Eley and wife.

Lewis Wicker and Mrs. W. B. Wicker
(wife of William B. Wicker, son of Lewis)
are buried in unmarked graves in Merrill Cemetery.
~"Hempstead County, Arkansas Cemteries Book 4" Published by The Hempstead
County Genealogical Society 1988 - P.O. Box 1158, Hope, AR 71802-1158

Much gratitude to Gary Andrews, for sharing his research.

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