Hickman land once home, then fairground
Columbia Daily Tribune
David H. Hickman was a bachelor until Sept. 15, 1861, when he married Anne Bryan in St. Joseph. Their first daughter, Sallie, was born in 1863 and died 16 months later. Anne gave birth to Mary on Oct. 14, 1866. A few months later, in feeble health, Anne went to St. Joseph to visit relatives and friends. While at the home of her sister, Sarah, Anne died at age 28. On July 9, 1867, her body was returned to Columbia and buried in Columbia Cemetery.
The Hickman legacy lived on when he founded a real estate firm with Robert Beverly Price and developed a 23-lot subdivision, which bears his name, bound by Broadway, Price Avenue (now College Avenue), Walnut Street and Short Street.
With friends, he organized the Columbia Fire and Insurance Co. on Jan. 27, 1868. Hickman was elected as its president. The initial stock of the company was worth $100,000.
The following is excerpted from a 2005 Tribune series by Harold Lynch:
“In May 1869, Hickman, as president of the recently organized Columbia, Rocheport, and Arrow Rock Railroad Co., traveled to Marshall seeking subscriptions to complete construction of the railroad to connect to the Louisiana and Missouri River Railroad at Marshall.
“Not long after his return home, Hickman became dangerously ill. He died on June 25, 1869, at age 47. At the time, Hickman was president of the Boone County Savings Bank; the Boone County and Jefferson City Railroad Co.; the Board of Curators of the Columbia Baptist Female College (which later became Stephens College); the Columbia Fire Insurance Co.; the Columbia, Rocheport, and Arrow Rock Railroad Co.; the Board of Trustees of William Jewell College of Liberty; and presiding officer of the Missouri Baptist Association. He also was active in real estate brokerage and promotion and the development of businesses. Hickman’s funeral was held Sunday, June 27, 1869.
“Hickman requested the custody and rearing of his daughter to be entrusted to his sister, Sarah Young, the recent widow of Archibald Young. The Boone County probate court appointed Thaddeus Hickman, an uncle, as guardian and later as curator of Mary Hickman. Sometime later, Robert Price became her curator and executor of Hickman’s estate.
“The 1870 U.S. Census shows Mary Hickman, 3, living in a household with her aunt, Sallie Young, and her four children. Mary Hickman grew up in Columbia and attended Stephens College where she became an accomplished pianist and preformed several recitals and musical exercises. She graduated on June 7, 1883, and enrolled at the University of Missouri. On June 3, 1885, she married Capt. John Price, son of Col. James Price of Jefferson City. The couple immediately left on a special train for Jefferson City, their future home.
“The Prices had two sons. Hickman Price was born June 9, 1886, in Jefferson City and Andrew Price was born February 18, 1890, in Denver.
“Anticipating her marriage and move to Jefferson City, Mary rented the Hickman residence and its surrounding 40 acres first to J.B. Bell of Colorado City, Texas, and later to the Hatton family, who was living there when the house burned on February 10, 1887. The land was then developed for use as a fairground, with a horseracing track, and temporary facilities. It was also used for carnivals, and some high school games were played there.
“On March 19, 1925, the Columbia School Board reported it had obtained an option on the 40-acre estate. The price for the property was $27,500, which was said to be well below the real value of such a piece of land because the title to the property was not clear. The district used its power of condemnation to obtain a clear title.
“On Dec. 15, 1925, residents approved 7-1 a bond issue of $415,000 for construction of a school building on the site and some other school improvements. On Dec. 17, 1925, the school board approved a resolution by Sanford Conley suggesting the school be named “David H. Hickman High School.” The cornerstone for Hickman High School was placed in a brief ceremony on Sept.16, 1926, and the building was opened for classes a year later.
“From Edwin Stephens, president of Stephens Publishing Co.: ‘David H. Hickman was one of the greatest citizens and finest characters Boone County has ever had. He was a model citizen, a true Christian, a patriot, a leader in educational and civic affairs. The board of education appropriately honors his memory in naming in his honor the building, which is to stand upon the site of his home and where he passed in honor.’ ”
My sincere thanks go to Harold Lynch, who graduated from Hickman High School in 1947. His columns in the Tribune were a product of research using primary documents, public records and published histories, including William Switzler’s “History of Boone County” and John Crighton’s “A History of Columbia and Boone County.”
For those of you who have stories of Columbia from this era, please send them to daltonjrent2@gmail.com with "Columbia Stories" as the subject. We will read them and include what we can in future articles. For my readers who do not use e-mail, I would love to hear from you via "snail" mail at 1112 Torrey Pines, Columbia, Mo., 65203.
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