LAKE COUNTY OHIO
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File contributed to the Lake County, Ohio Biographies Project by
Deb Breniser
rbcobb@ncweb.com
January 6, 2000
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This biography is taken from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio, 
Embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake; Lewis Publishing Company, 
1893. 

Simeon C. Hickok

  Simeon C. Hickok, an old settler and prominent businessman of Painesville, 
Ohio, was born on a farm in Rutland County, Vermont, August 9, 1817. His father 
Sheldon P. Hickok was of sturdy New England ancestry, having been born in 
Connecticut in 1792, whence he went to Vermont, where he was mostly reared, his 
father having died when he was eighteen years of age. Simeon Hickok, the 
great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a resident of Litchfield 
County, Connecticut, and was the Captain of a Connecticut company which took 
active part in the war of the Revolutionary. His wife was Anna Parmley. The 
maternal grandmother of our subject was Annie Ferry, who subsequently married a 
man by the name of Nichols and died when her daughter (mother of our subject) 
was only four years of age. Sheldon Hickok followed farming in the Green 
Mountain State until 1828, when the tide of western emigration was joined by 
himself and family and they removed to Ohio, coming via the lake to Fairport, at
which place they arrived July 5, of that year, there being but four steamers 
plying Lake Erie at the time. The family resided in Perry for several years, 
whence they came in 1841 to Painesville Township, where they lived until 1846. 
In the latter year, the parents removed to Brooklyn, Green county, Wisconsin, 
where the father died at the age of eighty-five, greatly lamented by all who 
knew him. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Church, according to the 
teachings of which his life was directed.
  The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and attended a district school 
in a log house. He used to visit the town of Poultney, Vermont, near his home, 
where he often received at the office of the Gazette a copy of that paper, said 
copy being given him by Horace Greenly, at that time a printer "devil" in that 
office. On coming to Lake County, Ohio, in 1828, he worked on a farm, and then 
twenty-one started out for himself, going the first year way up on the shores of
Lake Huron, where he cut wood for steamboats for a year. In April 1839, he came 
to Painesville, where he was employed as a house painter a few years, after 
which he took up carpentry, which he has successfully followed ever since. He 
has built a good many dwellings and superintended the erection of the Episcopal 
Church, besides a number of business blocks. He superintended the building of 
the County Infirmary and built under contract the City Engine House. Painesville
has been his home ever since and he has resided on the same lot for fifty-one 
years, steadily prospering by industry and always in full enjoyment of universal
esteem.
  February 10, 1841, Mr. Hickok was married to Miss Eunice French, who was born 
in Perry, Ohio, June 1, 1822, and there reared. They celebrated the fifty-second
anniversary of their wedding on February 10, 1893. Her father, Nathaniel French,
was a native of Massachusetts but reared in Vermont. He participated in the War 
of 1812, after which, in 1816, he emigrated to Ohio, settling that year in Perry. 
His wife, nee Abigail Vesey, was a native of Vermont. He died about 1851 and she 
about 1864, leaving many friends to mourn their loss. Mr. and Mrs., Hickok have 
had five children, two now living: Sarah A., wife of J. B. Stubbs, of Chicago; 
and Eliza J., wife of J. M. Hart, of Collinwood, Ohio.
  In politics, Mr. Hickok was originally an old William H. Harrison Whig, and 
for that president he first voted. He is now a Republican and has voted in 
Painesville at fifty-three State elections, previous to which he voted twice at 
Painesville, the same county. He has in his possession the poll-book containing 
all the names of the men who voted in the at the first election in Painesville 
in 1804, which city was then in Trumball county, three townships being included 
in that precinct at the time. He has never missed an election. His constituents 
have shown their appreciation of his worth by electing him to various offices of
trust. He has been six times elected a member of the City Council of 
Painesville, and has been three times elected County Commissioner, in 1866, 
1869 and 1874, serving altogether in the latter capacity for nine years. He has 
been a delegate to various conventions and served in many other official 
positions, his conduct being always distinguished by intelligence and honesty.
  Although not a member of any church, Mr. Hickok is a liberal contributor to 
religious and charitable objects. Mrs. Hickok belongs to the Methodist 
denomination. A progressive and public-spirited citizen, Mr. Hickok has been 
foremost in advancing the interests of his city, county, State and country, and 
reaps his reward in his own prosperity and the highest regard of his fellow 
citizens. His first vote for President was cast for William H. Harrison, 1840, 
and he has voted for every candidate placed in nomination for his party since 
that time, his fourteenth presidential ballot being deposited for Benjamin 
Harrison, 1892.