History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 452

MR. AND MRS. JOHN HICKEY. Mr. John HICKEY, an outstanding businessman of the city of Reedsburg, dealer in live stock, and lifelong resident of Sauk County, was born in the township of Dellona, April 25, 1865, and there spent his early years, on the old HICKEY homestead, the first farm in that township. His father, the pioneer settler of Dellona, came to that locality as early as 1845, and took up a tract of wild land, what is now known as the HICKEY farm, where he ever after resided.

Patrick HICKEY, the father, was born in Ballycroy, County Mayo, Ireland, March 17, 1809, son of Martin and Mary (BARRTETT) HICKEY. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, and came to America in 1837, in company with a brother, Michael HICKEY. Landing at Quebec, they preceded to Kennebec Co., Maine, where two uncles were then living. For several years he was employed on public works in that state, but later went to New York and was engaged on the construction of the Crotan water works. In 1840 he came west, to Chicago, where he spent one winter on the Illinois and Michigan canal. His brother Michael having joined him early in 1845, they, with several others, set out for what proved to be the Baraboo valley, where they duly arrived. They sought out a desirable tract of land, the first tract then taken up in the now town of Dellona, where they built a home. They, and their countrymen, who came shortly after them, named the Irish settlement Sligo, after a county in Ireland, and a postoffice was established, , with Patrick HICKEY as postmaster. He made weekly trips to Baraboo, for the mail.

In 1855, Patrick HICKEY was married to Catherine CROWLEY, daughter of Dennis CROWLEY, an early Irish settler of the town of Winfield. This lady was born in County Cork, Ireland, and came to the Sligo settlement at an early date, where her life was spent. She died Jan. 11, 1886, at the early age of fifty-eight years. Mr. Patrick HICKEY passed to his reward in 1903, at the remarkable age of ninety-five.

Our subject was educated in the rural schools of his native town, but his learning did not stop when his schooling ended. He early took a profound interest in national and financial affairs, and has become one of the best informed and most successful men of his time in the vicinity in which he lives. On Nov. 27, 1906, he was married to Miss Ella BRENAN. This lady is a native of Baraboo, and her parents were Thomas and Alice (TERRY) BRENAN. She was born Sept. 22, 1877. They took up residence in Reedsburg immediately after their marriage, and have been continuous residents since. To them were born seven children, John Harold, Mary Loraine, Walter, Alice, Helen, Maurice, and Lawrence, all at home.

Submitted by Carol